Boise nursing facility that put residents at risk passes follow-up state inspection

Cascadia of Boise, a nursing home facility found to have several deficiencies in a state examination, has passed a follow-up inspection required by the state and will keep its federal Medicare and Medicaid agreement intact, the state confirmed to the Idaho Statesman this week.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) served a notice to Cascadia of Boise, a skilled-nursing facility, in September after a state inspection found that the facility put residents at risk of seizures, diabetic coma, urinary pain and medical complications. It also neglected to supervise residents as a safety intervention and provided inconsistent treatment for wounds, the Sept. 10 state survey said.

Idaho allows skilled-nursing facilities to provide a plan of correction if deficiencies are found. Cascadia’s plan of correction was accepted. An on-site follow-up survey conducted by the state Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 found no deficiencies, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Steve Laforte, director of corporate affairs at Cascadia of Boise, promised in a statement that the facility will follow the CMS and state guidelines moving forward.

“We are extremely pleased with the results and that the state recognized the hard work and dedication of our staff in the care that they provide,” Laforte said.

In its termination notice, CMS said the facility failed to provide quality care and pain management for its residents. The facility last month risked losing its reimbursement by CMS for its services to patients admitted on or after July 6. CMS would have paid for patients admitted before that date, but only through October.

Cascadia’s plan of correction listed steps it took to resolve the deficiencies outlined in the Sept. 10 state inspection. The clinical management team made adjustments on residents’ wound treatments and insulin regimen. The survey had found that providers failed to treat wounds consistently or give diabetic residents their insulin at the right time.

Residents with full bladders who struggled to urinate were also left without catheters. Those residents were discharged from the facility in July, according to the plan of correction.

Cascadia evaluated residents with an increased risk of falls or wandering, and reviewed clinical notes that indicate they may need increased supervision, according to the plan of correction. The facility began tracking with an audit tool on Sept. 20, it said.

Laforte said the COVID-19 pandemic has created “incredibly trying conditions” for the facility. Cascadia is one of only two facilities with a ventilator unit, for residents with intensive respiratory conditions, within almost 300 miles, he said.

Laforte said the facility will continue to follow all CMS and Idaho guidance “as we continue to experience crisis conditions in the Treasure Valley.”