Initial Comments:
Based on the findings of an onsite unannounced state re-licensure survey conducted on April 25, 2025, Chericare, LLC., was found to be in compliance with the requirements of 28 Pa. Code, Health Facilities, Part IV, Chapter 51, Subpart A.
Plan of Correction:
Initial Comments:
Based on the findings of an onsite unannounced state re-licensure survey conducted on April 25, 2025, Chericare, LLC., was found not to be in compliance with the requirements of 28 Pa. Code, Health Facilities, Part IV, Chapter 611, Subpart H. Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries.
Plan of Correction:
611.56(a) LICENSURE
Health Screening
Name - Component - 00
(a) A home care agency or home care registry shall insure that each direct care worker and other office staff or contractors with direct consumer contact, prior to consumer contact, provide documentation that the individual has been screened for and is free from active mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Observations:
Based on a review of personnel files (PF), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, and an interview with the administrator, the agency did not conduct screening for mycobacterium tuberculosis according to guidelines prior to hire for five (5) of seven (7) PFs. (PF# 2, 4, 5, 6, & 7)
Findings include:
In May 2019, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its recommendation for TB testing of health care personnel. The CDC guidelines state that all Health Care Workers (HCW) should receive 1) baseline tuberculosis screening upon hire using a two-step tuberculin skin test (TST) or a single blood assay for tuberculosis (TB) to test for infection with tuberculosis; 2) Completion of a tuberculosis symptom questionnaire, and 3) Completion of a tuberculosis risk assessment. After baseline testing for infection with tuberculosis, HCW's should receive TB screening annually. HCW's with a baseline positive or newly positive test for tuberculosis infections should receive one chest radiograph result to exclude tuberculosis disease (CDC Guidelines for Preventing Transmission of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Health Care Settings, 2005. Morbidity and Mortality World Report 2005, RR-17) (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5417.pdf).
*Baseline (preplacement) screening and testing, in addition to the IGRA (interferon-gamma release assay) or TST, shall include a symptom screen questionnaire and an individual TB risk assessment. Serial screening and testing not routinely recommended. Annual TB education is recommended. (CDC/MMWR/May 17, 2019/Vol. 68/No. 19).
A review of PF's was conducted on 4/25/25 starting at approximately 10:00 AM and revealed the following:
PF#2 Date of Hire: 3/1/25. did not contain evidence that a baseline tuberculosis (TB) symptom screening questionnaire was completed upon hire.
PF#4 Date of Hire: 2/5/25 did not contain evidence that a baseline tuberculosis (TB) symptom screening questionnaire was completed upon hire.
PF#5 Date of Hire: 10/16/24 did not contain evidence that a baseline tuberculosis (TB) symptom screening questionnaire was completed upon hire. In addition, there was a TST completed on 2/28/24 but no second step TST was completed on hire.
PF#6 Date of Hire: 6/9/23 did not contain evidence that a baseline tuberculosis (TB) symptom screening questionnaire was completed upon hire. In addition, there was a TST completed on 6/7/23 but no second step TST was completed on hire.
PF#7 Date of Hire: 8/27/24 did not contain evidence that a baseline tuberculosis (TB) symptom screening questionnaire was completed upon hire.
An interview conducted with the administrator on 4/25/25 starting at 12:30PM confirmed the above findings.
Plan of Correction:The agency has combined the baseline TB risk assessment with the TB questionnaire into one form to be given upon hire. It includes a signature line as well as a date line. This has been completed as of 5/1/2025
The agency will not schedule the Direct Care Worker to work until after a two-step TB test or a single blood assay for TB has been completed and received by the agency.
The HR Director is responsible for ensuring TB screening, TB symptom screening and TB risk assessments as well as education are completed upon hiring and also responsible for annual education and symptom screenings of DCWs.
611.57(c) LICENSURE
Information to be Provided
Name - Component - 00
(c) Prior to the commencement of services, the home care agency or home care registry shall provide to the consumer, the consumer's legal representative or responsible family member an information packet containing the following information in a form that is easily read and understood: (1) A listing of the available home care services that will be provided to the consumer by the direct care worker and the identity of the direct care worker who will provide the services. (2) The hours when those services will be provided. (3) Fees and total costs for those services on an hourly or weekly basis. (4) Who to contact at the Department for information about licensure requirements for a home care agency or home care registry and for compliance information about a particular home care agency or home care registry. (5) The Department's complaint Hot Line (1-800-254-5164) and the telephone number of the Ombudsman Program located with the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). (6) The hiring and competency requirements applicable to direct care workers employed by the home care agency or referred by the home care registry. (7) A disclosure, in a format to be published by the Department in the Pennsylvania Bulletin by February 10, 2010, addressing the employee or independent contractor status of the direct care worker providing services to the consumer, and the resultant respective tax and insurance obligations and other responsibilities of the consumer and the home care agency or home care registry.
Observations:
Based on review of consumer records (CR) and an interview with the administrator, the agency failed to provide the following information to the consumer, the consumer's legal representative, or a responsible family member prior to the start of services: the identity of the Direct Care Worker (DCW) providing services for three (3) of nine (9) CR's reviewed: CR#3, 6, & 7 ; the hours when those services will be provided for seven (7) of nine (9) CR's reviewed: CR# 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8.
Findings include:
A review of CR's was conducted on 4/25/25 starting at 10:00 AM and revealed the following:
CR#1 Start of Care: 5/22/23. File did not have documentation of the consumer's hours when services were to be provided.
CR#2 Start of Care: 8/1/24. File did not have documentation of the consumer's hours when services were to be provided.
CR#3 Start of Care: 3/23/24. File did not contain documentation regarding the identity of the DCW who was to provide services. In addition, file also did not have documentation of the consumer's hours when services were to be provided.
CR#4 Start of Care: 3/6/25. File did not have documentation of the consumer's hours when services were to be provided.
CR#6 Start of Care: 7/31/24. File did not contain documentation regarding the identity of the DCW who was to provide services. In addition, file also did not have documentation of the consumer's hours when services were to be provided.
CR#7 Start of Care: 5/15/24. File did not contain documentation regarding the identity of the DCW who was to provide services. In addition, file also did not have documentation of the consumer's hours when services were to be provided.
CR#8 Start of Care: 3/29/23. File did not have documentation of the consumer's hours when services were to be provided.
An interview conducted with the administrator on 4/25/25 starting at 12:30 PM confirmed the above findings.
Plan of Correction:The agency will add consumer's hours of when services will be provided to all consumer records (CR). All updates will be made to CR's reviewed by 5/31/2025 where hours are missing including CR#1, CR#2, CR#3, CR#4, CR#6, CR#7 and CR#8.
Agency will review all other CR's and update as needed by 6/15/2025. The HR Director will ensure all CR's include hours when services will be provided.
The Agency will update the following CR's reviewed CR#3, CR#6 and CR#7 to identify the DCW who will provide services. All CR's reviewed will be updated by 5/31/2025.
The Agency will review all other CR's and updates will be made by 6/15/2025 if necessary to any other CR's that may not have identified the DCW who will provide services. The HR Director will ensure updates are made accordingly.
Initial Comments:
Based on the findings of an onsite unannounced state re-licensure survey conducted on April 25, 2025,Chericare, LLC., was found to be in compliance with the requirements of 35 P.S. 448.809 (b).
Plan of Correction:
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