Athens Neighborhood Health Center

Summary Statement of Deficiencies D0000 A Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) recertification survey was completed on March 21, 2018. The laboratory was not in compliance with all applicable CLIA requirements found at 42 CFR 493.1 through 42 CFR 493.1780. The following deficiencies were cited: D5291 GENERAL LABORATORY SYSTEMS QUALITY ASSESSMENT CFR(s): 493.1239(a) The laboratory must establish and follow written policies and procedures for an ongoing mechanism to monitor, assess, and, when indicated, correct problems identified in the general laboratory systems requirements specified at 493.1231 through 493.1236. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on the review of laboratory documents and interview with the COO and the Clinic's medical director, the laboratory failed to have a written Quality Assurance (QA) Policy manual. Findings include; 1.) Procedure manual review revealed no Quality Assurance (QA) Policy. 2.) An interview with the COO and medical director at approximately 02:40 PM, on March 21, 2018 in the conference room confirmed the Clinic has no written QA policy. D6000 MODERATE COMPLEXITY LABORATORY DIRECTOR CFR(s): 493.1403 The laboratory must have a director who meets the qualification requirements of 493. 1405 of this subpart and provides overall management and direction in accordance with 493.1407 of this subpart. This CONDITION is not met as evidenced by: Statement of Deficiencies (X1) Provider/Supplier/CLIA Identification Number (X3) Date Survey Completed Name of Provider or Supplier Street Address, City, State -- 1 of 6 -- Based on the review of laboratory documents and an interview with both the COO and Clinic's medical director, the laboratory's current laboratory director did not qualify under CLIA standards. Findings include: 1.) Review of laboratory documents and personnel records of the laboratory director, revealed that; i.) The clinic did not apply to the Department of Community Health (DCH) for a change of Laboratory director in June of 2016 when the previous director was retiring. ii.) The new director did not have the 20 CEUs credits or meet other qualifications for laboratory director required by CLIA. 2.) An interview, with the Clinic's COO, and medical director, in the conference room, on March 21, 2018 at approximately 02:30 PM confirmed that no change of laboratory director request (CMS form 116) was submitted in June 2016. The laboratory director did not have the CEU credits required by CLIA. D6003 LABORATORY DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS CFR(s): 493.1405 AND 493.1406 The laboratory director must be qualified to manage and direct the laboratory personnel and the performance of moderate complexity tests and must be eligible to be an operator of a laboratory within the requirements of subpart R of this part. (a) The laboratory director must possess a current license as a laboratory director issued by the State in which the laboratory is located, if such licensing is required; and (b) The laboratory director must-- (b)(1)(i) Be a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in the State in which the laboratory is located; and (b)(1)(ii) Be certified in anatomic or clinical pathology, or both, by the American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology or possess qualifications that are equivalent to those required for such certification; or (b)(2)(i) Be a doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, or doctor of podiatric medicine licensed to practice medicine, osteopathy, or podiatry in the State in which the Laboratory is located; and (b)(2)(ii) Have had laboratory training or experience consisting of: (b)(2)(ii)(A) At least one year directing or supervising non- waived laboratory testing; or (b)(2)(ii)(B) Beginning September 1, 1993, have at least 20 continuing medical education credit hours in laboratory practice commensurate with the director responsibilities defined in 493.1407; or (b)(2)(ii)(C) Laboratory training equivalent to paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(B) of this section obtained during medical residency. (For example, physicians certified either in hematology or hematology and medical oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine); or (b)(3) Hold an earned doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science from an accredited institution; and (b)(3)(i) Be certified by the American Board of Medical Microbiology, the American Board of Clinical Chemistry, the American Board of Bioanalysis, or the American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology; or (b)(3)(ii) Have had at least one year experience directing or supervising non-waived laboratory testing; (b)(4)(i) Have earned a master's degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution; (b)(4)(ii) Have at least one year of laboratory training or experience, or both in non-waived testing; and (b)(4)(iii) In addition, have at least one year of supervisory laboratory experience in non-waived testing; or (b)(5)(i) Have earned a bachelor's degree in a chemical, physical, or biological science or medical technology from an accredited institution; (b)(5)(ii) Have at least 2 years of laboratory training or experience, or both in non-waived testing; and (b)(5)(iii) In addition, have at least 2 years of supervisory laboratory experience in non-waived testing; (b)(6) Be serving as a laboratory director and must have previously qualified or could have qualified as a laboratory director under 493.1406; or (b)(7) On or before February 28, 1992, qualified under State law to direct a laboratory in the State in which the laboratory is located. Laboratory director qualifications on or before February 28, -- 2 of 6 -- 1992 The laboratory director must be qualified to manage and direct the laboratory personnel and test performance. (a) The laboratory director must possess a current license as a laboratory director issued by the State, if such licensing exists; and (b) The laboratory director must: (b)(1) Be a physician certified in anatomical or clinical pathology (or both) by the American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology or possess qualifications that are equivalent to those required for such certification; (b)(2) Be a physician who: (b)(2)(i) Is certified by the American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology in at least one of the laboratory specialties; or (b)(2)(ii) Is certified by the American Board of Medical Microbiology, the American Board of Clinical Chemistry, the American Board of Bioanalysis, or other national accrediting board in one of the laboratory specialties; or (b)(2)(iii) Is certified by the American Society of Cytology to practice cytopathology or possesses qualifications that are equivalent to those required for such certification; or (b)(2)(iv) Subsequent to graduation, has had 4 or more years of full-time general laboratory training and experience of which at least 2 years were spent acquiring proficiency in one of the laboratory specialties; (b)(3) For the subspecialty of oral pathology only, be certified by the American Board of Oral Pathology, American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology or possesses qualifications that are equivalent to those required for certification; (b)(4) Hold an earned doctoral degree from an accredited institution with a chemical, physical, or biological science as a major subject and (b)(4)(i) Is certified by the American Board of Medical Microbiology, the American Board of Clinical Chemistry, the American Board of Bioanalysis, or other national accrediting board acceptable to HHS in one of the laboratory specialties; or (b)(4)(ii) Subsequent to graduation, has had 4 or more years of full-time general laboratory training and experience of which at least 2 years were spent acquiring proficiency in one of the laboratory specialties; (b)(5) With respect to individuals first qualifying before July 1, 1971, have been responsible for the direction of a laboratory for 12 months between July 1, 1961, and January 1, 1968, and, in addition, either: (b)(5)(i) Was a physician and subsequent to graduation had at least 4 years of pertinent full-time laboratory experience; (b)(5)(ii) Held a master's degree from an accredited institution with a chemical, physical, or biological science as a major subject and subsequent to graduation had at least 4 years of pertinent full- time laboratory experience; (b)(5)(iii) Held a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a chemical, physical, or biological science as a major subject and subsequent to graduation had at least 6 years of pertinent full-time laboratory experience; or (b)(5)(iv) Achieved a satisfactory grade through an examination conducted by or under the sponsorship of the U.S. Public Health Service on or before July 1, 1970; or (b)(6) Qualify under State law to direct the laboratory in the State in which the laboratory is located. Note: The January 1, 1968 date for meeting the 12 months' laboratory direction requirement in paragraph (b)(5) of this section may be extended 1 year for each year of full-time laboratory experience obtained before January 1, 1958 required by State law for a laboratory director license. An exception to the July 1, 1971 qualifying date in paragraph (b)(5) of this section was made provided that the individual requested qualification approval by October 21, 1975 and had been employed in a laboratory for at least 3 years of the 5 years preceding the date of submission of his qualifications. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on the review of laboratory documents and an interview with both the COO and Clinic's medical director, the laboratory's current laboratory director did not qualify under CLIA standards. Findings include: 1.) Review of laboratory documents and personnel records of the laboratory director, revealed that; i.) The clinic did not apply -- 3 of 6 -- to the Department of Community Health (DCH) for a change in Laboratory directors in June of 2016 when the previous director was retiring. ii.) The current director did not have the 20 CEUs credits for laboratory director. 2.) An interview with the Clinic's COO and medical director in the conference room on March 21, 2018 at approximately 02:30 PM confirmed that no change of laboratory director request (CMS form 116) was submitted in June 2016 and the abscence of laboratory director's CEUs. Referenced to Condition DTAG - D6000 D6018 LABORATORY DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES CFR(s): 493.1407(e)(4)(iii) The laboratory director is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the laboratory, including the employment of personnel who are competent to perform test procedures, and record and report test results promptly, accurate, and proficiently and for assuring compliance with the applicable regulations. (e) The laboratory director must-- (e)(4)(iii) Ensure that all proficiency testing reports received are reviewed by the appropriate staff to evaluate the laboratory's performance and to identify any problems that require