One of the most important elements in operating an ALF is hiring the right team of people to care for your residents. These people are a special breed and must be dedicated to having a servant’s heart along with showing compassion and care for all they do. In addition to those traits the ADPH has required the following stipulations to all potential staff members in an ALF:
(1) An assisted living facility shall ensure personnel is employed and on duty to meet the care and safety needs of all residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(a) An assisted living facility shall be staffed at all times by at least one individual who has a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
(b) An assisted living facility must be staffed to ensure the safe evacuation of all residents in the event of a fire or emergency.
(2) Employee Schedule. An assisted living facility shall post a schedule of employees indicating names and days and hours scheduled to work. This schedule shall be retained in the facility for 6 months after use.
(3) Employee Screening.
(a) Prior to any resident contact, such as but not limited to assistance with activities of daily living, newly employed personnel shall have a physical examination certifying that the employee is free of signs and symptoms of infectious skin lesions and diseases that are capable of transmission to residents through normal staff to resident contact. Employees who develop signs or symptoms of infectious skin lesions or diseases that would be capable of transmission to residents through normal staff to resident contact shall not be permitted to have resident contact until free from such signs and symptoms.
(b) Not more than 30 days prior to any resident contact, newly employed personnel shall be properly evaluated for tuberculosis.
(c) Vaccines. Assisted living facilities shall immunize employees in accordance with current recommended Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines (www.cdc.gov/vaccines). Any particular vaccination requirement may be waived or delayed by the State Health Officer in the event of a vaccine shortage.
(d) An assisted living facility shall not hire an individual whose name is on the Alabama Department of Public Health Nurse Aide Abuse Registry.
Top Takeaway:
- (a) Prior to any resident contact, such as but not limited to assistance with activities of daily living, newly employed personnel shall have a physical examination certifying that the employee is free of signs and symptoms of infectious skin lesions and diseases that are capable of transmission to residents through normal staff to resident contact. Employees who develop signs or symptoms of infectious skin lesions or diseases that would be capable of transmission to residents through normal staff to resident contact shall not be permitted to have resident contact until free from such signs and symptoms.
(b) Not more than 30 days prior to any resident contact, newly employed personnel shall be properly evaluated for tuberculosis.
One of the top deficiencies we see year in and year out is a failure to have employees screened for tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. Maybe you did screen them, but did you keep an accurate record of that screening? If not, you will be tagged during an inspection. Ensure you or your designee have a system put in place for tracking these screenings.