Woodruff County Health Center: Infection Control Gaps - AR
The facility had a written policy for Enhanced Barrier Precautions, adopted in April 2024, that required staff to wear gowns and gloves during high-contact care activities, including tracheostomy care. The Director of Nursing told inspectors that gowns, gloves, and masks were all required when caring for residents under those precautions. The Infection Preventionist said staff were observed daily and completed annual competency checks on how to properly put on and remove protective equipment. The Administrator said camera footage was reviewed to make sure staff were following infection control practices.
The inspectors found the opposite was happening.
Tracheostomy care, which involves suctioning and cleaning an opening surgically made in a resident's airway, carries real risk of exposure to respiratory secretions. The facility's own tracheostomy policy acknowledged the hazard, noting that masks and eye protection should be worn when splashing or splattering was likely. The Enhanced Barrier Precautions policy went further, listing tracheostomy care explicitly as a high-contact activity requiring gown and gloves.
None of that translated into what staff were actually doing at the bedside.
The facility's PPE policy, last updated in September 2010, set a narrower standard than the more recent infection control guidance, requiring masks only when splashing of blood or body fluids was possible and gowns only "when indicated." The gap between that older document and the 2024 Enhanced Barrier Precautions policy left room for staff to interpret their obligations differently, or to ignore them.
Inspectors rated the violation at a level of minimal harm or potential for actual harm, with some residents affected. The Enhanced Barrier Precautions program, the Director of Nursing explained, existed specifically to prevent infections and rehospitalizations among the facility's most vulnerable residents. Whether it was doing that depended entirely on staff wearing gear that, on at least some occasions, they were not wearing.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Woodruff County Health Center from 2025-09-18 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: August 5, 2026 · Our methodology
WOODRUFF COUNTY HEALTH CENTER in MCCRORY, AR was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 18, 2025.
The Director of Nursing told inspectors that gowns, gloves, and masks were all required when caring for residents under those precautions.
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.