South Carolina              
Administrative Law Court
Edgar A. Brown building 1205 Pendleton St., Suite 224 Columbia, SC 29201 Voice: (803) 734-0550

SC Administrative Law Court Decisions

CAPTION:
S&W Community Care Home vs. SCDHEC

AGENCY:
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

PARTIES:
Petitioner:
S&W Community Care Home

Respondent:
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
 
DOCKET NUMBER:
98-ALJ-07-0306-CC

APPEARANCES:
Jerry L. Paul, Director
Health Licensing Section

Nancy S. Layman
Senior Attorney for Health Regulation

Annel S. Wade
Administrator Licensee

Justin Lucey, Attorney
 

ORDERS:

CONSENT ORDER

STATEMENT OF FACTS




1. Annel Wade (Licensee) has been the holder of a license to operate S&W Community Care Home (Facility) issued by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (Department) pursuant to S. C. Code Ann. §44-7-110 et. seq. (Supp. 1997).

2. The Department notified the Licensee by letter dated may 7, 1998 (attachment A) that it was imposing a monetary penalty of $6,100.00 and suspending the license of S &W Community Care Home for repeat violations of R 61-84, Standards for Licensing Community Residential Care Facilities. the letter advised that this determination to impose a $6,100.00 monetary penalty and to suspend the facility license would become final thirty days from the mailing of the letter unless the Licensee filed an appeal in accordance with S. C. Code Ann. §44-7-320 (B)(Supp. 1997).

3. The Licensee requested a meeting with the Department to discuss this matter. At the June 19,

Consent Order

S & W Community Care Home

Page Two



1998 meeting, the Attorney for the Licensee, Justin Lucey, advised that the number of excess beds of licensed capacity had been removed and that his client had been striving to improve the operations of the facility in order to be in substantial compliance with R 61-84.

THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED

1. The Licensee will initiate action to ensure that other violations as noted in the Department's letter to the facility (attachment A), will not be repeated.

2. In consideration of the remedial action taken by the licensee and action to prevent a recurrence of these violations, the Department agrees to suspend $5,100.00 of the $6,100.00 monetary penalty assessed against S & W Community Care Home. Therefore, the penalty amount due and payable to the Department within ten days of execution of this Consent Order is $1,000.00.

3. The Department also agrees to lift the suspension of admission and readmission of residents into S &W Community Care Home immediately.

4. The Licensee agrees that she will take six (6) additional hours of continuing education training beyond the training requirements established by the South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators. This continusing education training must relate to the operation of a community residential care facility and contain subject matter that would be approved in writing by the South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators before taking this training. The Licensee agrees to submit documentation that she has successfully completed this additional training to the Department by June 30, 1999.

Consent Order

S & W Community Care Home

Page Three

4. It is understood by the Licensee that S.C. Code Ann. §44-7-320 (D) (Supp. 1997) states that "Failure to pay a penalty within thirty days is grounds for suspension, revocation, or denial of a renewal of a license. No license may be issued, reissued, or renewed until all penalties finally assessed against a person or facility have been paid."

5. If repeat violation(s) of those sections noted in attachment A are noted during subsequent inspections by the Department during the twelve month period following execution of this Consent Order, the Department may require payment of all or part of the suspended portion of the assessed penalty and/or may impose an additional penalty payable to the Department immediately in accordance with Section 103 D., S.C. Code Regs. 61-84 (Supp. 1007), and the Licensee shall immediately pay to the Department the assessed penalty.

6. The Department in no way waives its authority to enforce, by imposing penalties or

otherwise, all statutory and regulatory requirements for the licensure of S & W Community Care Home.

7. The Licensee, or her designee, shall take immediate steps to correct all violations noted in attachment A and all violations noted by the Department in previous inspections. The Licensee will establish procedures to ensure that violations in attachment A and similar violations of R 61-86, Standards for Licensing Community Residential Care Facilities, do not occur in the future.

8. It is further agreed that future violations or repeat violations of the regulations or applicable licensing statutes may result in the imposition of penalties or revocation of the license to operate S &W Community Care Home, pursuant to S. C. Code Ann. §44-7-320 (Supp. 1997)

Consent Order

S & W Community Care Home

Page Four

and the facility administrator has been informed of these potential actions.

AND IT IS SO ORDERED


APPROVED:





Alison Renee Lee Date

Administrative Law Judge



WE CONSENT:







Jerry L. Paul, Director Date

Health Licensing Section







Nancy S. Layman Date

Senior Attorney for Health Regulation







Annel S. Wade Date

Administrator Licensee





Justin Lucey, Attorney Date



South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

HEALTH LICENSING SECTION

Summary of Violations (Basis for Imposing Penalties)


S & W Community Care Home CRCF 18

(Facility) (Type of Facility) (Number of Beds)



Date Cited
R61-84

Section



Class

Description of Violation
8/6/97 204.B.4 III The pre-employment physical was conducted after the date of hire for 1 of 4 employee records reviewed. 0 0
1/20/98 204.B III Two staff did not have pre-employment physical exams available for review. $100-500 0
4/2/98 204.B.4 III There was no documentation of an annual TB test for 4 of 6 staff records reviewed. $200-1,000 0
12/31/96 204.D III One employee folder lacked documentation of the five in service training having been done. 0 0
8/6/97 204.D III There was no documentation of medication administration training in 3 of 4 staff records reviewed. $100-500 0
1/20/98 204.D III One staff person did not have in service training in (1) fire protection, (2)medication administration, and(3) communicable diseases. $200-1,000 0
4/2/98 204.D III There was no documentation of annual training in contagious diseases and licensing regulations (except administrator) for 6 of 6 staff records reviewed. $500-2,000 $2,000
4/1/98 205.A.2.B III There was no documentation of physical examinations and TB tests for volunteers working in the facility. Individuals from the homeless shelter were observed working in/around the facility. $100-500 0




Date Cited
R61-84

Section



Class

Description of Violation
12/31/97 209.B II Correspondence received from the facility on 11/14/97 indicated that the facility refund policy was in violation of "The Resident Bill of Rights." The following statements in the facility's policy are in violation of licensing standards. Under the heading "Termination," the policy states, "If the family, client, or placement agency should decide to move client before 30 days, all monies that were paid for the month will not be refunded, if the client... ." Further under "To: All Relatives of Responsible Parties," the policy states for item #4. "We require a 30-day written notice when a resident is planning to leave the facility for any reason. If notice is not given, the resident will be charged for the upcoming month." Item #6 states, "Should any client decide to leave the facility of his/her own free will or through family or other factors after having paid their monthly fee, no refund will be provided." $100-500 0
1/20/98 209.B.1 II Five residents' forms to explain charges for services were not updated accordingly with appropriate signatures, dates and dollar amounts. $200-1,000 0
4/1/98 209.B.1 II There was no documentation or documentation was unclear as to explanation of charges and services for 3 of 6 resident records reviewed. $500-2,000 $500
4/1/98 209.B.4 II Although documentation indicated that the administrator handled the resident's monies, there was no documentation of the resident's permission to manage monies. $100-500 0
4/1/98 301.A II Residents of the "Little Owl Homeless Shelter" were observed to come and go from the S &W CCH facility during mealtime and were being served meals from the S & W kitchen. Several residents from the homeless shelter confirmed this action.

The facility is licensed for 18 beds; a total of 20 beds were observed set up.

$100-500 0




Date Cited
R61-84

Section



Class


Description of Violation
4/1/98 305.C III Interview with the administrator did indicate that a resident had done minor chores around the facility. It is unknown as to whether this was voluntary, however, there was no documentation in an individual care plan (there was no individual care plan to allow this resident to engage in this activity [resident is no longer at S&W]). 0 0
4/1/98 307 II There was no documentation of vaccinations for dogs observed outside the facility. $100-500 0
4/1/98 402.B.4 I The admission exam stated, "a licensed nurse is needed on a daily basis," for 1 of 6 resident records reviewed. $200-1,000 0
1/20/98 402.D II There was no documentation of plan for emergency care and routine medical care for 1 of 8 resident files reviewed. $100-500 0
4/1/98 402.D II There was no documentation of an admission record for 2 of 6 resident records reviewed. $200-1,000 $200
1/28/97 505.B I Physician orders for medication were not available for resident A. $200-1,000 0
8/6/97 505.B I Physician's orders for residents' medications were not documented for 2 of 4 resident records reviewed, or were unclear $500-2,000 0
4/1/98 505.B I There were no physician orders for medications for 1 of 6 resident records reviewed. $1,000-5,000 $1,000
8/6/97 506 II No documentation of the individual care plan annual review or sponsor signature, or resident signature was found for 4 of 4 individual care plans reviewed. $100-500 0
4/1/98 506 II There was no documentation of an individual care plan for 1 of 6 resident records reviewed. $200-1,000 $200
4/1/98 801 II Glass in the door at the rear entrance was open to insects and had exposed sharp edge along the bottom creating a safety hazard. $100-500 0
5/23/96 802.A II Mice droppings were observed on the food pantry flooring and shelving. $100-500 0


Date Cited
R61-84

Section



Class


Description of Violation
7/25/97 802.A II Kitchen floor had dried food debris all over it -- small pieces. $200-1000 0
8/6/97 802.A II Musty odors were observed in bedrooms #2 and #4. $500-2,000 0
4/2/98 802.A II 1.) A strong unpleasant odor was encountered in the TV room, room #5, and behind the facility.

2.) The toilet had overflowed in the green bathroom -- the floor was soiled.

3.) Paint was observed stored under the sink in the rear bathroom.

$1,000-5,000 $500
7/25/97 1006.B.3.a II A.) One dozen eggs at room temperature were observed on kitchen counter.

B.) One container of cheese sitting on counter and one container of margarine/butter sitting on kitchen counter -- both at room temperature.

$100-500 0
4/2/98 1006.B.3.a II Eggs were observed unrefrigerated taped up in a box on the porch during the entire visit. $200-1,000 $200
4/2/98 1102.A III A "dead" fire extinguisher was the only one observed in the facility. 0 0
4/1/98 1201

2001

III Residents of the S & W CCH are placed at potential risk due to the close proximity to the "Little Owl Homeless Shelter." Due to activities of drug/alcohol disturbances, as related in interviews with individuals, and a history of visits by law enforcement officers, the facility administrator must take necessary measures to insure resident safety. The facility must physically delineate itself from other activities by fencing the S & W CCH surround perimeter, in accordance with all fire and life safety codes. It is the responsibility of S & W CCH Administration to take whatever measures are necessary to insure resident safety. 0 0


Date Cited
R61-84

Section



Class
Description of Violation
3/8/96 2002 III Self-closing devices are being defeated by wedges blocking doors open. A6/N4

Fire extinguishers should be serviced by a certified company on an annual basis. B5/603.3.1

Doors to bedrooms #1, #3 & #6 are required to be solid core type.

C5/1114

Electrical switch cover in room #4 needs to be replaced. EE7/NEC

Chemical oxygen is hooked up to resident in room #4 and the presence of smoking is being occurred. F5-F719.301.2M

0 0
8/6/97 2002 III Remove chain from front porch exit door, all exit doors require a one lock movement with the thumb. A2/1114

Emergency light by office is inoperable. Emergency lights are required to work properly at all times. A4/807.1

Self-closing devices are required on all bedroom doors for proper operation.

A6/114

Electrical wires for light on hood stove should be placed in a junction box or removed. EE&/NEC

Electrical receptacle in east hall bathroom has an open ground that needs to be repaired by an electrician. EE7/NEC

$100-500 $500
4/1/98 2701.1.B III Tearing was observed in the linoleum floor in room $6 and #4. The end of the carpet in room #1 and at entrance was rolled up. The "square patch" in the hallway to the TV room was a trip hazard. The rear entrance steps were not illuminated creating a tripping hazard. 0 0






Totals $7,100-33,500 $6,100


Brown Bldg.

 

 

 

 

 

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