HospitalInspections.org

Based on record review, observations, and interviews, the hospital failed to actively take the temperatures of non-employees upon entrance to the hospital during 8 of 8 observations.

Findings:

1. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) "Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendation for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic", updated 7/9/2020 and 7/15/2020, indicates all facilities "screen everyone (patients, HCP [Health Care Personnel], visitors) entering the healthcare facility for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or exposure to others with SARS-CoV-2 infection and ensure they are practicing source control" and "actively take their temperature and document absence of symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Fever is either measured temperature 100.0°F or subjective fever".

On 7/13/2020 through 7/16/2020, surveyors were screened at the entryway of the hospital on level G, prior to entering the hospital's main lobby. Temperatures of surveyors were not taken prior to entrance to the hospital on 7/13/2020 at 9:30 a.m., 7/14/2020 at 8:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., 7/15/2020 at 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., and 7/16/2020 at 7:45 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., per CDC recommendations.

On 7/13/2020 at 9:45 a.m., two (2) small groups of individuals were observed being screened prior to entrance to the hospital. Temperatures of the individuals were not taken upon entrance to the hospital, per the CDC recommendations.

On 7/15/2020 at 10:30 a.m., the Associate Chief Medical Officer and the hospital's Epidemiologist both confirmed the hospital is currently not and had not actively been taking individual's temperatures upon entrance to the facility, since the pandemic began. They explained, this was a decision that was made by Maine Health (the hospital's parent entity).

2. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) "Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendation for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic", date 6/19/2020, indicated health care personnel (HCP) working in facilities located in areas with moderate to substantial community transmission are more likely to encounter asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and that they should also wear eye protection in addition to their facemask to ensure the eyes, nose, and mouth are all protected from splashes and sprays of infectious material from others. On 7/9/2020, these recommendations were updated to clarify that the recommendations for universal use of eye protection (in addition to a facemask) for HCP working in facilities located in communities with moderate to sustained SARS-CoV-2 transmission is intended to ensure HCP eyes, nose, and mouth are all protected during patient care encounters."

This hospital is in a county of Maine that has known community transmission. Per the Maine Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, during the two weeks prior to this survey there were 173 new cases of COVID-19 and during the four days of this survey there were 49 new cases.

On 7/15/20, the Associate Chief Medical Officer (Associate CMO) stated given where the community is today in terms of how the hospital is defining community transmission level versus where trends may head, with potential for "things to bubble up", they do not see a need for eye protection in patient areas at present (unless directly caring for COVID-19 positive or suspected patients), but the hospital is re-looking at eye protection and preparing for more eye protection given July 2020 CDC guidelines and if COVID-19 trends up.

On 7/24/2020 via email, a State Epidemiologist with the Maine CDC, confirmed that they do not believe that Cumberland county is an area of no to minimal community transmission.