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Pine Valley reports staff refusal to perform CPR; employee terminated and state to conduct extended surveys
Summary
Pine Valley administrators reported a staff member refused to perform CPR on a resident, resulting in the resident's death; the employee was terminated and state agencies will follow up with extended surveys and licensing inquiries.
Britney, Pine Valley’s administrator, told the board that staff self-reported two serious incidents and that state regulators will conduct extended surveys. "We self reported appropriately," Britney said, and added that the Department of Health Services will conduct verification work after the facility reported a medication error and the failure to perform CPR on a resident.
According to Britney, a night-shift staff member refused to perform CPR for a resident who was designated full code. "She did not agree with the fact this patient was full code and pretty much told the staff she was not performing CPR on," Britney said. The administrator said the employee received education two weeks earlier but later again refused and the resident died. Britney said the employee was terminated immediately. When asked whether the person remained employed, Britney replied, "No. She was terminated immediately."
Britney said Pine Valley documented the incidents and reported them to state regulators; DHS will perform an extended survey and review the care events. She also said the facility has been asked to provide a letter to the Department of Safety and Professional Services to support licensing review, and that state action on the staff member’s license is likely given the circumstances. "She has been reported to the state. State is filing a plan against her license," Britney said.
The administrator also told the board the state cited the facility for a medication error and that an extended medication survey and verification visit are expected. Britney said the facility took corrective actions immediately and that some citations reflect adverse events that require follow-up even when the facility reports and acts quickly.
Board members asked questions about staffing and background checks; Britney said the facility had corrected missing background documentation and that a dedicated on-site human-resources presence has been added to address recordkeeping and audits. The board discussed contracted nursing staffing and ongoing recruitment challenges for licensed nursing positions. Britney said contracted staff remain in use and that recruitment for licensed nurses had not yet produced hires.
Separately, staff informed the board that a new contract pharmacy, Health Direct, will begin service in about 60 days and that pharmacy representatives were due to inspect the facility layout and equipment tomorrow. Staff also reported a water-reservoir inspection that appears to require only modest repairs rather than replacement.
The board did not take a formal personnel vote on the matter; the termination was an administrative action executed by facility management and regulators will pursue licensing or disciplinary review.
