Print Inspection: 2L7U

Based on interview and record review, conducted during an off-site review on 07/16/24 and 07/17/24, it was confirmed the facility failed to immediately notify the Department Central Office and local public health authority of the occurrence of epidemic disease in the facility. Findings include, but are not limited to:

In a telephone interview on 07/16/24 at 1:15pm, Staff 1 (Executive Director) stated the following:

* There was a current "GI outbreak".

* Nineteen residents were affected and two staff members.

* The range of symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea.

* Residents were notified via flyer of an outbreak and the dining room was being closed.

* The Infection Control Specialist was onsite.

* Local public health was notified, and the facility has received outbreak guidance.

* The precautions were implemented included dining room closure, encouraged quarantine in room, encouraged hand-hygiene, and standard precautions per public health guidance.

* The Department Central Office was not notified.

A review of the facility's "CBC Infection Control Manual", dated 07/18/2021, indicated  "an outbreak occurs when there are more cases of an infectious disease in a designated population than usually occur at a given time"  and "a single case of....an illness that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (such as norovirus) can quickly escalate into an outbreak. "

In an email on 07/16/24, Staff 1 stated s/he "was informed Saturday [7/13/24] there were a few residents with [nausea/vomiting/diarrhea] "  and proceed to close the dining room  "to avoid further illness."  Staff created a flyer for the dining room doors and care staff took flyers to the residents to inform them of the illness. But after review, s/he saw the staff member who made the flyer failed to include the reason for the closure was due to illness.  An updated flyer was sent out today. On Monday, s/he was informed there were more people with the same symptoms and then reached out to county public health.

In a telephone interview on 07/17/24 at 2:23 pm, Staff 1 stated the following:

* People being sick on the 11th wasn't consistent and an outbreak was not recognized then.

* On Saturday, 7/13, s/he was onsite to do some work, and learned three more individuals had the same symptoms.

* By Monday, it was a full outbreak when another six people were reportedly sick.

* The nurse made a list and tracked symptoms back to the 7/11.

* An outbreak is defined with Covid if it's two or more cases, then facility notifies public health. But s/he was not sure how it works with unidentified illnesses.

* Typically, if you have 3 or more within 24 hours it is considered an outbreak.

* Symptoms only last about 24 hours.

* So far, a total of 27 people have been sick and currently three are still having symptoms.

On 07/17/24 at approximately 2:40 pm, these findings were reviewed with and acknowledged by Staff 1.

The facility failed to immediately notify the Department Central Office and local public health authority of the occurrence of epidemic disease.

Verbal Plan of Correction:

Staff 1 will provide training to Med-Techs and the nurses and will review the facility's protocol now s/he knows if there are any people experiencing similar symptoms by an unknown cause to reach out to LPH and make sure the Operation Policy Analyst is notified on day one.