Life Care Center of Kirkland: Infection Control Failure - WA
The inspection, conducted on August 21 and finalized August 29, found that Staff G, a Licensed Practical Nurse, performed wound care on Resident 2's left lower leg without a gown. A sign posted directly outside Resident 2's room, part of the facility's Evidence-Based Practice protocol, listed wound care among the high-contact activities that required staff to wear both a gown and gloves before entering. The nurse did not.
When an inspector observed the dressing change and raised the issue with Staff G that morning, the nurse acknowledged the lapse without hesitation. "I should have worn a gown prior to the dressing change," Staff G said.
That admission was the first of three. By the time inspectors wrapped up their review eight days later, two supervisors had independently confirmed the same thing.
Staff H, identified in the report as the Resident Care Manager, told inspectors on August 29 that Evidence-Based Practice protocols were in place specifically for residents with wounds, and that staff were expected to wear gowns and gloves without exception. Staff H said directly that Staff G should have worn a gown. Staff B, interviewed separately the same morning, said the same thing, word for word in substance: staff on EBP units were expected to wear gowns and gloves, and Staff G should have worn one.
Three people. Three confirmations. No dispute about what happened or what was required.
The violation was cited under Washington Administrative Code 388-97-1320(1)(a)(c), the state's infection control standard for licensed nursing facilities. Inspectors rated the harm level as minimal, or potential for actual harm, affecting few residents.
That rating reflects the formal classification, not necessarily the stakes of the underlying practice. Wound care on an open or healing wound is among the higher-risk moments for cross-contamination in a care setting. A gown is not a formality. It is a barrier between whatever is on a nurse's clothing and an open wound, and between whatever is in that wound and the next room the nurse walks into. The facility's own EBP signage, mounted where staff could not miss it on the way through the door, said as much.
The sign was there. The requirement was posted. The nurse walked past it without a gown.
Life Care Center of Kirkland carries a particular weight in the history of American nursing home care. In early 2020, the facility became the site of one of the first known COVID-19 outbreaks in a long-term care setting in the United States, drawing national attention to infection control failures in nursing homes and the catastrophic consequences that can follow when protective protocols collapse. Dozens of residents and staff died. The outbreak reshaped federal and state guidance on infection control in long-term care for years afterward.
The inspection report does not reference that history. It does not need to. The finding stands on its own: in August 2025, a nurse at the same facility performed wound care on a vulnerable resident without wearing the gown that the facility's own posted protocol required.
The wound belonged to Resident 2. The inspection report does not describe its severity, its cause, or what stage of healing the resident was in. It does not say whether Resident 2 was aware of what was happening or whether anyone told them afterward. What it records is that someone with an open wound on their leg received care from a nurse who was not following the infection control requirements written on the sign outside their door.
Staff G admitted it immediately. The supervisors confirmed it clearly. The sign was there the whole time.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Life Care Center of Kirkland from 2025-08-29 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: This article is based on inspection data downloaded directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) via Medicare.gov. CMS releases inspection reports in bulk; we publish the findings as documented by state surveyors in the official Form CMS-2567 Statement of Deficiencies.
Plan of correction: The CMS report we receive does not include the facility's plan of correction. Facilities submit plans of correction separately to state survey agencies and those responses may not be reflected in CMS data at the time of publication. The absence of a plan of correction in our data does not mean one was not filed. Readers who want information about corrective steps taken are encouraged to contact the facility directly or their state survey agency.
Corrections may have occurred: Inspection reports reflect conditions observed on the date of the survey. Facilities may have implemented corrections, staffing changes, additional training, or other remediation since the report was issued. We report what CMS provides and encourage readers to seek current information from the facility.
Editorial process: Inspection findings are extracted from CMS source documents and synthesized using AI, reviewed for factual accuracy against the original report by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: September 27, 2026 · Our methodology
LIFE CARE CENTER OF KIRKLAND in KIRKLAND, WA was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 29, 2025.
When an inspector observed the dressing change and raised the issue with Staff G that morning, the nurse acknowledged the lapse without hesitation.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.