According to county public health officials, after only one of the 13 Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) scheduled showed up to work for the second day in a row, 84 of a facility’s residents had to be evacuated to other facilities. At first, the county sent nurses to the facility to help, but when the staffing shortage continued the next day, it was necessary to evacuate the facility.
The county’s public health officials are unsure why employees failed to show, but they did indicate that 16 employees and 34 residents at the facility had contracted the coronavirus. There are also dozens of test results still pending.
“I am concerned this could rise to the level of abandonment, no matter how justified the reasoning might be,” was the statement made at a news conference by the county’s public health officer. He added, “The state licensing board will have to determine.”
Officials emphasized that nursing homes that have taken in the evacuated residents will “undergo standard containment measures, including closing the facilities to new residents and preventing staff from working at other locations.
Compliance Perspective
Failure to implement emergency preparedness procedures to protect residents and provide for their care when faced with a staffing crisis from COVID-19 places residents in immediate jeopardy for harm. Not taking immediate action to address “no show” staffing shortages due to possible abandonment by staff members may be considered provision of substandard quality of care, and result in exclusion as a Medicare provider, as well as potential lawsuits filed by residents’ families. Staff may face penalties that impact their licensure or certification.
Discussion Points
- Review policies and procedures for implementing the facility’s emergency preparedness plan protocols for responding to a pandemic crisis like COVID-19, and update as necessary.
- Train staff regarding their responsibility as licensed and certified caregivers to make supervisors and administrative staff aware of their concerns and fears about the spread of an infection like COVID-19, and to report when they are unable to come to work to prevent the possibility of a total staff “no-show” situation.
- Periodically audit by interviewing staff members during a crisis like COVID-19 about their concerns and fears and the potential for staff shortages.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC: CMS – EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST
