complaint·February 4, 2021

(continued from LIC 9099) During the course of the investigation, Investigator Seng interviewed residents on 03/12/2020, facility staff on 03/04/2020, family member, medical professionals and experts in their field on different dates. Investigator Seng also requested and reviewed police reports, hospital medical records and other relevant records. LPA’s record review revealed that Resident #1 (R1) was admitted at the facility on November 2018. The preplacement appraisal was signed on 10/30/2018. The physician’s report dated 11/06/18 was reviewed and revealed that R1 needed some assistance on bathing, grooming and toileting needs. Investigator Seng interviewed family member of R1 on 12/11/2020. The interview revealed that R1 left the facility on the following dates after 10/01/19, from 09/25/19 to 10/01/19 R1 was confined at the Acute Care hospital and then proceeded to a Skilled Nursing Facility from 10/01/19 to 10/16/2019. On 10/22/2019, R1 had a medical appointment with R1’s cardiologist and on 10/23/2019 was transported to the hospital via an ambulance. On 01/28/2020, R1 went with a family friend for another medical appointment. Investigator Seng conducted a facility records review, it showed that R1 last left the facility on 03/02/19 at 1:45 PM and was visited by R1’s family member on 11/03/19, 11/09/19, 11/16/19, 11/23/19, 11/28/19, 12/08/19 and 12/15/19. R1 was hospitalized on 02/11/2020 and was diagnosed with a communicable disease. The resident had no prior medical history of a communicable disease. Investigator Seng interviewed a medical professional on 04/14/2020 regarding the 02/11/2020 communicable disease diagnosis that R1 acquired during R1’s stay at the facility. The interview revealed that the disease could only have been acquired through a contact with another person within 10 to 90 days from the date of contact. (continued from LIC 9099-C) The only time within that period that R1 was not at the facility was on 01/28/2020 when R1 had a medical appointment accompanied by a family friend. Investigator Seng interview with the family friend revealed that the family friend picked up R1 at around 9:00 AM for the 10:00 AM appointment and went straight back to the facility after the appointment. Investigator Seng interviewed the staff at the medical center where R1 had an appointment and confirmed that R1 was with the family friend during and all throughout the appointment. Investigator Seng obtained and reviewed a written declaration 12/13/2020 from a medical expert on communicable disease who studied the case extensively, and concluded with reasonable medical certainty that R1 had indeed acquired the communicable disease with contact from another person within two (2) to four (4) weeks from the date it was found (02/11/2020), which would place the resident in the facility’s care. Based on information gathered during the course of the investigation, the allegation is deemed substantiated. Deficiency and civil penalty assessed for a violation that resulted in an injury or illness to a resident in care. The licensee was informed that a civil penalty might be assessed based on Health and Safety Code 1569.49(e) Appeal rights discussed and given. Exit interview conducted and report issued.