Long-term care hospital slammed

• Three staff members have been placed on leave following an Alberta Health Services investigation into the quality of long-term care provided at a hospital in central Alberta.

AHS said in a statement released late Tuesday that the investigation at the Lacombe Hospital and Health Centre was launched after concerns were raised in March by Red Deer College nursing students completing their practicum at the facility.

The Wildrose party said the students’ concerns included expired catheters, soiled sheets and overflowing garbage, improper sharing of medication and lack of proper medication training and management.

AHS says it has placed three staff on leave and is also doing thorough health assessments of all 75 residents in long-term care at the facility, as well thoroughly cleaning the site, including all resident care areas, medication rooms, medication carts and tub rooms. It is also doing physiotherapy and fall risk assessments on all residents and holding sessions for all staff “to ensure they understand health service and accommodation standards for continuing care.”

Brenda Huband, chief health operations officer for AHS Central zone, said actions have been taken. “We take these concerns very seriously and we responded quickly with our investigation and audits with support from Alberta Health,” she said.

AHS said its review highlighted the need to shift to a more resident- and familyfocused care model.

“It is best practice in continuing care to develop care plans with input from residents, their families if they choose, and a multi-disciplinary care team,” said Huband.

The AHS announcement that three staff had been placed on leave was made shortly after the Wildrose party highlighted the issue in the legislature and released leaked documents. According to the documents, the investigation uncovered:

❚ Inconsistently updated care plans and patient charting;

❚ Incomplete fall risk assessments, dietary assessments, vital signs monitoring and wound care interventions;

❚ Deficient training for staff in infection control, medication management, dementia care, CPR, use of restraints, fall prevention and choking response;

❚ Improper security of private client information;

❚ Presence of expired aseptic supplies such as wound care products and catheters;

❚ Dirty products stored with sterile products;

❚ Used client razors left unattended, tubs dirty;

❚ Soiled linen and garbage found to be overflowing into hallways;

❚ Unsafe medication practices, including a client administering his own insulin when it was unclear if he was competent to do so;

❚ Medication rooms left unlocked;

❚Poor documentation around whether clients had received required tooth brushing and bathing;

❚ Inconsistent practices to ensure safe water temperatures for bathing;

❚ High infection rates and antibiotic use.