Improper HVAC Among Reasons for Nursing Home Fines

Nursing homes and assisted living centers nationwide have been fined more than US$55 million for inadequate COVID-19 practices during the pandemic, Healthcare Facilities Today reports.

More than 184,000 nursing home residents have died of COVID-19 as of June 2021, according to AARP research. Nursing homes have been in the news throughout the pandemic for the high rate of COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths they experienced.

Reasons for the most recent fines include failure to report coronavirus-related data, lack of isolation for the infected, safety violations, improper HVAC practices, and more. For example, Parkview Healthcare Center in Hayward, California was fined $67,500 for significant violations. The facility did not provide separate ventilation or filtration in rooms housing residents with suspected cases of COVID-19. It also failed to provide its patient care and housekeeping employees with proper personal protective equipment (PPE) or give them sufficient infection control training. The state investigation was sparked by 14 people dying of COVID-19 at this center from March 2020 to February 2021.