Harmar Village: Infection Control Failures - PA
The April 3 federal inspection at Harmar Village Health & Rehab Center found the facility failed to properly implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions for a diabetic resident with a feeding tube and stroke history. The same inspection revealed staff left temperature monitoring logs mostly blank for another resident's personal refrigerator.
Resident R12 had physician orders for Enhanced Barrier Precautions, a protocol requiring healthcare workers to wear both gloves and gown before high-contact activities with vulnerable residents. The resident had diabetes, stroke damage, and a seizure disorder, along with a gastrostomy feeding tube.
On March 30 at 10:00 a.m., inspectors observed Licensed Practical Nurse Employee E1 wearing gloves while connecting new tube feeding supplement to the resident's gastrostomy tube via pump. The nurse failed to put on a gown before the procedure.
Thirty minutes later, the same nurse confirmed to inspectors that they had failed to wear the required gown during the high-contact activity.
Enhanced Barrier Precautions exist specifically to protect residents like R12. Facility policy states the precautions prevent transmission of multi-drug-resistant organisms through contaminated hands and clothing of healthcare workers. High-risk residents include those with chronic wounds and indwelling devices like feeding tubes.
The policy requires staff to put on both gloves and gown before starting any high-contact activity and remove all protective equipment before leaving the room.
The second violation involved inadequate temperature monitoring of a resident's personal refrigerator. Inspectors found Resident R44's refrigerator temperature log posted outside the room with the month and year fields left blank. Fifteen of thirty days showed no temperature readings at all.
Facility policy requires monthly tracking sheets for all refrigerators and freezers, with temperatures recorded between 35 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
At 9:30 a.m. on March 30, Registered Nurse Employee E2 confirmed to inspectors that the temperature log had blank month and year fields and that half the daily readings were missing.
Both violations represent breakdowns in basic safety protocols. Enhanced Barrier Precautions serve as a critical defense against healthcare-associated infections, particularly for residents with compromised immune systems or indwelling medical devices. Temperature monitoring prevents food spoilage and potential foodborne illness.
The Director of Nursing acknowledged both failures during a 3:00 p.m. interview on March 30. The nursing director confirmed the facility failed to ensure proper Enhanced Barrier Precautions for one of three residents requiring them and failed to properly monitor refrigerator temperatures for one of two residents with personal units.
Federal inspectors classified both violations as having minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting few residents. However, the failures occurred despite clear facility policies established in August 2025 outlining proper procedures.
The Enhanced Barrier Precautions policy specifically identifies the transmission risk posed by contaminated healthcare worker clothing and hands. Multi-drug-resistant organisms represent a persistent threat in nursing home environments, where residents often have multiple chronic conditions and compromised immune systems.
For Resident R12, the feeding tube creates an additional infection pathway. The combination of diabetes, stroke history, and seizure disorder places this resident in a particularly vulnerable category requiring strict adherence to protective protocols.
The refrigerator temperature monitoring failure for Resident R44 represents a different but equally concerning lapse. Improper food storage temperatures can lead to bacterial growth and foodborne illness, particularly dangerous for elderly residents with weakened immune systems.
Both violations occurred within the facility's nursing services department, suggesting potential gaps in staff training or supervision. The facility had established appropriate policies eight months before the inspection but failed to ensure consistent implementation.
The inspection found these problems despite the facility having only three residents requiring Enhanced Barrier Precautions and two residents with personal refrigerators, indicating failures affected a significant percentage of applicable cases.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Harmar Village Health & Rehab Center from 2026-04-03 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
- View all inspection reports for Harmar Village Health & Rehab Center
- Browse all PA nursing home inspections
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: June 15, 2026 · Our methodology
HARMAR VILLAGE HEALTH & REHAB CENTER in CHESWICK, PA was cited for violations during a health inspection on April 3, 2026.
The same inspection revealed staff left temperature monitoring logs mostly blank for another resident's personal refrigerator.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened at HARMAR VILLAGE HEALTH & REHAB CENTER?
- The same inspection revealed staff left temperature monitoring logs mostly blank for another resident's personal refrigerator.
- How serious are these violations?
- Violation severity varies from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the inspection report for specific deficiency codes and scope. All violations must be corrected within required timeframes and are subject to follow-up verification inspections.
- What should families do?
- Families should: (1) Ask facility administration about specific corrective actions taken, (2) Request to see the follow-up inspection report verifying corrections, (3) Check if this represents a pattern by reviewing prior inspection reports, (4) Compare this facility's ratings with other nursing homes in CHESWICK, PA, (5) Report any new concerns directly to state authorities.
- Where can I see the full inspection report?
- The complete inspection report is available on Medicare.gov's Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare). You can also request a copy directly from HARMAR VILLAGE HEALTH & REHAB CENTER or from the state Department of Health. The report includes specific deficiency codes, facility responses, and correction timelines. This facility's federal provider number is 396048.
- Has this facility had violations before?
- To check HARMAR VILLAGE HEALTH & REHAB CENTER's history, visit Medicare.gov's Care Compare and review their inspection history, quality ratings, and staffing levels. Look for patterns of repeated violations, especially in critical areas like abuse prevention, medication management, infection control, and resident safety.