Higher Staffing Levels Help Ensure Fewer Infection Control Deficiencies
Since 2017, it is reported that over 9,300 nursing homes have received citations for one or more infection control deficiencies. Notably, facilities with fewer nurses and aides were cited more often than those with higher staffing levels.
A four-year long Kaiser Health News analysis reported that federal inspection records indicated “74 percent of nursing homes have been cited for lapses in infection control,” more than the number of citations issued for other types of violations. The report also said that “basic steps to prevent infections—such as washing hands, isolating contagious patients, and keeping ill nurses and aides from coming to work—are routinely ignored in the nation’s nursing homes, endangering residents and spreading hazardous germs.” The report noted that in California’s 1,251 nursing homes, all but 133 were cited.
The impact of maintaining staffing levels may be even more important in light of the growing concern regarding the coronavirus and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recent memoranda regarding the significance of regulation-required Infection Control Programs, and the role of the Infection Preventionist.
Compliance Perspective
Failing to ensure that staffing levels are sufficient is always cause for concern, and often results in citations for abuse and neglect. However, failing to ensure that staffing is sufficient when faced with an infection like COVID-19 that is extremely transmittable and life-threatening to elderly residents, and that staff are practicing the basic protocols for preventing infections, i.e., washing hands, isolating contagious patients, and not coming to work when they are ill, may be considered provision of substandard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures regarding the number and competency levels of staff members required to meet the care needs of residents and state and federal staffing regulatory requirements.
- Train staff regarding the facility’s Infection Control Program and following the protocols for preventing and stopping the spread of infectious organisms.
- Periodically audit to ensure that all staff are following basic protocols for preventing and stopping the spread of infections, i.e., washing hands, isolating contagious patients, and not coming to work when they are ill.
