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NORTHERN LIGHT MERCY HOSPITAL
INFECTION CONTROL PROGRAM
Tag No.: A0749
Based on document review, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to implement the United States Centers for Disease Control (US CDC) recommendations during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic related to maintaining physical distance in 6 of 10 hospital waiting areas (Emergency Department (ED); Outpatient/Cardiology Unit main waiting area and the remote waiting area; Critical Care Unit; Procedure/Infusion/Ambulatory Surgery Unit; and laboratory).
Findings:
The US CDCs "Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendation for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic", updated 11/4/2020, indicated, "Encourage Physical Distancing...when possible, physical distancing (maintaining at least 6 feet between people) is an important strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission...Arranging seating in waiting rooms so patients can sit at least 6 feet apart."
On 11/12/2020 at 1:15 PM, during tour of the hospital with the Facilities Supervisor, observations of three (3) seats in the Emergency Department (ED) Annex waiting area were less than six (6) feet apart. The Facilities Supervisor confirmed this finding by measuring the distance between the three (3) seats which were between 30-40 inches apart.
On 11/12/2020 at 1:33 PM, during tour of the hospital with the Facilities Supervisor, observations of six (6) seats in the Outpatient/Cardiology Unit main waiting area and three (3) seats in the remote waiting area were less than six (6) feet apart. The Facilities Supervisor confirmed this finding by measuring the distance between the seats which were between 40-57 inches in the main waiting area and between 12-40 inches apart in the remote waiting area.
On 11/12/2020 at 1:40 PM, during tour of the hospital with the Facilities Supervisor, observations of six (6) seats in the wait area outside the Critical Care Unit were less than six (6) feet apart. The Facilities Supervisor confirmed this finding by measuring the distance between the six (6) seats.
On 11/12/2020 at 2:15 PM, during a tour of the hospital with the Facilities Supervisor, observations of eight (8) seats in the waiting area of the Procedure/Infusion/Ambulatory Surgery Unit were less than six (6) feet apart. The Facilities Supervisor confirmed this finding by measuring the distance between the eight (8) seats which were between 49-55 inches apart.
On 11/12/2020 at 3:00 PM, during a tour of the hospital with the Facilities Supervisor, observations of six (6) seats in the waiting area of the ED were less than six (6) feet apart. The Facilities Supervisor confirmed this finding by measuring the distance between the six (6) seats which were between 24-43 inches apart.
On 11/13/2020 at 7:30 AM, during observations of the hospital, three (3) seats in the waiting area of the laboratory were less than six (6) feet apart. At 8:30 AM, the Facilities Supervisor confirmed this finding by measuring the distance between the three (3) seats which were between 36-48 inches apart.