Petitioner: AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
Respondent: A. D. M. E. INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LTD. D/B/A OCEANSIDE EXTENDED CARE CENTER
Judges: CLAUDE B. ARRINGTON
Agency: Agency for Health Care Administration
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Mar. 24, 2005
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, May 26, 2005.
Latest Update: Jan. 10, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA Pg 7)
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION a fe At 3
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ;
ADMINISTRATION,
Petitioner, AHCA No.: 2005000387
AHCA No.: 2005000386
v. Return Receipt Requested:
7002 2410 0001 4234 4547
A.D.M.E. INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LTD, 7002 2410 0001 4234 4554
d/b/a OCEANSIDE EXTENDED CARE 7002 2410 0001 4234 4561
CENTER,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
COMES NOW the Agency for Health Care Administration
(hereinafter referred to as “AHCA”), by and through the
undersigned counsel, and files this Administrative Complaint
against A.D.M.E. Investment Partners, LTD, d/b/a Oceanside
Extended Care Center (hereinafter “Oceanside Extended Care
Center”), pursuant to Chapter 400, Part II, and Section
120.60, Fla. Stat. (2004), and alleges:
NATURE OF THE ACTIONS
1. This is an action to impose an administrative fine
of $5,000.00 pursuant to Section 400.23(8), Fla. Stat.
(2004), for the protection of the public health, safety and
welfare.
2. This is an action to impose a Conditional Licensure
status to Oceanside Extended Care Center, pursuant to
Section 400.23(7) (b), Fla. Stat (2004).
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
3. This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to Sections
120.569 and 120.57, Fla. Stat. (2004), and Chapter 23-106,
F.A.C.
4. Venue lies in Miami-Dade County, pursuant to
Section 400.121(1)(e), Fla. Stat. (2004), and Rule 28-
106.207, Florida Administrative Code.
PARTIES
S. AHCA is the regulatory authority responsible for
licensure and enforcement of all applicable statutes and
rules governing nursing homes, pursuant to Chapter 400, Part
Il, Fla. Stat., (2004), and Chapter 59A-4 Florida
Administrative Code.
6. Oceanside Extended Care Center is a 196-bed
skilled nursing facility located at 550 9™ Street, Miami
Beach, Florida 33139. Oceanside Extended Care Center is
licensed as a skilled nursing facility; license number
SNF1171096; certificate number 12194, effective 12/02/2004
through 12/31/2004, and certificate number 12195, effective
date 01/01/2005 through 12/31/2005. Oceanside Extended Care
Center was at all times material hereto a licensed facility
under the licensing authority of AHCA and was required to
comply with all applicable rules and statutes.
7. Because Oceanside Extended Care Center
participates in Title XVIII or XIX, it must follow the
certification rules and regulations found in Title 42 C.F.R.
483, as incorporated by Rule 59A-4.1288, F.A.C.
COUNT I
OCEANSIDE EXTENDED CARE CENTER FAILED TO COMPLY WITH ALL
REQUIREMENTS OF NFPA 90A, STANDARD FOR THE INSTALLATION OF
AIR CONDITIONING AND VENTILATING SYSTEMS
Rules 59A-4.130(2), 69A-3.012, Florida Administrative Code;
Section 633.022(1) (b), Florida Statutes; NFPA 101:
19.5.2.,19.1.1.1.1, 19.1.1.1.2, 9.2.1 (2000); and NFPA 90A
3-4.7 (1999)
{LIFE SAFETY CODE 90-A - MAINTENANCE)
UNCORRECTED CLASS III DEFICIENCY
8. AHCA re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs (1)
through (7) as if fully set forth herein.
9. During the annual Fire & Life Safety survey
conducted on 10/20-21/2004 and based on record review air
conditioning and vent smoke and fire dampers were not
maintained and tested increasing the risk to residents.
10. On the dates of survey October 20 & 2°, 2004,
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and during record review on
October 21, 2004, the code requirements for testing and
maintenance of smoke dampers mechanical operation was
requested, no written documentation of damper testing was
available or provided. Code reference: NFPA 90A - 3-4.7
Maintenance.
11. At least every 4 years, fusible links (where
applicable) shall be removed; all dampers shall be operated
to verify that they fully close; the latch, if provided,
shall be checked; and moving parts shall be lubricated as
necessary. Correction date: November 21, 2004.
12. During the revisit conducted on 12/02/2004 and
based on observation, interview and documentation, it was
determined that the facility did not comply with all
requirements of NFPA 90A, Standard for the Installation of
Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems. In fact, the
facility was unaware of the presence of fire dampers within
the facility.
13. At the Entrance Conference of the Life Safety
survey revisit conducted on December 2, 2004, the Agency was
presented with a letter from an air conditioning contractor,
as part of the Plan of Correction, attesting to the fact
that there were no fire dampers in the building.
14. While touring the facility with the Maintenance
Director, Maintenance Assistant and Housekeeping Supervisor,
fire dampers were observed within the facility. This
surveyor noticed two fire dampers on the 3rd floor above the
entrance to the Director of Nursing office.
15. Prior to pointing them out, this surveyor
questioned the Maintenance Director about the presence of
fire dampers in the building and was assured that there were
none in the building.
16. Within the Director of Nursing office was an air
conditioning air handler enclosed in a small closet. This
closet was constructed as a return air plenum so that return
air was drawn back into the room and closet from the
atmosphere rather than through air conditioning ducts. To
facilitate this return air, grilles were installed above the
Director of Nursing office door and in the wall of the air
handler closet. Fire dampers were installed in each of the
grilles. An additional fire damper was noted in the exhaust
of the Soiled Utility Room adjacent to the Director of
Nursing office.
17. A fire damper is an Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
approved fire protective device. It is positioned at the
wall opening and is designed to activate and close when
exposed to direct heat or flame. This seals the air
conditioning or exhaust opening and prevents smoke and
flames from traveling through it.
18. The damper consists of a metal curtain within a
frame. The curtain is held open and in place by a small
piece of metal called a fusible link. The activaticn occurs
when a predetermined level of heat or direct flame contact
is reached (usually 50 degrees above ambient heat). This
melts the fusible link, releases the metal curtain and seals
the opening.
19. In addition to the ones found on the 3rd floor,
fire dampers were also discovered on the 4th floor's air
handler closet within the Nursing Supervisor office and
adjacent Soiled Utility Room and in the 2nd floor Soiled
Utility Room.
20. It is required that every fire damper be inspected
annually to ensure that there is no impediment to the
curtain's ability to close. Every fourth year, the link
must be removed and the damper curtain lubricated and
operated to verify that they close completely within their
frame. This maintenance and testing of each device must be
documented.
21. Lack of inspecting and maintaining every fire
damper in the facility could result in a damper curtain not
closing completely, thus allowing smoke or flames to enter
an exit corridor and negating the fire rating of a fire
barrier wall.
22. Without a list, lack of knowledge as to just where
these devices are could jeopardize the safety of cccupants
within the building in a fire emergency.
23. NOTE: The fire dampers seen during the tour are
not to be considered as the only ones within the building.
A thorough inspection must be made of the air conditioning
and exhaust ductwork to ensure that all of the devices are
accounted for.
24. According to the facility’s Plan of Correction
"the facility does not have fire dampers" and refers to the
aforementioned letter from the air conditioning contractor.
25. Based on finding fire dampers within the facility,
the corrective action of the Plan of Correction was not met.
26. Based on the foregoing, Oceanside Extended Care
Center violated Rules 59A-4.130(2), 69A-3.012, Florida
Administrative Code; Section 633.022(1) (b), Florida
Statutes; NFPA 101: 19.5.2.,19.1.1.1.1, 19.1.1.1.2, 9.2.1;
and NFPA 90A 3-4.7 (1999) , herein classified as an
uncorrected Class III deficiency pursuant to Section
400.23(8)(c), Florida Statutes, which carries, in this case,
an assessed fine of $2,000.00. This violation also gives
rise to a conditional licensure status pursuant to Section
400.23(7) (b).
COUNT IT
OCEANSIDE EXTENDED CARE CENTER FAILED TO MAINTAIN OR PROTECT
LAUNDRY CHUTES WITHIN THE FACILITY
Rules 59A-4.130(2), 69A-3.012, Florida Administrative Code,
Section 633.022(1) (b), Florida Statutes; NFPA
101:19.1.1.1.1, 19.1.1.1.2, 19.5.4., 9.5,(2000) and NFPA 82
3-2.2.9 and 3-2.4.1 (1999)
{LIFE SAFETY CODE STANDARDS)
UNCORRECTED CLASS III VIOLATION
27. BHCA re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs (1)
through (7) as if fully set forth herein.
28. During the annual Fire & Life Safety Code survey
conducted on 10/20-21/2004 and based on observation tour,
and staff interview the facility did not maintain or protect
laundry chutes within the facility.
29. On the dates of survey October 20 & 21, 2004,
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., during the facility tour, it was
discovered that the facility had not been maintaining the
laundry chute shaft. The dirty linen was piled up and
blocking the fusible link protective door from closing in
the event of a fire.
30. The lack of proper maintenance and protection of
the trash and laundry chutes in this facility would allow
the rapid unchecked travel of fire, smoke, and soot
throughout the entire building affecting all floors.
Correction date: November 21, 2004
31. During the revisit conducted on 12/02/2004 and
based on observation and interview, it was determined that
the building's laundry (soiled linens) chute was not being
maintained to comply with specific requirements of NFPA 101,
the Life Safety Code and NFPA 82, Standard on Incinerators
and Waste and Linen Handling Systems and Equipment.
32. During the Life Safety survey revisit conducted on
December 2, 2004, while touring the facility with the
Maintenance Director, Maintenance Assistant and Housekeeping
Supervisor the following observations were made:
(a) The second floor laundry chute door was
observed to be left in the open position; and there was no
latching mechanism on the door to ensure that it would
remain fastened once the door closed.
(b) There was an accumulation of soiled linen
bags within the laundry chute at its base on the ground
floor, which prevented the laundry chute door from closing
completely.
33. These findings mirrored those of the Life Safety
surveyor during the annul survey of October 20 and 21, 2004
and which were cited as deficient practices.
34. According to the facility's Plan of Correction
"the second floor laundry chute door was replaced and the
first floor door was closed."
35. Based on the above, the Plan of Correction was not
met.
36. Further observations were made relating to the
laundry chute and require corrective actions:
(a) In addition to the second floor laundry chute
door, the first floor laundry chute door did not have a
latching mechanism on the door to ensure it would remain
fastened once the door closed.
NFPA 82--3-2.4.1 General Access Gravity Waste Chutes.
All chute loading doors into a waste chute shall be provided
with a self-closing, positive latching frame and gasketed
fire door assembly approved for Class B openings and having
a fire resistance rating of not less than 1 hour. The
doorframe shall be fastened into the chute and the shaft
wall. The design and installation shall be such that no part
of the frame or door projects into the chute.
(b) There was not a fusible link assembly
attached to the ground floor laundry chute door. This is
required so that, if the chute door was left in the open
position and there was a fire in the laundry chute room, the
link wound melt and enable the door to close and latch shut.
NFPA 82--3-2.2.9 Chute Discharge Doors.
Gravity chutes shall be constructed so that the base opening
of the chute or shaft, or both, shall be protected by an
approved automatic-closing or self-closing 1l-hour fire door
suitable for a Class B opening.
(c) The first floor corridor door of the laundry
chute room did not close and latch shut in five tries.
(d) The door to the ground floor laundry chute
room did not close and latch shut. (This was repaired
during the survey; however, with the accumulation of rust on
the door, the repair may only be temporary.)
(e) The laundry chute was not being emptied.
37. The initial observation was at 11:30am. At that
time, the accumulation of soiled linen bags within the chute
at the ground floor was halfway up to the first floor level
and was pushing against the ground floor's laundry chute
door so that the door could not latch shut completely. A
10
large cart was positioned at the opening of the ground floor
chute and the cart was filled with soiled linen bags.
38. When questioned by the surveyor, a staff member
indicated that the chute is supposed to be emptied at
approximately hourly intervals.
39. A second observation was made at 1:30pm. The
laundry cart had not been moved. The laundry chute had not
been touched and the laundry chute door was being pushed
into an open position by the volume of soiled linen bags
behind it.
40. The final observation, at 3:00p.m. found no change
in the ground floor laundry room. The cart was still
positioned in front of the laundry chute and had not been
moved or emptied and the chute door was being push into an
cpen position. The surveyor went to the first floor laundry
chute room and checked the level within the chute. The
accumulation of bags had reached the first floor chute door
opening.
41. Based on the foregoing, Oceanside Extended Care
Center violated Rules 59A-4.130(2), 69A-3.012, Florida
Administrative Code, Section 633.022(1) (b), Florida
Statutes; NFPA 101:19.1.1.1.1., 19.1.1.1.2, 19.5.4.,
9.5,(2000) and NFPA 82 3-2.2.9 and 3-2.4.1 (1999) , which
carries, in this case, an assessed fine of $3,000.00. This
violation also gives rise to a conditional licensure status
pursuant to Section 400.23(7) (b).
DISPLAY OF LICENSE
Pursuant to Section 400.23(7){e), Florida Statutes,
Oceanside Extended Care Center shall post the license in a
prominent place that is in clear and unobstructed public
view at or near the place where residents are being admitted
to the facility.
The Conditional License is attached hereto as Exhibit
wan
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, the Petitioner, State of Florida Agency for
Health Care Administration requests the following relief:
A. Make factual and legal findings in favor of
the Agency on Counts I, and II.
B. Assess an administrative fine of $5,000.00
against Oceanside Extended Care Center on Counts I, and II.
Cc. Assess and assign a conditional license
status to Oceanside Extended Care Center in accordance with
Section 400.23(7) (b), Florida Statutes.
D. Grant such other relief as this Court deems
is just and proper.
Respondent is notified that it has a right to request an
administrative hearing pursuant to Sections 120.569 and
120.57, Florida Statutes (2004). Specific options for
12
administrative action are set out in the attached Election
of Rights and explained in the attached Explanation of
Rights. All requests for hearing shall be made to the Agency
for Health Care Administration, and delivered to the Agency
for Health Care Administration, Manchester Building, First
Floor, 8355 N. W. 53rd Street, Miami, Florida, 33166; Attn:
Nelson E. Rodney.
RESPONDENT IS FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT THE FAILURE TO RECEIVE A
REQUEST FOR A HEARING WITHIN 21 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THIS
COMPLAINT WILL RESULT IN AN ADMISSION OF THE FACTS ALLEGED
IN THE COMPLAINT AND THE ENTRY OF A HYNAL ORDER BY /
AGENCY. ; if
CM We
r
ia Lawton-Russell
Assistant General Counsel
Agency for Health Care
Administration
Spokane Building, Suite 103
8350 N.W. 52°79 Terrace
Miami, Florida 33166
Copies furnished to:
Diane Lopez Castillo
Field Office Manager
Agency for Health Care Administration
Manchester Building
6355 N.W. 53™¢ Street
Miami, Florida 33166
(U.S. Mail)
Jean Lombardi
Finance and Accounting
Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop #14
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
(Interoffice Mail)
Skilled Nursing Facility Unit Program
Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
(Interoffice Mail)
14
Docket for Case No: 05-001125
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Aug. 11, 2005 |
Final Order filed.
|
May 26, 2005 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
May 25, 2005 |
Agreed Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
May 23, 2005 |
Agency`s Response to Respondent`s First Request for Production filed.
|
Apr. 12, 2005 |
Notice of Service of Petitioner`s First Set of Interrogatories, First Request for Production, and First Set of Admisisons filed.
|
Apr. 05, 2005 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Apr. 05, 2005 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for June 1, 2005; 9:00 a.m.; Miami, FL).
|
Apr. 01, 2005 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Mar. 25, 2005 |
Initial Order.
|
Mar. 24, 2005 |
Skilled Nursing Facility License (conditional) filed.
|
Mar. 24, 2005 |
Skilled Nursing Facility License (conditional) filed.
|
Mar. 24, 2005 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Mar. 24, 2005 |
Petition for Formal Administrative Hearing filed.
|
Mar. 24, 2005 |
Notice (of Agency referral) filed.
|