Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1519257.015 - Sayre Health Care Center, Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Wilkes Barre Area Office

Investigation Summary

In late 2020, an employee was working as a registered nurse (RN) at a nursing care or skilled nursing facility. He worked at a nursing home in which there were residents who were positive for COVID-19. For three months, he spent eight hour per day providing care to those residents. He had a positive result from a rapid test screening that was given to all of the staff. The facility's administrator stated that at the time, the employee showed no signs or symptoms. The employee was sent home on January 11, 2021, due to the positive test. The employee was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at a nearby hospital on January 19, 2021. The administrator stated that she was notified of the death of the employee by the hospital on January 28th. The employer did not record the work-related fatality on the OSHA 300 log or its equivalent. This facility was a high-risk location for COVID-19. The employee was required to provide care to residents with active COVID-19. This facility experienced COVID-19 outbreaks in November 2020, December 2020, and January 2021. At the peak of the COVID-19 surge in the facility, 38 of 77 residents were affected. During this peak period, 16 of 55 nursing staff tested positive. The employee was not fit tested nor properly trained for respiratory protection. He performed procedures with residents which were historically proven to produce aerosol. Other employees stated that they observed him working with COVID-19-positive residents.

Keywords: Infectious Disease