F 0880
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on
interview and record review, the facility failed to implement the facility's infection control policy by failing to:
Residents Affected - Few
1. Ensure two of two visitors were offered Coronavirus disease-2019 [COVID-19, a highly contagious viral
infection that can trigger respiratory tract infection]) testing upon entering the facility.
2. Ensure a resident was placed on contact isolation (used when a resident has an infectious disease that
may be spread by touching either the resident or other objects the resident has handled) per physician's
order for one of four sampled residents (Resident 4).
These deficient practices had the potential to place residents, staff members, and visitors at risk of
spreading infections.
Findings:
a. During an interview on 12/12/2024 at 9:45 a.m., with Family Member 1 (FM 1) in the facility's lobby, FM 1
stated that she was not offered a COVID-19 test when she walked in the facility today (12/12/2024).
During an interview on 12/12/2024 at 10:02 a.m., with Receptionist 1 (Rec 1), Rec 1 stated that when a
visitor enters the facility, Rec 1 instructs visitors to check their temperature and Rec 1 offers visitors to wear
a mask. Rec 1 stated that she does not offer visitors a COVID-19 test upon entering the facility.
During an interview on 12/12/2024 at 10:16 a.m., with the Infection Preventionist (IP), the IP stated that the
facility does not offer COVID-19 testing to visitors upon entry to the facility. The IP stated that as long as
visitors are feeling well and are not experiencing any COVID-19 or flu like symptoms, the facility does not
offer COVID-19 testing. The IP stated if the visitor presents to the facility with COVID-19 or flu like
symptoms upon entry, the facility offers COVID-19 testing.
During an interview on 12/12/2024 at 11:15 a.m., with Caregiver 1 (CG 1), CG 1 stated that she was not
offered a COVID-19 test when she entered the facility on 12/12/2024.
During a concurrent interview and record review on 12/12/2024 at 11:26 a.m., with the IP, reviewed the
facility's policy titled, Masking Policy, with a review date of 11/19/2024. The IP stated that based on the
facility's policy, the facility should be offering COVID-19 testing to visitors upon entry to the facility. When
asked why this is not being done, the IP did not answer.
(continued on next page)
Any deficiency statement ending with an asterisk (*) denotes a deficiency which the institution may be excused from correcting providing it is determined that other
safeguards provide sufficient protection to the patients. (See instructions.) Except for nursing homes, the findings stated above are disclosable 90 days following the
date of survey whether or not a plan of correction is provided. For nursing homes, the above findings and plans of correction are disclosable 14 days following the date
these documents are made available to the facility. If deficiencies are cited, an approved plan of correction is requisite to continued program participation.
LABORATORY DIRECTOR'S OR PROVIDER/SUPPLIER
REPRESENTATIVE'S SIGNATURE
TITLE
(X6) DATE
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Facility ID:
If continuation sheet
Page 1 of 3
Event ID:
056180
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
056180
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
12/13/2024
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Lake Balboa Care Center
16955 Vanowen Street
Van Nuys, CA 91406
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0880
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Few
During an interview on 12/12/2024 at 11:26 a.m., with the Director of Nursing (DON), the DON stated that
the facility does not offer COVID-19 testing to visitors upon entry to the facility because the facility does not
have to. The DON stated that the facility does not have to offer COVID-19 testing because the facility does
not have a COVID-19 outbreak (more cases of disease in time or place than expected). The DON further
stated that the facility does not have the resources to offer a COVID-19 test to every visitor that comes
through the facility door.
During a follow-up interview on 12/13/2024 at 2:00 p.m., with the DON, the DON stated that when visitors
will ask for a COVID-19 test, the facility will then offer the COVID-19 test. The DON stated if visitors don't
ask, the facility will not offer COVID-19 testing. The DON stated the facility does not offer COVID-19 testing
because it is not necessary. The DON stated the facility should offer COVID-19 testing when the facility is in
an outbreak, however, the facility is not in an outbreak.
During a review of the facility's policy and procedure titled, Masking Policy, reviewed 11/19/2024, the policy
indicated although masking regardless of vaccination status may continue to be required by the facility or, if
warranted based on local respiratory virus transmission. The following requirement is still in place: Before
entry, all visitors must be offered self-testing with a COVID-19 antigen test and a well-fitting, high-quality
mask with good filtration to wear during their visits. This is regardless of vaccination status. If a visitor tests
positive for COVID-19, whether symptomatic (showing symptoms) or not, they should not be allowed to visit
until after they recover.
b. During a review of Resident 2's admission Record, the admission Record indicated the facility admitted
the resident on 12/11/2024 with diagnoses that included abnormalities of gait (manner of walking or moving
on foot) and mobility, need for assistance with personal care, and thrombocytopenia (low number of
platelets [small cell fragments in our blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding] in the blood).
During a review of Resident 4's admission Record, the admission Record indicated the facility admitted the
resident on 12/9/2024 with diagnoses that included sepsis (a life-threatening complication of an infection)
and bacteremia (the presence of bacteria in the blood).
During a review of Resident 4's physician's order dated 12/9/2024 at 6:32 p.m., the physician order
indicated transmission-based precautions (steps taken to prevent spread of infection to others): contact
isolation: Escherichia coli (E-coli - a type of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and
animals, but some types can make people sick)/bacteremia blood until 12/12/2024.
During a concurrent interview and record review on 12/13/2024 at 9:15 a.m., with the IP, reviewed Resident
4's admission Record and Resident 4's physician orders. The IP stated Resident 4 was readmitted to the
facility on [DATE]. The IP stated that she received an order for Resident 4 to be placed on contact isolation
for E. coli/bacteremia on 12/9/2024. The IP continued to state that Resident 4 was not placed in a
private/isolation room upon Resident 4's readmission. The IP stated that during the time of Resident 4's
readmission, the facility was expecting a new admission (Resident 2) to be assigned to the private/isolation
room. When asked if the new admission (Resident 2) required to be in a private/isolation room, the IP
stated that the new admission (Resident 2) did not require isolation.
During an interview on 12/13/2024 at 11:46 a.m., with the admission Coordinator (AC), the AC stated that
the facility was aware that Resident 4 would be readmitted back to the facility on [DATE], however was not
aware that Resident 4 required a private/isolation room upon readmission. The AC stated
(continued on next page)
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
056180
If continuation sheet
Page 2 of 3
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
056180
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
12/13/2024
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Lake Balboa Care Center
16955 Vanowen Street
Van Nuys, CA 91406
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0880
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Few
that the facility was expecting a new admission, Resident 2, that was assigned and family expected to be in
the private/isolation room. However, the new admission, Resident 2, did not arrive on 12/9/2024 as
planned. Resident 2 was admitted to the facility on [DATE].
During a concurrent interview and record review on 12/13/2024 at 12:30 p.m., with the IP, reviewed the
facility's census (daily list indicating resident names with corresponding room numbers) dated 12/8/2024
(census for 12/9/2024), 12/9/2024 (census for 12/10/2024), and 12/10/2024 (census for 12/11/2024). The
IP stated that there was a private/isolation room available on 12/9/2024, 12/10/2024, and 12/11/2024. The
IP reviewed Resident 2's admission Record and stated that Resident 2 was admitted to the facility on
[DATE] and was assigned to the private/isolation room. The IP reviewed Resident 4's admission Record and
stated that Resident 4 was admitted on [DATE] and placed in a room with roommates with curtains to be
drawn. The IP stated that Resident 4 should have been placed in a private/isolation room because the
facility had an available room. When asked why Resident 4 was not placed in an isolation room, the IP did
not answer.
During a concurrent interview and record review on 12/13/2024 at 1:06 p.m., with the DON, reviewed
Resident 4's physician orders. The DON stated that Resident 4 had an order for contact isolation dated
12/9/2024. The DON stated that there was a private/isolation room available upon Resident 4's readmission
on [DATE]. The DON stated that Resident 4 required a private/isolation room because the facility received
an order from the physician for contact isolation. The DON continued to state that the DON decided not to
place Resident 4 in a private/isolation room because the infection was not in Resident 4's urine, or sputum
(mucus and other matter brought up from the lungs by coughing), but the infection was in the blood and
Resident 4 had no active bleeding. The DON stated Resident 4 did not have a true infection and did not
require isolation precautions, despite the physician's order. The DON further stated that the IP had a
proactive approach and the IP discussed and received an order for contact isolation. The DON stated
Resident 4 should have just been placed on enhanced barrier precautions (EBP - a set of infection control
practices that use personal protective equipment [PPE - equipment worn to reduce exposure to hazards in
the workplace] to reduce the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms [MDROs - microorganisms that are
resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics and antifungals] in nursing homes).
During a review of the facility's policy and procedure titled, Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP)
Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions, reviewed 11/19/2024, the policy indicated it is the policy of
this facility to implement infection control measures to prevent the spread of communicable disease and
conditions .Contact Precautions are used with a known infection that is spread by direct or indirect and the
resident or the resident's environment .Room Placement: iii. When private rooms are not available, some
residents may be cohorted (a group of people with a shared characteristic) or per an alternative risk-based
approach.
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
056180
If continuation sheet
Page 3 of 3