Department of Health & Human Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Form Approved

OMB No. 0938-0391
Statement of Deficiencies (X1) Provider/Supplier/CLIA Identification Number 757658 (X3) Date Survey Completed 11/30/2023
Name of Provider or Supplier Accentcare Home Health Of California, Inc. Street Address, City, State 2300 Contra Costa Blvd, Suite 240, Pleasant Hill, CA
For information on the provider's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the provider or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID Prefix Tag Summary Statement of Deficiencies

(Each deficiency should be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
G0682 Infection Prevention
CFR(s): 484.70(a)

Standard: Infection Prevention. The HHA must follow accepted standards of practice, including the use of standard precautions, to prevent the transmission of infections and communicable diseases.


This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by:
Based on observation, interview and record review, the agency failed to follow standard precaution during patient care for one of seven sampled patients (Patient 1.)


This failure had the potential to put the patient, staff, and family members at increased risk for infection.


During an observation on 11/28/23 at 8:39 a.m. in Patient 1’s residence, Patient 1 had saliva drooling from the mouth. Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) was observed to put on a bib on the patient with no gloves on.


During a concurrent observation and interview on 11/28/2023 at 8:45 a.m. with LVN, LVN was observed not to perform hand hygiene (way of cleaning one’s hands through hand washing or alcohol-based hand rub) and put on gloves in between repositioning Patient 1 and checking the vital signs (clinical measurements that indicate the state of a patient’s essential body functions). LVN stated that standard precautions include performing hand hygiene and putting on gloves during patient care and in between tasks.


During a review of Patient 1’s “Home Health Certification and Plan of Care (Form 485),” dated 10/30/23-12/28/23, the Form 485 indicated, under Safety Measures Patient 1 is on Standard Precaution for MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, bacteria that does not get better with the type of antibiotics that usually cure staph infections.)


During an interview on 11/30/23 at 9:48 a.m. with Director of Patient Care Services (DPCS), DPCS stated standard precaution includes hand hygiene, using gloves while doing patient care and doing procedures, incontinent care and when there is a risk of coming in contact with body fluids. DPCS stated that saliva is one form of a body fluid. DPCS stated that it is important to follow standard precautions to prevent the spread of infection from patient to nurse and nurse to patient or family members.


During a review of the agency’s policy and procedure (P&P) titled, “Infection Control: Standard Precautions,” dated 12/01/19, the P&P indicated, “Standard Precautions are used for the care of all patients, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status.” P&P indicated “Standard Precautions include: a. Hand hygiene… c. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE should be worn whenever contact with pathogens is likely, including when: contact with blood, bodily fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin is likely. PPE includes gloves, single use, disposable, medical examination gloves.”