Corporate Compliance

GOV’T AUDIT INSIDER: Incomplete background and drug testing at DE nursing facility

Healthcare Auditing Weekly, October 12, 2004

The Emily P. Bissell Hospital in Wilmington, DE did not comply with state drug testing and background check requirements for its direct care employees, but did comply with other federal regulations, according to an Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit report. In a review of the direct care employees, the OIG found that Bissell was required to obtain drug tests and criminal background checks for 47 of the 103 direct care employees. However, Bissell did not do the following: hold drug tests for 12 of the employees within two months, conduct a drug test for one employee, and complete federal background checks for two others. The OIG recommends that Bissell restrict the three employees lacking drug tests from working until results are complete, and review and strengthen its internal controls. During the audit, the OIG did the following:

  • Obtained background, staffing and deficiency data for Bissell

  • Reviewed federal and Delaware state laws and regulations for nursing homes

  • Obtained staffing schedules, time, and attendance records and payroll records to determine Bissell's direct care hours per resident and employee to resident ratio

  • Obtained and analyzed criminal background checks and drug testing results for all direct care employees

  • Conducted inquiries through Delaware's on-line license and certification systems to determine if direct care employees were in good standing

  • Reviewed the results of the two most recent Bissell standard surveys conducted by the State Survey Agency

  • Obtained an understanding of Bissell's procedures for recruiting, retaining, and scheduling staff through meetings and discussions with personnel at the home

    Click here to read the audit report, "Review of Nursing Facility Staffing Requirements at Emily P. Bissell Hospital" (A-03-03-00223), issued August 31.

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