Initial Comments:
Based on the findings of an onsite State Licensure Survey completed 2/08/2024, Countrywide Home Care, Inc. was found to be in compliance with the requirements of PA Code, Title 28, Health and Safety, Part IV, Health Facilities, Subpart A, Chapter 51.
Plan of Correction:
Initial Comments:
Based on the findings of an onsite State Licensure Survey completed 2/08/2024, Countrywide Home Care, Inc. was found not to be in compliance with the following requirements of PA Code, Title 28, Health and Safety, Part IV, Health Facilities, Subpart H, Chapter 611, Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries.
Plan of Correction:
611.52(d) LICENSURE
Proof of Residency
Name - Component - 00
The home care agency or home care registry may request an individual required to submit or obtain a criminal history record to furnish proof of residency through submission of any one of the following documents:
(1) Motor vehicle records, such as a valid driver ' s license or a State-issued identification.
(2) Housing records, such as mortgage records or rent receipts.
(3) Public utility records and receipts, such as electric bills.
(4) Local tax records.
(5) A completed and signed, Federal, State or local income tax return with the applicant ' s name and address preprinted on it.
(6) Employment records, including records of unemployment compensation
Observations:
Based on review of direct care worker personnel files (PF), and staff (EMP) interview, the agency failed to ensure two (2) of seven (7) direct care worker personnel files reviewed contained proof of residency ( PF2 & PF4).
Findings included:
A review of direct care worker personnel files was conducted on 2/08/2024 between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
PF2 revealed a hire date of 12/05/2022; and contained a PA Driver's license issued on 10/05/2022 (not 2 years preceding the date of hire). PF contained no other documentation to show requirement was met.
PF4 revealed a hire date of 8/23/2023; and contained a PA Driver's license issued on 6/04/2022 (not 2 years preceding the date of hire). PF contained no other documentation to show requirement was met.
Interview with EMP#3 on 2/08/2024 at approximately 2:30 p.m. confirmed the above findings.
Plan of Correction:Countrywide Home Care has a strict policy regarding new hires. All new employees must provide proof of residency if their ID or driver's license was issued less than two years ago. If the applicant has not been a Pennsylvania resident for the past two years, they will be required to undergo an FBI fingerprint check before being allowed to start employment. It is mandatory to verify and document all records for previously hired employees in their files.
To verify two years of residency for new hires at Countrywide, employees will request additional information such as valid driver's licenses or state-issued identification, mortgage records or rent receipts, electric bills, local tax records, completed and signed federal, state, or local income tax returns with the applicant's name and address preprinted on them, and employment records including records of unemployment compensation. If an employee does not have any of these documents, they will be required to schedule FBI fingerprints to comply with the requirements.
For current employees, all employees files, including PF2 & PF4, will have an internal audit conducted by the compliance manager. Employees who are missing proof of two years' residency will be required to either provide that proof or schedule FBI fingerprints to be able to continue employment with the agency. Those who fails to provide it will be terminated.
The HR Manager is responsible for conducting internal compliance audits every quarter to track all references. Additionally, the HR Manager must ensure that all new hires have all the necessary documents before their start date.
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 a review of consumer files (CF) and an interview with EMP3, prior to the commencement of services, the home care agency did not provide to the consumer, the consumer's legal representative or responsible family member an information packet containing who to contact at the Department for information about licensure requirements for a home care agency or home care registry and the Department's Complaint Hot Line telephone number for five (5) of five (5) consumer files reviewed (CF1 - CF5).
Findings include:
A review of CF's was conducted on 2/08/2024 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The start of care (SOC) is indicated below:
CF1 SOC 12/11/2023. The "PARTICIPANT INFORMATION HANDBOOK" did not contain the phone number and listed the incorrect address for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and listed the incorrect phone number for the Department's complaint Hot Line.
CF2 SOC 8/23/2023. The "PARTICIPANT INFORMATION HANDBOOK" did not contain the phone number and listed the incorrect address for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and listed the incorrect phone number for the Department's complaint Hot Line.
CF3 SOC 12/20/2023. The "PARTICIPANT INFORMATION HANDBOOK" did not contain the phone number and listed the incorrect address for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and listed the incorrect phone number for the Department's complaint Hot Line.
CF4 SOC 8/23/2023. The "PARTICIPANT INFORMATION HANDBOOK" did not contain the phone number and listed the incorrect address for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and listed the incorrect phone number for the Department's complaint Hot Line.
CF5 SOC 4/01/2023. The "PARTICIPANT INFORMATION HANDBOOK" did not contain the phone number and listed the incorrect address for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and listed the incorrect phone number for the Department's complaint Hot Line.
Interview with EMP3 on 2/08/2024 at approximately 2:30 p.m. confirmed findings.
Plan of Correction:The agency manager will replace the consumer package with updated and correct information for new participants by 03/31/2024. Additionally, all participants who have already received home care services under Countrywide will receive updated information for their records. The information package will be reviewed following the assessment, before the services can begin, to ensure that all necessary information has been provided to the participant. Going forward, annual monitoring will be conducted to ensure that compliance is maintained. The agency administrator is responsible for updating all participants and ensuring ongoing compliance with state requirements.
Initial Comments:
Based on the findings of an onsite State Licensure Survey completed 2/08/2024, Countrywide Home Care, Inc. was found to be in compliance with the requirements of 35 P.S. 448.809 (b).
Plan of Correction:
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