Personal Care Home fined and denied an increase in capacity because of serious rule violations.

The Healthcare Facility Regulation Division of the Department of Community Health (DCH) correctly fined a personal care home (PCH) for three rule violations posing serious threats to one or more residents.   First, the PCH had an exterior door that required a key to open from the inside.  Second, the PCH administered medications via a tube to one resident who required continuous medical services, which a PCH may not provide.  Third, the home retained a resident needing total care and who was unable to ambulate.  In addition DCH appropriately denied Petitioner’s application for an increase in capacity from three to six residents, because it did not comply with the rules and regulations for PCHs, in particular those intended to safeguard the wellbeing of residents.