Aging and People with Disabilities
Safety, Oversight and Quality
Print Violation: OR0005117100
Provider Information
Avamere at St Helens
2400 GABLE RD
Saint Helens, OR 97051
- Provider ID
- 50R275
- Administrator
- Nicole Whittaker
- Phone
- (503) 366-8070
- nmwhittaker@avamerecommunities.com
Violation Details
- Date
- 6/11/2024
- Report number
- OR0005117100
- Type
- Licensing Violation
- Level
- 4 - Serious harm, death, imminent danger or chronic regulatory noncompliance
- Allegation
- Failed to provide safe environment
- Result
- Substantiated
- Rule(s) Violated
-
External site: 411-054-0025(5)(b)
External site: 411-054-0065(1) and (6)
- Findings
- The facility's failure to have a full-time administrator onsite at least 40-hours per week and the facility's failure to post the name of the designee in charge was confirmed on June 11, 2024, and June 12, 2024, by the Department's Licensing Compliant Unit (LCU). The facility's failure placed its' residents at risk of serious harm. LCU's investigative findings include, but are not limited to: On June 11, 2024, at 4:43pm and on June 12, 2024, at 9:04am, the LCU's Compliance Specialist entered the facility and did not observe a licensed administrator to be onsite. Facility staff were interviewed and made the following statements: At 4:45pm: - "there is no administrator for the memory care". - "The previous administrator stepped down two weeks ago". - "If he/she doesn't know who the manager on duty is, he/she will go to the med tech". At 5:00pm: - "Staff is available via phone and not scheduled to be onsite this week". At 5:30pm: - "The Administrator is (Staff 3)". - "There was no information provided on who was to fill-in when former MCC Administrator stepped down". At 5:45pm: - "Since the former MCC Administrator stepped down, he/she can't say there's been a licensed administrator onsite for 40 hours". On June 11, 2024, the Regional Director of Operations was unable to provide a clear plan as to what steps/actions were taken to inform facility staff who was in charge for Facility Operational Oversight when the former MCC Administrator stepped down. On June 11, 2024, there were no waivers or exceptions granted or provided that allowed the facility to operate without an administrator. On June 11, 2024, at approximately 4:45pm, it was observed that the facility's required Designated Person in Charge signage stated "Health Care Coordinator" but lacked the name of the staff member in charge. By 7:35pm, the signage was updated with a name. However, on June 12, 2024, at 9:16am, it was observed there was no administrator onsite and the facility's required Designated Person in Charge signage was blank. In separate interviews on June 12, 2024, staff identified the nurses and RCC's as being the person in charge, that the RCC was in charge since the former MCC Administrator stepped down, and there was no communication to care staff who was filling in as interim Administrator. In an interview on June 12, 2024, at 10:38am, Witnesses (visitors and/or community partners) were interviewed and stated that a manager had not been seen in the MCC during their visits. The Witnesses stated that if they had concerns, they would go to the front desk for help but did not know who was in charge. The facility's failure to provide administrative oversight is a violation of Oregon Administrative Rules and placed residents at risk of serious harm. The facility's failure necessitated ODHS to issue license condition, RCFCD24-00603, on facility effective June 14, 2024, at 5pm.