Inspection Reports for Palouse Hills Assisted Living
1401 North Polk Street Moscow, ID, 83843
Back to Facility ProfileInspection Report Summary
The most recent inspection on April 25, 2024, identified deficiencies related to medication refrigerator temperature maintenance, incomplete personnel background check documentation, and incomplete as-worked staff schedules. Earlier inspections showed recurring issues with medication refrigerator temperatures and documentation, as well as fire life safety deficiencies such as missing fire extinguisher placards, lack of fire alarm inspection records, and incomplete emergency drill documentation. Prior reports also noted concerns with resident care, including inconsistent activities, delayed investigations of injuries, and inadequate supervision leading to resident harm and use of restraints, though no enforcement actions or fines were listed in the available reports. Complaint investigations found multiple substantiated issues with supervision and resident rights in 2021, but more recent reports did not list complaints. The facility’s inspection history shows ongoing challenges primarily in medication management, documentation, and fire safety compliance, with some improvement in addressing resident care concerns over time.
Deficiencies (last 4 years)
Deficiencies (over 4 years)
12 deficiencies/year
Deficiencies are regulatory violations found during state inspections.
52% worse than Idaho average
Idaho average: 7.9 deficiencies/yearDeficiencies per year
16
12
8
4
0
Inspection Report
Follow-Up
Deficiencies: 3
Date: Apr 25, 2024
Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted as a health care licensure and follow-up survey to verify compliance with previously cited deficiencies.
Findings
The facility was found to have ongoing issues with maintaining medication refrigerator temperatures within the required range, incomplete personnel records regarding criminal background checks, and incomplete documentation of as-worked schedules for certain staff members.
Deficiencies (3)
The facility did not consistently maintain medication refrigerator temperatures between 38 and 45 degrees F, with 32 occasions below 38 degrees in March and April 2024.
The facility failed to obtain evidence of a Criminal History and Background Check for one of seven employees despite clearance confirmation.
The as-worked schedule did not document dates and times for maintenance, activities managers, and exact times for kitchen staff.
Report Facts
Number of occasions refrigerator temperature was below 38 degrees: 32
Number of employees missing documented background check evidence: 1
Employees mentioned
| Name | Title | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Linda Vestal | Administrator | Mentioned in relation to personnel records and schedule documentation deficiencies |
| Jenny Walker | Survey Team Leader | Led the health care licensure and follow-up survey |
Inspection Report
Life Safety
Deficiencies: 3
Date: Jun 29, 2023
Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted to assess compliance with fire life safety and sanitation licensure requirements at Palouse Hills Assisted Living.
Findings
The facility failed to maintain compliance with the 2018 edition of NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and related standards, including missing placards on fire extinguishers and lack of documentation for annual fire alarm inspections and required emergency drills.
Deficiencies (3)
Class-K fire extinguisher in the kitchen lacked a placard stating the fire protection system must be actuated prior to use.
Facility was unable to produce documentation for an annual inspection of the fire alarm system.
Facility failed to perform required bimonthly emergency egress and relocation drills and could not produce documentation for drills from September - November 2022 and March - April 2023.
Report Facts
Response Due Date: 2023
Number of required emergency drills per year: 6
Employees mentioned
| Name | Title | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Linda Vestal | Administrator | Named as facility administrator |
| Linda Chaney | Survey Team Leader | Named as survey team leader |
Inspection Report
Follow-Up
Deficiencies: 7
Date: Feb 8, 2023
Visit Reason
The inspection was a health care licensure and follow-up survey conducted to assess compliance with regulatory requirements and verify correction of previous deficiencies.
Findings
The facility failed to provide consistent activities for residents, did not conduct timely investigations or corrective actions for resident injuries and falls, failed to complete nursing assessments after changes in resident health status, did not maintain proper medication refrigerator temperatures, lacked six-month psychotropic medication reviews for multiple residents, and did not document comprehensive resident assessments.
Deficiencies (7)
No activities were observed to be offered to residents; activities were inconsistent due to lack of staffing.
Administrator did not conduct investigations within 30 days for multiple residents with injuries and falls.
Administrator did not implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence of incidents involving resident injuries and falls.
Nursing assessments were not conducted when residents experienced changes in physical or mental health status.
Medication refrigerator temperatures were not maintained within required range, with temperatures as low as 32°F and out of range multiple times.
Psychotropic medication reviews were not completed every six months for several residents on long-term psychotropic medications.
Comprehensive resident care assessments were not documented for multiple residents, though stated to be completed.
Report Facts
Temperature out of range occurrences: 8
Employees mentioned
| Name | Title | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Linda Vestal | Administrator | Named in findings related to failure to conduct investigations and corrective actions |
| Torrey Bollinger | Survey Team Leader | Conducted the health care licensure and follow-up survey |
Inspection Report
Life Safety
Deficiencies: 11
Date: Feb 28, 2022
Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted as a fire life safety and sanitation licensure survey at Palouse Hills Assisted Living.
Findings
The inspection identified multiple deficiencies including improper use of extension cords, lack of documentation for quarterly waterflow alarm testing and dry system full trip, missing inspection reports for UL 300 hood system, inadequate testing documentation for fire dampers, absence of documented testing for alcohol-based hand rub dispensers, doors to hazardous areas not fully self-closing and latching, missing documented staff inservices on emergency plan roles, undated relocation agreements, unmarked designated smoking areas, missing fire/life safety survey documentation, and incomplete documentation of emergency egress and relocation drills.
Deficiencies (11)
Use of prohibited extension cords and multiple plug adapters including daisy-chained extension cords supplying power to LED purifier.
No documentation for quarterly waterflow alarm testing and dry system full trip as required by NFPA 25.
Inspection reports for UL 300 hood system not provided; only invoicing documentation available.
Annual fire alarm report did not demonstrate testing of electronically controlled fire dampers as required by NFPA 72 and NFPA 80.
No documented testing of pump-style Alcohol-Based hand rub dispensers each time a refill is replaced as required by NFPA 101.
Doors to furnace and activity storage did not fully self-close and latch as required by NFPA 101.
No documented bi-monthly inservices for staff on emergency plan roles and responsibilities as required by NFPA 101.
Relocation agreements not dated to demonstrate annual review as required.
Designated smoking areas not clearly marked with required signage.
Fire/life safety survey documentation not available for review including annual fire suppression system inspection and quarterly waterflow alarm inspections.
Emergency egress and relocation drills not documented as evacuating to the designated assembly point.
Report Facts
Facility License Number: RC-1194
Survey Date: 02/28/2022
Response Due Date: 03/30/2022
Employees mentioned
| Name | Title | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Linda Vestal | Administrator | Named as facility administrator |
| Sam Burbank | Survey Team Leader | Named as survey team leader |
Inspection Report
Follow-Up
Deficiencies: 2
Date: Aug 24, 2021
Visit Reason
The visit was a health care core deficiency follow-up to verify correction of previously cited deficiencies related to notification to the licensing agency and evaluation of maladaptive behaviors.
Findings
The facility failed to notify the licensing agency within one business day after Resident #3 eloped on 7/17/21 and did not evaluate maladaptive behaviors for Residents #1, #3, and #4. These issues were previously cited on 3/26/21.
Deficiencies (2)
The administrator did not notify the licensing agency within one business day after Resident #3 eloped from the facility on 7/17/21.
The facility did not evaluate behaviors for Residents #1, #3, and #4, including history of elopement and refusal of care.
Inspection Report
Complaint Investigation
Capacity: 60
Deficiencies: 14
Date: Mar 26, 2021
Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted as a health care licensure and follow-up combined with a complaint investigation at Palouse Hills Assisted Living.
Complaint Details
The complaint investigation revealed multiple failures in supervision, care, and resident rights protections, including inadequate responses to complaints and failure to investigate incidents timely.
Findings
The facility failed to provide adequate supervision and care for multiple residents, resulting in elopements, recurrent falls, resident-to-resident altercations, injuries of unknown origin, and use of physical restraints. Several residents experienced harm or death due to inadequate supervision and failure to implement appropriate interventions.
Deficiencies (14)
The facility did not provide an activity program designed to promote residents' highest potential.
The administrator failed to ensure policies were implemented to prevent use of restraints, including use of a 'onesie' restraint for Resident #7 at family's request.
The facility did not conduct investigations within 30 days for multiple incidents involving residents.
The administrator did not provide written responses to all complainants within 30 days.
The facility did not implement adequate preventative measures to protect residents after falls, elopements, and other incidents.
The administrator failed to notify the licensing agency within one business day of reportable events.
Toxic chemicals were stored where residents with cognitive impairment had access.
The facility did not evaluate maladaptive behaviors for multiple residents.
Nursing assessments were not documented when residents experienced changes in health status; PRN medication administration was not properly documented.
Behavior documentation lacked time, dates, interventions, and effectiveness details.
Discharge records were not provided to discharged residents as required.
As-worked schedules did not document staff times at the facility.
Insufficient personnel were scheduled to supervise residents, resulting in elopements and falls, including a resident death.
The facility failed to protect residents' rights to be free from physical restraints, exemplified by Resident #7 being dressed in a restrictive 'onesie' garment.
Report Facts
Licensed beds: 60
Resident falls: 9
Resident elopements: 2
Resident age: 77
Resident age: 72
Resident age: 77
Resident age: 76
Resident age: 78
Employees mentioned
| Name | Title | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Linda Vestal | Administrator | Named as administrator responsible for facility operations and responses |
| Melvin Lu | Survey Team Leader, Health Facility Surveyor | Lead surveyor conducting the inspection |
| Brad Perry | Health Facility Surveyor | Surveyor conducting the inspection |
| Mina Ramirez | Health Facility Surveyor | Surveyor conducting the inspection |
| Stacey Saenz | Health Facility Surveyor | Surveyor conducting the inspection |
Inspection Report
Life Safety
Deficiencies: 8
Date: Feb 22, 2021
Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted as a fire life safety and sanitation licensure survey for Palouse Hills Assisted Living.
Findings
Multiple deficiencies were found related to fire and life safety standards, including lack of annual inservice training on oxygen risks, missing documentation for emergency plan training, improper use of extension cords, missing fire incident report, and incomplete documentation for door testing, waterflow alarm testing, dry system trip testing, and hood suppression system inspection.
Deficiencies (8)
No annual inservice for staff qualifications on the risks associated with oxygen.
No documentation for staff and resident training on the contents of the emergency plan.
Extension cords and multiple plug adapters are prohibited; extension cord used in storage room by room 110.
No fire incident report for fire event occurrence from 9/8/2020.
No documentation of door testing for installed delayed-egress door magnetic locking arrangements.
No documentation for second quarter and fourth quarter of 2020 waterflow alarm testing.
No documentation for three-year full trip on dry system; annual sprinkler report incomplete due to excessive leaking of air.
No documentation for hood suppression system inspection and cleaning for 1 of 2 inspections.
Report Facts
Fire event date: Sep 8, 2020
Survey date: Feb 22, 2021
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