By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
An inspection report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Advena Living of Clay Center, revealed the reason why a total of 30 residents were evacuated from the nursing home.
According to the CMS report, an inspection conducted on Wednesday, August 6 revealed that 'mold' was present in 20 resident's room air conditioning vents, in the entryway of the facility, 4 empty rooms, a quiet room, the activity room and on the floors of west shower. During that time, the facility housed 30 residents and had only potentially 6 usable rooms, but did not have any signs of decontamination procedures in the occupied rooms that had mold.
The report further stated, the facility had 'not initiated an evacuation plan to mitigate the risk to the residents from the highly infectious mold.'
CMS stated the 'facility must establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.'
Furthermore, CMS sampled 20 residents, including 6 with impaired respiratory function.
ORIGINAL: More questions than answers: State of Kansas evacuates nursing home residents in Clay Center
Based on the observation, Advena 'failed to take immediate actions to safely relocate residents from mold-contaminated areas and failed to decontaminate facility areas populated and used by residents.'
During the inspection of every room, it was determined that a 'thick, black-colored mold growing in all rooms on the one hundred hall, rooms 101 through 115 (no room 114), and rooms 201 through 210 on the two hundred hall.' The inspection further stated 'this deficient practice placed all the residents in the facility in immediate jeopardy and at risk for complications related to mold exposure.'
However, Advena staff attempted/offered to bring all residents to the living or dining room, but some residents chose to stay in their rooms.
As mentioned in the report, 'one resident laid in his bed without a mask or any protective equipment with personal items all around the room. 8-10 facility staff then proceeded to spray bleach water in the rooms with black colored mold in the air vents and coils... The staff who were cleaning the air conditioning vents and coils stated they were not trained on how to clean black mold.'
Mold has the capability of causing health problems and producing allergens, (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins), according to the report. Moreover, inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis).
CMS stated, allergic reactions to mold are common and they can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. Additionally, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of both mold allergic and non-allergic people, according to the report.
Relocation unknown
Information has not been disclosed, as far as the exact locations of where the residents were relocated.
According to Cara Sloan-Ramos of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), KDADS cannot release any information on where the residents were relocated, due to 'privacy.' However, she stated all residents 'have been successfully relocated.'
According to the report, 'all residents were relocated to another facility on Thursday, August 7.'
Advena Living on Tenth (Topeka), Advena Living of Cherryvale and Advena Living of Fountainview (Rose Hill) all decided to leave "no comment" regarding the relocation of the residents.
Advena Living of Fountainview added they are not disclosing any information due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA, is a US federal law that sets national standards for protecting sensitive patient health information, ensuring the portability of health insurance between jobs and simplifying healthcare transactions.
Salina Post is currently awaiting responses from Advena Living of Bonner Springs, Clearwater and Woodlawn (Wichita).