SHREVEPORT, LA - Federal health inspectors identified five deficiencies at Harmony House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center during a complaint investigation completed on October 1, 2025, including a citation for inadequate catheter care and failure to implement proper urinary tract infection prevention protocols.
Bladder and Catheter Care Failures Under Scrutiny
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cited Harmony House under regulatory tag F0690, which addresses the requirement that nursing facilities provide appropriate care for residents managing bowel and bladder continence, deliver proper catheter maintenance, and take adequate steps to prevent urinary tract infections.
The citation falls under the broader category of Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies, a classification that encompasses fundamental standards nursing homes must meet to ensure residents receive adequate daily care. Inspectors determined the deficiency was isolated in scope and carried a severity level of "D" — meaning that while no actual harm was documented at the time of the investigation, there was potential for more than minimal harm to residents.
The distinction is significant. A Level D finding indicates that inspectors observed practices or conditions that, if left unaddressed, could lead to measurable harm — even if no resident had yet experienced a negative outcome during the survey window.
Why Catheter Care Standards Exist
Urinary catheters are among the most common medical devices used in long-term care settings, and they carry well-documented risks. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain one of the most frequent healthcare-associated infections in nursing homes nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CAUTIs account for a substantial percentage of all infections reported in long-term care facilities each year.
The risk factors are straightforward. A catheter creates a direct pathway for bacteria to enter the urinary tract. Without meticulous hygiene protocols, regular assessment of whether a catheter remains medically necessary, and proper technique during insertion and maintenance, residents face elevated infection risk. For elderly residents — many of whom have compromised immune systems or multiple comorbidities — even a routine urinary tract infection can escalate into sepsis, hospitalization, or decline in overall health status.
Proper catheter care protocols require nursing staff to regularly assess each catheterized resident, maintain a closed drainage system, perform consistent perineal hygiene, secure the catheter to prevent trauma, and evaluate whether the device can be safely removed. Federal standards also require facilities to maintain toileting programs and continence care plans for residents who do not require catheterization.
Complaint Investigation Reveals Broader Concerns
The October inspection was conducted as a complaint investigation, meaning it was triggered by a formal concern raised about conditions at the facility — rather than a routine scheduled survey. The fact that inspectors identified five separate deficiencies during a complaint-driven visit suggests the concerns that prompted the investigation had merit.
While the specific details of the remaining four citations were not included in this particular deficiency report, the cumulative finding of five deficiencies during a single complaint investigation places Harmony House among facilities that warranted heightened regulatory attention during the inspection period.
Facility Response and Correction Timeline
Harmony House reported correcting the catheter care deficiency as of November 14, 2025, approximately six weeks after the inspection. The facility's correction status is listed as "Deficient, Provider has date of correction", indicating that Harmony House submitted a plan of correction and reported implementing changes by the stated date.
Nursing homes that receive deficiency citations are required to submit detailed plans outlining the specific steps they will take to address each finding, prevent recurrence, and monitor ongoing compliance. State survey agencies may conduct follow-up visits to verify that corrections have been fully implemented and sustained.
What Families Should Know
For families with loved ones at Harmony House or any long-term care facility, catheter care practices are an important area to monitor. Key questions to ask include whether a catheter is still medically necessary, how frequently staff perform catheter maintenance, and what infection prevention measures are in place.
The full inspection report, including all five deficiencies cited during the October 2025 complaint investigation, is available through the CMS Care Compare database at medicare.gov. Residents and families can also contact the Louisiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to report concerns or request advocacy assistance.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Harmony House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, I from 2025-10-01 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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