Petitioner: AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
Respondent: HEALTH CENTER OF PENSACOLA, INC., D/B/A THE HEALTH CENTER OF PENSACOLA
Judges: BARBARA J. STAROS
Agency: Agency for Health Care Administration
Locations: Pensacola, Florida
Filed: Jul. 16, 2002
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, January 24, 2003.
Latest Update: Jan. 21, 2025
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_ STATE OF FLORIDA
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE
ADMINISTRATION,
, Lay, Vey. e
Petitioner, LA ALS Sf
vs. Case No. 2002015481
THE HEALTH CENTER OF PENSACOLA, INC.
d/b/a THE HEALTH CENTER OF PENSACOLA
The Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
COMES NOW the AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
(“AHCA”), by and through the undersigned counsel, and files
this Administrative Complaint against THE HEALTH CENTER OP
PENSACOLA, INC. a/b/a THE HEALTH CENTER OF PENSACOLA
(“Respondent”), pursuant to sections 120.569, and 120.57,
Florida Statutes, and alleges:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1. This is an action to uphold Respondent's
conditional licensure status.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
2. This tribunal has jurisdiction pursuant to
sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes.
evar 4
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THE HEALTH CENTER
3. Venue shall be determined pursuant to Rule 28-
106.27, Florida Administrative Code.
PARTIES
4. AHCA is the regulatory agency responsible for
licensure of nursing homes and enforcement of all
applicable federal regulations, state statutes and rules
governing skilled nursing facilities pursuant to the
Omnibus Reconciliation Act. of 1987, Title Iv, Subtitle Cc
(as amended); Chapter 400, Part II, Florida Statutes, and;
Chapter 59A-4 Fla. Admin. Code; respectively.
Ss. Respondent is a skilled nursing facility in the
‘State of Florida, whose 180-bed nursing home is located at
8475 University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida. 32514.
Respondent is licensed as a skilled nursing facility
license #SNF14130961; certificate number 8393, effective
February 12, 2002. Respondent was at all times material
hereto, a licensed facility under the licensing authority
of AHCA,. and was required to comply with all applicable
. regulations, statutes and rules.
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Court x
THE STABBING OF RESIDENT #1 VIOLATES THE STATUTES AND RULES
GOVERNING NURSING HOMES AND COMPROMISED THE RESIDENT’ S ABILITY
TO ATTAIN, OR MAINTAIN, THE RIGHEST PRACTICABLE LEVEL OF
WELL-BEING, AND DENIED THE RESIDENT THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM
ABUSE.
42 CFR 483.13 (2);
Section 400.23(7) (5), Foa. Srat.;
Sectton 400.022(1) (0), Fua. STAT.;
Section 400.23(8) (B}, FLA. STAT., AND;
Rone 59A-4.1288, Fua. Apmin. Cove
6. AHCA re-alleges and incorporates by reference
paragraphs (1) through (5) as if fully set forth herein.
7. AHCA surveyors conducted a survey of Respondent’s
facility on February 12, 2002. Staff interview, record
review and surveyor observation brought to light the
following:
a. Resident #1 had significant cognitive impairment
and an inability to carry on any meaningful
conversation,
b. Resident #1 resided in facility’s locked
Alzheimer's unit.
c. On, or about, November 22, 2001, staff member
R.J. stabbed Resident #1 in the hand with a fork
during supper.
The stabbing of Resident #1 constituted abuse.
8. Pacility staff stabbing Resident #1 denied the
resident’s right to be free from physical abuse in
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violation of 42 CPR 483.13(b), section 400.022(1) (0), Fla.
Stat. and Rule 59A-4.1288, Fla. Admin. Code., respectively,
to wit:
a)
b)
c)
a)
9.
42 CFR 483.13(b) states:
The resident has the right to be free from verbal,
sexual, physical, and mental abuse, corporal
punishment, and involuntary seclusion.
Rule 59A-4.1288, Fla. Admin. Code states:
Nursing homes that participate in Title XVIII or
XIX must follow certification rules and regulations
found in 42 CFR 483, Requirements for Long Term
Care Facilities, September 26, 1991, which is
incorporated by reference. Non-certified
facilities must follow the contents of this rule
and the standards contained in the Conditions of
Participation found in 42 CFR 483, Requirements for
Long Term Care Facilities, September 26, 1991,
which is incorporated by reference with respect to
social services, dental services, infection
control, dietary and the therapies.
Section 400.022(1), Fla. Stat. states:
All licensees of nursing home facilities shall
adopt and make public a statement of the rights and
responsibilities of the residents of such
facilities and shall treat such residents in
accordance with the provisions of that statement.
The statement shall assure each resident the
following:
Section 400.022(1) (0), Fla. Stat. states:
The right to be free from mental and physical
abuse... a
Facility slaflfl stabbing Kesident #1 compromised
Resident #1’s ability to maintain, or reach, his or her
highest practicable well-being and is a class II deficiency
as defined in section 400.23(8) (b), Fla. Stat. to wit:
a)
Section 400.23(8), Fla. Stat. states:
The agency shall adopt rules to provide that, when
the criteria established under subsection (2) are
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a)
1o,
8504749795 THE HEALTH CENTER PAGE
nol met, such deficiencies shall be classified
according to the nature and the scope of the
deficiency. The scope shali be cited as isolated,
patterned, or widespread. An isolated deficiency is
a deficiency affecting one or a very limited number
of residents, or involving one or a very limited
number of staff, or a situation that occurred only
occasionally or in a very limited number of
locations. A patterned deficiency is a deficiency
where more than a very limited numbor of residents
are affected, or more than a very limited number of
staff are involved, or the situation has occurred
in several locations, or.the same resident or
residents have been affected by repeated
occurrences of the same deficienl practice but the
effect of the deficient practice is not found to be
pervasive throughout the facility. A widespread
deficiency is a deficiency in which the problems
causing the deficiency are pervasive in the
facility or represent systemic faiture that has
affected or has the potential to affect a large
portion of the facility's residents. The agency
shall indicate the classification on the face of
the notice of deficiencies as follows...
Section 400.23(8) (b), Fla. Stat., defines a class
Il deficiency as: . :
A deficiency that the agency determines has
compromised the resident's ability to maintain or
reach his or her highest practicable physical,
mental, and psychosocial well-being, as defined by
an accurate and comprehensive resident assessment,
Plan of care, and provision of services. A class II
deficiency is subject to a civil penalty of $2,500
for an isolated deficiency, $5,000 for a patterned
deficiency, and $7,500 fora widespread deficiency.
The fine amount shall be doubled for each
deficiency if the facility was previously cited for
one of more class I or class II deficiencies during
the last annual inspection or any inspection or
complaint investigation since the last annual
inspection. A fine shall be levied notwithstanding
the correction of the deficiency.
Pursuant to the requirements of 400.23(7), Fla.
Stat. and 400.23(7) (b), Fla. Stat., respectively:
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a
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a}
b)
8584749795 THE HEALTH CENTER PAGE
Section 400.23(7), Fla. Stat. states:
The Agency shall, at least every 15 months,
evaluate all nursing home facilities and make a
determination as to the degree of compliance by
each licensee with the established rules adopted
under this part as a basis for assigning a
licensure status to that facility. The agency
shall base its evaluation on the most recent
inspection report, taking into consideration
findings from other official reports, surveys,
interviews, investigations, and inspections. The
agency shall assign a licensure status of standard
or conditional to each nursing home.
Section 400.23(7) (bh), Pla. Stat. defines
conditional licensure status as:
.the presence of one or more class I or class IT
deficiencies, or class III deficiencies not
corrected within the time established by the
agency, is not in substantial coupliance at the
time of the survey with criteria established under
this part or with rules adopted by the agency. If
the facility has no class I, class II, or class IIT
deficiencies at the time of the follow-up survey, a
standard licensure status may be assigned.
Count Iz
THE FACILITY’S FAILURE TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT ITS ABUSE
POLICY VIOLATES THE STATUTES AND RULES GOVERNING NURSING HOMES
AND COMPROMISED THE RESIDENT’ S ABILITY TO ATTAIN, OR MAINTAIN,
THE HIGHEST PRACTICABLE LEVEL OF WELL-BEING.
42 CFR 483.13 (c) (1) (1);
Secrron 400.23(7), Fra. Star.;
Section 400.23(7) (8), Fua. STaAT.;
Secrion 400.23(8) (3), Fua. STAr., AND;
Rout S9A-4.1288, Fua. Apmtnw. Cops
11. AHCA re-alleges and incorporates by reference
paragraphs (1) through (10) as if fully set forth herein.
12
During the survey conducted on February 12, 2002,
AHCA surveyors determined the following:
a. Staff member, M.M., stated she heard staff member RJ.
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8564749795 THE HEALTH CENTER PAGE
tell Resident #1, “If you keep messing with other
peoples’ food, I’m going to stick {or slab) you.”
M.M. then saw R.J. stab Resident #1 in the hand with a
fork.
Yet another staff member (A.B.) stated on the Friday
after the incident that R.J. told her that she (R.J.)
had stuck Resident #1 because the resident wouldn't
stop reaching into other residents’ plates.
-M.M. did not report the incident, as required by
facility policy, for two days.
-A.R. did not report the incident, as required by
facility policy, for a day.
. The perpetrator did not self-report.
. Neither M.M., nor A.B. called the abuse hotline as_
required by facility policy and section
415.1034 (1) (a) (4), Fla. Stat.
Section 415.1034(1) (a) (4), Fla. Stat. requires
MANDATORY REPORTING by (a) Any person, including, but
not limited to, any: (4) Nursing home staff; assisted
living facility staff; adult day care ceuler stafr;
adult family-care home staff; social worker; or other
professional adult care, residential, or institutional
staff;
Respondent failed to successfully implement its abuse
policy and the abuse-reporting requirement was violated by
7
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facility staff.
13. Respondent’ s failure to successfully implement
its abuse policy violates the requirement of 42 CFR
483.13 (c) (1) (i) and Rule 59A-4.1288, Fla. Admin Code.,
respectively, to wit:
a) Section 483.12(c) (1) (i), Fla. Stat. states:
The facility must develop and implement written
policies and procedures that prohibit mistreatment,
neglect, and abuse of residents and
misappropriation of resident property.’
b) Rule 59A-4.1288, Fla. Admin. Code states:
Nursing homes that participate in Title xvrrz or
‘XIX must follow certification mules and regulations
‘found in 42 CPR 483, Requirements for Long Term
Care Facilities, SepLember 26, 1991, which is
‘incorporated by reference. Non-certified
facilities must follow the contents of this rule
and the standards contained in the Conditions of
Participation found in 42 CPR 483, Requirements for
Long Term Care Facilities, September 26, 1991,
which is incorporated by reference with respect to
social services, dental services, infection
control, dietary and the therapies.
14. Respondent’s failure to successfully implement
its abuse policy compromised Resident #1's ability to
maintain, or reach, hia or her highest practicable well-
being and ig a class II deficiency as defined in section
400.23(8) (b), Fla. Stat.
15. The above constitutes grounds for the imposition
ef conditional licensure status, pursuant to section
400.23 (7) (b), Fla. Stat.
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CLATM FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, the Agency respectfully requests the
following relief:
1). Factual and legal findings in favor ot the
Agency on Counts I and II;
2). Uphold the imposition of the conditional
license dated February 12, 2002, copy attached
{Ex.1).
Respondent is notified that it has a right to request an
administrative hearing pursuant to section 120.569 and
120.57, Florida. Statutes. Specific options for
administrative action are set out in the attached Blection
ef Rights (ome page) and explained in the attached
Explanation of Rights (one page). All requests for hearing
shall be made to the Agency for Health Care Administration,
and delivered to the Agemcy for Health Care Administration,
Building 3, MSC #3, 2727 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, Florida,
32308; Virginia Daire, Agency Clerk.
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RESPONDENT IS FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT tae, FAILURE. TO
REQUEST A HEARING WITHIN 21 DAYS oF icpurr’ COR, THIS
hy
COMPLAINT WILL RESULT IV AN ADMISSION OF THE/FACTS ALLECAD
IN THE COMPLAINT AND THE ENTRY OF A FINAL ORDER BY THE
AGENCY.
Respectfully submitted.
Dated this Ka day of ey, 200 - 4.
: e/a
Christine T. Messana
Fla. Bar. No. 0153818
Counsel for Petitioner
Agency for Health Care
Administration
Bldg. 3, MSC#3
2727 Mahan Nrive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
(850) 922-5873 (office)
(850) 413-9313 (fax)
ee: Elizabeth Dudek
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the
foregoing has been served by certified mail on this
Ate. day of Ad 1 2002 to: The Health Center of
Pensacola, Inc., d/b/a The Health Center of Pensacola, 8475
University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32514
Chg SA
Christine T. =
10
Docket for Case No: 02-002789
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 24, 2003 |
Order Closing File issued. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jan. 22, 2003 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Nov. 27, 2002 |
Notice of Serving Petitioner`s First Request for Admissions (filed via facsimile).
|
Nov. 18, 2002 |
Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for January 30, 2003; 10:30 a.m.; Pensacola, FL).
|
Nov. 12, 2002 |
(Joint) Status Report (filed by Respondent via facsimile).
|
Oct. 31, 2002 |
Order Granting Continuance issued (parties to advise status by November 12, 2002).
|
Oct. 29, 2002 |
Joint Motion for Continuance (filed by Respondent via facsimile).
|
Sep. 17, 2002 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing issued (hearing set for November 6, 2002; 10:00 a.m.; Pensacola, FL).
|
Aug. 30, 2002 |
Motion for Continuance (filed by Respondent via facsimile).
|
Jul. 24, 2002 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
|
Jul. 24, 2002 |
Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for October 14, 2002; 9:30 a.m.; Pensacola, FL).
|
Jul. 19, 2002 |
Response to Initial Order (filed by Respondent via facsimile).
|
Jul. 16, 2002 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jul. 16, 2002 |
Amended Petition for Formal Administrative Hearing filed.
|
Jul. 16, 2002 |
Notice (of Agency referral) filed.
|
Jul. 16, 2002 |
Initial Order issued.
|