Denali Center
Denali Center in FAIRBANKS, AK — inspection on January 20, 2026.
Found 11 citations. Severity: Standard violations.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct within required timeframes. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns and are subject to follow-up verification.
Inspection Findings
Federal health inspectors cited DENALI CENTER in FAIRBANKS, AK for a deficiency under regulatory tag F-F0607 during a standard health inspection conducted on 2026-01-20.
Category: Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
The facility was found deficient in the following area: Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
Scope/Severity Level F: widespread, no actual harm with potential for more than minimal harm.
While no actual harm was documented, there was potential for more than minimal harm to residents.
This was one of 11 deficiencies cited during this inspection of DENALI CENTER.
Correction Status: Deficient, Provider has no plan of correction.
Review of Resident #3's Pre-admission Screening and Resident Review Level I form, dated 10/15/24, revealed: . PASRR Categorical Determinations (certain circumstances that are time-limited that require an abbreviated PASRR Level II evaluation report) [checked] Convalescent care for a period of 90 days or less, as certified by the physician. If the individual stays beyond 90 days, an individualized PASRR Level II evaluation must be completed.
The facility shall notify SDS [Senior Disability Services, a State of Alaska, Department of Health Division] on day 85 that it anticipates the resident will need services more than 90 days.
Day 85 is: 01/09/25.
During an interview on 1/14/26 at 2:00 PM, the Social Worker (SW) stated that Resident #3's PASRR Level I had a directive to call the Senior Disability Services on 1/9/25 to initiate a Level II assessment.
When asked if this was done, the SW stated it was not completed because it was missed and at this time, Resident #3 did not have a PASRR Level II.
During the survey, a facility policy on PASRR evaluations was requested.
The facility provided a policy titled LTC [Long Term Care] Authorizations and Re-Authorization Forms.
Review of the facility provided policy, LTC Authorizations and Re-Authorization Forms, originally dated 1/1/17, revealed no information about ensuring Level II PASRRs were requested, implemented, and completed timely to ensure residents receive necessary services if determined necessary
025020 01/20/2026
Denali Center 1510 19th Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99701
Review of the facility provided Liko Color Coded Sling Size Chart, for the Liko Original
resident's weight.
During an interview on 1/14/26 at 11:06 AM, CNA #3 stated he/she was unsure who would ensure correct sling sizes for residents but would go ask a charge nurse.
During an interview on 1/14/26 at 11:19 AM, the Administrator stated that nursing staff had been trained on mechanical lifts and that she trusted the judgement of staff.
The Administrator further stated that it was typical behavior for Resident #29 to cry out because of the Resident's dementia.
During an interview on 1/14/26 at 11:19 AM, LN #1 stated that CNAs would choose the appropriate sling size for residents since they weighed the residents twice a month.
Review of the Liko Original HighBack Sling.
Instructions for Use, dated 2019, revealed: - .
Lifting from a Sitting Position.
Place the sling behind the patient's back.
Fold up the lower edge of the sling around your finger tips to facilitate guiding the sling into place.
Using the palm of your hand, push the lower edge of the sling down to the level of the patient's coccyx [tailbone] - this is very important.
Tip: Correct positioning is facilitated if the patient leans/is leaned forward slightly.
Pull the sling's leg supports forward along outside of the patient's thighs.
Simultaneously, pull the leg support forward with the other hand to stretch it.
Pull the leg supports forward to smooth out any creases in the back.
Check that both leg supports protrude the same distance.
Insert one leg support under each thigh.
Make sure the fabric lies flat and that it reaches properly around the leg.
Tip: The application of the leg supports is facilitated if the patient's legs are slightly raised from the seat.
The Patient does not Sit Well in the Sling - Why is This? .
Wrong! [a picture of a resident in a sling with their buttocks hanging out of the bottom of the sling was depicted] Risk of sliding out.
The buttocks hang down. It can also be due to the fact that the sling has not been pulled down the patient's back sufficiently.
Right! [picture of a resident in the sling without buttocks hanging out of the bottom of the sling was depicted] The lower edge of the sling is at the same level as the coccyx.
The leg supports are properly positioned under the legs.
Review of the facility provided training slide, titled, LIFT AND E-Z STAND, undated, revealed: .
Liko Lift - Use the right [size] of. sling for safety.
The sling needs to. cover the head and the bottom of patients/residents.
Review of the facility provided policy CNA Expectations and Standards of Care, last reviewed 5/6/25, revealed: .
Provide safe and appropriate assistance for all transfers.
025020 01/20/2026
Denali Center 1510 19th Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99701
Review of the article from the Alzheimer's Association, Late-Stage Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiving, undated, retrieved from https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/late-stage, revealed: .
Foods and fluids.
Always check the temperature of warm or hot liquids before serving them.
025020 01/20/2026
Denali Center 1510 19th Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99701
During an interview on 1/14/26 at 2:57 PM, the Education Coordinator for the LTC stated trauma informed care training was assigned annually for all staff, to include travel nursing staff, having contact with residents.
Review of the facility provided employee roster revealed the facility currently had one travel Registered Nurse (RN)(#10), one travel Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) (#12), and four travel CNAs (#'s 2, 13, 14, and 15) working with residents at the time of the survey.
Review of the facility-provided education record for current staff, received on 1/20/26, revealed LTC travel nursing staff were assigned two trauma informed care trainings: 1) Medicare required trauma informed care education; and 2) Trauma Informed care for healthcare staff education, through HealthStream, to be completed in 2025.
Further review revealed the travel nursing staff did not complete trainings as assigned: 1.
Medicare required trauma informed care education training was not completed by any travel nursing staff (RN #10, LPN #12, CNA #'s 2, 13, 14, and 15). 2.
Trauma Informed care for healthcare staff training was not completed by LPN #12, CNA #'s 2, 13, 14, and 15.
During an interview on 1/20/26 at 9:53 AM, the Administrator stated there was an opportunity for improvement to ensure all travel nursing staff completed their assigned trauma informed care training annually.
Review of the facility-provided Denali Center Facility Assessment 2026, dated 12/15/25, revealed: .
Staff training/education and competencies.
Denali Center utilizes competencies from the [NAME] Organization for Nurse Leaders.
The organization utilizes HealthStream for BLS [basic life support] and annual mandatory education.
Topics include.
Trauma informed care.
025020 01/20/2026
Denali Center 1510 19th Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99701
Review of Resident #29's Denali Center Progress Note, dated 11/10/25, written by Provider #2, revealed: .
Patient has a skin irritation on [his/her] back treated with bacitracin.
Further review revealed no documentation for the resident's burn.
Review of Resident #29's Denali Center Progress Note, dated 12/30/25, written by Provider #1, revealed: .
Physical Exam.
Skin: no rashes or lesions on open skin. REVIEW OF SYSTEMS. SKIN: no concerns noted.
Further review revealed no documentation for the resident's burn.
During an interview on 1/15/26 at 12:43 PM, when asked if he was able to follow the provider visits and assessments for Resident #29's burn, the Medical Director stated, after reviewing the provider's notes, that Resident #29's burn should have been documented better.
Review of the facility provided policy Physician Practices/Clinics: Documentation for Coding Quality, Compliance, and Timelines of Documentation Completion, effective date 1/29/25, revealed: . To support services rendered, must be complete, and added to the medical record in a timely manner.
All medical record documentation.
Must reflect the Chief Complaint.
Should specifically address the care being provided by each respective physician.
Documentation in the medical record must be specific to each patient encounter.
Cloned/Copied/Pasted documentation may be considered a misrepresentation of the patient condition and can lead to potential patient safety concerns.
All documentation includes.
Medically appropriate history.
025020 01/20/2026
Denali Center 1510 19th Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99701
Review of the facility provided policy Denali Center - Medication
documentation) for each medication administered.
Before crushing an oral solid for delivery, the
resident is receiving a medication through a tube or line (i.e. IV line, nasogastric tube, etc.) the use of the correct line is verified.
Check the compatibility of the medications if more than one medication is to be administered via the same line.
The medication dose, time and route will be documented on the Medication Administration Record immediately at the time of administration.
025020 01/20/2026
Denali Center 1510 19th Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99701
During an interview on 1/14/26 at 9:40 AM, LN #3, stated expired items should be thrown out and if an expiration date was unreadable, then it should be discarded and replaced.
During an interview on 1/15/26 at 1:53 PM, the Administrator stated at the beginning of the month, nurses (RCC - Resident Care Coordinators) will go through the medication carts and supply carts and check expiration dates.
The Administrator further stated when expired items were found, staff should throw the items away.
Review of the facility provided Floor Stock Inspections, effective on 10/2/25, revealed: .
Manufacturer's expiration dates or other pharmacy labeled dates will be used as a basis for removal of outdated items.
Products without manufacturer dating. or without a handwritten date will also be removed.
During an interview on 1/14/26 at 10:57 AM, the FNM stated that refrigerator temperatures were centrally monitored and the engineering department would notify the FNM if the refrigerator temperatures were out of range.
The FNM further stated foods from the refrigerators in Fireweed Cafe had not been thrown out in the past three months when temperatures were out of range.
During an interview on 1/15/26 at 11:00 AM, the Plant Ops Supervisor (POS) stated that the kitchen was responsible for checking the alarms.
The POS further stated the FNM had an alarm above his office door, and this alarm would light up if temperatures were out of range.
Review of the facility provided FDA Food Code 2022, revealed: 3-302.11 Packaged and Unpackaged Food - Protection Separation, Packaging, and Segregation.
Food that is inadequately packaged or contained in damaged packaging could become contaminated by microbes, dust, or chemicals introduced by products or equipment stored in close proximity or by persons delivering, stocking, or opening packages or overwraps.
Packaging must be appropriate for preventing the entry of microbes and other contaminants such as chemicals.
These contaminants may be present on the outside of containers and may contaminate food if the packaging is inadequate or damaged, or when the packaging is opened.
The removal of food product overwraps may also damage the package integrity of foods under the overwraps if proper care is not taken.
Review of the facility policy Food Safey and Sanitization, updated 5/28/24, revealed: .4) Food Storage.2.
Refrigerated foods are stored at or below 41 F (5 C [Celsius].4.
Foods are protected from contamination (dust, flies, rodents, and other vermin) .8.
All leftovers are labeled, covered and dated when stored.
They are used following the guidelines of the Discard Dates attachments or discarded. 11.
Opened containers and prepped foods are used or discarded within the time frame of the Discard Dates form, developed by management.
Review of the facility policy Denali Center: Use of Leftovers, effective date 2/4/25, revealed: .2.
All opened food items in coolers, freezers and dry storage must be covered and labeled as indicated in the State of Alaska Food Code. 3. To suppress bacteria growth, foods are to be stored at or below 5 C (41 F) or above 57.2 C (135 F). No food should be in the Danger Zone between 5 - 57.2 C (41 F to 135 F). If a food temperature falls into the danger zone, the food must be reheated to 165 F or above. If the food temperature is in the danger zone for more than two hours, the food must be discarded.
025020 01/20/2026
Denali Center 1510 19th Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99701
During an interview on 1/20/26 at 9:53 AM, after reviewing the education record, the Administrator stated there was opportunity for improvement with tracking the traveler's completion of assigned trainings
025020 01/20/2026
Denali Center 1510 19th Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99701
During an interview on 1/14/26 at 12:00 PM, when asked if Resident #4's enteral formula container and administration set should be labeled with dates and times, Licensed Nurse (LN) #2 stated that it should have been labeled.
Review of the facility provided policy Enteral tube feeding, intermittent, gastronomy and jejunostomy, last revised 12/14/25, revealed: .Make sure that the enteral formula container is labeled with. date and time of formula preparation; date and time that the formula was hung.
Label the enteral administration set with the date and time that it was first hung.
Change the enteral administration set according to the manufacturer's instructions to prevent bacterial growth.
Clean Linen Protection during Transport An observation on 1/12/26 at 2:44 PM, revealed laundry personnel brought clean clothes on a wheeled cart to the long-term care (LTC) units from the laundry room.
Further observation revealed there was a cart cover attached to the top of the cart, however it was not pulled down completely to cover the clean clothes.
The bottom half of hung clothes was visible as the laundry personnel moved through the different units delivering the laundry.
An observation on 1/14/26 at 2:34 PM, revealed laundry personnel brought clean clothes on a wheeled cart to the LTC units from laundry room again.
Further observation revealed the cart's cover was not pulled down completely to cover the clean clothes.
The bottom half of hung clothes was visible as the laundry personnel moved through the different units delivering the laundry.
During an interview on 1/14/26 at 2:00 PM, when asked about clean laundry being delivered to the units, the Administrator stated that it was the expectation that the clean laundry be covered when being delivered.
Review of the facility provided policy Foundation Health Partners Infection Prevention Plan, dated 2/15/23, revealed: .
The infection prevention program is responsible for: Developing and implementing policies governing control of infections and communicable diseases.
Reduce risk of infections related to procedures, medical equipment, and devices.
Assure clean and sanitary environment.
Reduce potential transmission of organisms to patients, staff and others.
025020 01/20/2026
Denali Center 1510 19th Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99701