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 for 3 of 3 observations and failed to ensure eye protection was utilized during patient care encounters for 1 of 1 observation.

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 6/19/2020 and 7/9/2020, indicates that everyone (patients, healthcare personnel and visitors) should be actively screened upon entrance to the facility which includes taking the individual's temperature.

On 7/8/2020 and 7/10/2020, surveyors were screened at the entrance of the hospital. The temperature of the surveyors was not taken upon entrance to the hospital on 7/8/2020 at 9:30 a.m. and on 7/10/2020 at 11:00 a.m., per the CDC screening recommendations.

On 7/8/20 at 9:35 a.m., two individuals were observed being screened at the entrance of the hospital. The temperature of the two individuals was not taken upon entrance to the hospital, per the CDC screening recommendations.

On 7/8/20 at 10:10 a.m., the Vice President (VP) was interviewed and asked about temperature screenings for non-employees. The VP stated, "As far as screening, the only place that takes temperatures at the entry points is the Senior Health Center".

On 7/8/20 at 2:00 p.m., the Infection Preventionist (IP) Nurse was interviewed and asked about temperature screenings for non-employees. The IP Nurse stated, "Temperature screening was never implemented" for non-employees.

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 (6/24/2020 through 7/7/2020), there were 216 new cases (1604 to 1820) of COVID-19 and during the three days of this survey there were 35 new cases (17, 8, and 10 respectively) of COVID-19.

On 7/8/20 at 10:30 a.m., staff on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were observed entering the room of one patient who was not identified as being on precautions. Staff were not wearing eye protection per CDC recommendations.

On 7/8/20 at 10:40 a.m., an interview was conducted with the ICU Unit Coordinator. The ICU Unit Coordinator stated, "We wear eye protection for a Person Under Investigation (PUI), COVID positive (+) patients, and other precautions that require eye protection. For all other patient care, eye protection is not used".

On 7/10/20 at 11:00 a.m., an interview was conducted with the VP of the hospital regarding eye protection for employees. The VP stated, "The only time staff wear eye protection is with PUI, COVID +, and other patients requiring eye protection based off of their particular precaution".