Audit of Nursing Facility Staffing Requirements at Poplar Grove Care Center

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The objective of this audit was to determine whether Poplar Grove Care Center (Poplar Grove) was in compliance with Federal and State staffing laws and regulations for nursing facilities.  Poplar Grove is a 95 bed nursing facility located in Commerce City, Colorado.  Poplar Grove complied with Federal and State staffing laws and regulations with one exception.  State regulations require that a nursing care facility shall be staffed at all times with at least one registered nurse who is on duty on the premises.  However, Poplar Grove did not always have a registered nurse on the premises during the evening shift.  Poplar Grove officials indicated that it is difficult to employ a registered nurse during the evening shift.   The lack of a registered nurse on the premises at all times may result in a reduction in the quality of care received by residents.  We recommended that Poplar Grove make additional efforts, including expanding its hiring efforts, to ensure that the facility is staffed at all times with a registered nurse.