Ministry Inspections

At McCormick Home, we believe in the importance of organizational transparency. We are pleased to share with you information on our ministry inspection process and evaluations so that you can better understand our performance and have an informed opinion on the quality of our long-term care services.

As directed by the Ministry of Long-Term Care, all long-term care facilities are subject to four different types of inspections:

• Full inspection (also known as a “Resident Quality Inspection”) – where ministry inspectors conduct a thorough and unannounced review of all aspects of a facility’s operations and services
• Critical incident inspection (also referred to as a “critical incident report”) – where ministry inspectors may choose to conduct a review of a formally reported incident
• Complaint investigation – where ministry inspectors may choose to conduct a review of a formally reported complaint
• Follow-up inspection – where ministry inspectors may choose to return to a facility to ensure that ministry recommendations have been implemented

We encourage you to review our results and feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the care, services or accommodations we provide.

This information is available on the Ministry of Long-Term Care – Reports on Long-Term Care Homes website.

Inspection Results

According to the Ministry of Health, if an inspector finds non-compliance with requirements, the inspector must take at least one of the following actions:

• Issue a Written Notification (WN)
• Request a Plan of Correction, to be implemented voluntarily (VPC)
• Make a Compliance Order or a Work and Activity Order
• Refer the matter to the ministry’s Director of Performance Improvement and Compliance Branch for further action

Other powers of the Director under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 and its regulations include:

• Directing the community care access centre to cease admissions to the Home
• Revoking or refusing to renew the long-term care home’s license
• Reducing or withholding funding
• Requiring the long-term care home operator to retain someone to manage or assist in managing the home
• Taking steps to operate or take control of a municipal long-term care home

Ministry of Health Inspection FAQs

Inspections at McCormick Home

We are committed to the highest standards of care at McCormick Home and welcome any ministry inspection. We fully support all the legislation set out by the Ministry of Long-Term Care and cooperate fully with the inspection process to ensure ongoing quality improvement in the care we provide to our residents.

2022 Results for McCormick Home

March 1, 2022  – Critical Incident System Inspection

On February 22, 23 and 24, 2022, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection. The inspection involved concerns related to medication management, falls prevention, maintenance, and hospitalization/change and condition. An infection prevention and control inspection was also completed.

The ministry’s investigation resulted in three Written Notices and three Voluntary Plans of Correction related to following a resident’s plan of care, safe transferring and positioning, and drug administration. McCormick Home is addressing these issues and has enacted corrective measures as a result of the ministry’s findings.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated March 1, 2022).

2021 Results for McCormick Home

October 12, 2021  – Critical Incident System Inspection

On October 1, 4, 5, and 6, 2021, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection. The inspection involved concerns related to falls management and the prevention of abuse and neglect.  An infection prevention and control inspection was also completed.

The ministry’s investigation resulted in once Written Notice and one Voluntary Plan of Correction related to ensuring that a written plan of care is provided for each resident and that that the care outlined in the plan of care is provided accordingly.  McCormick Home is addressing these issues and has enacted corrective measures as a result of the ministry’s findings.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated October 12, 2021).

May 27, 2021 – Critical Incident System Inspection

On May 25 and 26, 2021, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection. The inspection involved concerns related to falls management, and included observations regarding infection prevention and control as well as a review of residents’ clinical records.

The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to this inspection.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated May 27, 2021).

February 16, 2021 – Critical Incident System Inspection

On February 1, 2, 3 and 4, 2021, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection. The inspection involved concerns related to falls prevention, resident skin and wound care, and a proactive infection control audit by the ministry.

The ministry’s investigation resulted in three Written Notices and three Voluntary Plans of Correction related to properly assessing a wound received by a resident during an improper resident transfer and adhering to proper skin and wound care for an additional resident. The plans of care for two residents were also not followed relating nutrition and hydration. The inspection also found one violation related to staff not following proper infection and control practices.

McCormick Home continues to address these issues and has additional corrective measures in place as a result of the ministry’s findings.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated February 16, 2021).

2020 Results for McCormick Home

October 1, 2020 – Critical Incident System Inspection

On September 28 and 29, 2020, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection. The issue involved a concern with the prevention of abuse and neglect.

The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to this inspection.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated October 1, 2020).

August 10, 2020 – Critical Incident System Inspection

On August 4, 5 and 6, 2020, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection. The issues involved a concern with a fall and with two separate altercations between residents.

The ministry’s investigation resulted in one Written Notice and one Voluntary Plan of Correction related to properly assessing a wound received by a resident during a resident-to-resident altercation.

McCormick Home continues to address these issues and has additional corrective measures in place as a result of the ministry’s findings.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated August 10, 2020).

2019 Results for McCormick Home

December 3, 2019 – Critical Incident System Inspection 

On November 28 and 29, 2019, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection. The issues involved a concern with staff-to-resident neglect related to falls prevention and management.

The ministry’s investigation issued one written notice related to a failure to comply with the home’s Falls – Identification of Resident Risk Policy as well as one voluntary plan of correction requesting that the home prepare a written plan of correction for achieving compliance with this policy.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated December 3, 2019).

September 13, 2019 – Critical Incident System Inspection 

On September 11, 2019, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection. The issue involved concerns with falls prevention and management.

The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to this incident.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated September 13, 2019). 

July 18, 2019 – Complaint Inspection 

On July 15, and 16, 2019, the ministry visited the home to conduct a complaint inspection.  This issue involved concerns with falls prevention.

The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to this inspection.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated July 18, 2019). 

July 18, 2019 – Critical Incident System Inspection 

On July 15, 16 and 17, 2019, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection.  This issue involved concerns with falls prevention.

The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to this inspection.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated July 18, 2019).

March 25, 2019 – Critical Incident System Inspection 

On March 6 and 7, 2019, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection.  This issue involved concerns related to a fall.

The ministry’s investigation issued one written notice related to falls prevention that addressed the home’s failure to ensure that staff employed safe techniques when transferring a resident.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated March 25, 2019).

March 8, 2019 – Critical Incident System Inspection 

On February 22, 2019, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection.  This issue involved concerns related the failure/breakdown of the heating system.

The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to this inspection.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated March 8, 2019).

2018 Results for McCormick Home

November 29, 2018 – Critical Incident System Inspection

On November 25, 26 and 27, 2018, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident system inspection.  This issue involved three separate concerns related to falls that resulted in injury.

The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to this inspection.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated November 29, 2018).

May 28 to June 8, 2018 – Resident Quality Inspection

Between May 28 and June 8, 2018, the ministry visited the home to conduct a Resident Quality Inspection. Our last RQI inspection took place in January 2018.

As McCormick Home is frequently used as a training site by the ministry, a total of seven inspectors were involved in this review.

Six Written Notifications with six Voluntary Plans of Correction were received as a result of this inspection, which involved:

• The review of a critical incident related to a fall that resulted in the education of staff on the particulars involved in the use of bed rails, patient transfer protocols and falls prevention, as well as the procedures involved in ensuring care plan accuracy
• The review of the home’s decision to not accept the admission of an individual who was at high risk of compromising resident and staff safety
• Concerns with the home’s procedures for drug storage safety and administration, resulting in a review of the home’s mandatory medication-error reporting policy with the home’s nursing staff
• Concerns with dining and snack service, leading to the adoption of a more flexible eating schedule to ensure meal temperature and choice are respected, as well as a review of meal time assistance expectations and policies with staff post-inspection and in the home’s annual mandatory education program

McCormick Home continues to address these issues and has additional corrective measures in place as a result of the ministry’s findings.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated June 15, 2018).

January 2-5, 2018 – Resident Quality Inspection

Between January 2 and 5, 2018, the ministry visited the home to conduct a Resident Quality Inspection. Our last RQI inspection took place in December 2016. One Written Notification and one Voluntary Plan of Correction were received as a result of this review, which involved discrepancies in record-keeping, specifically between the care plans of two residents and the delivery of the care they require. McCormick Home is working to quickly address these issues and has corrective measures in place as a result of the ministry’s findings.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated January 8, 2018).

2017 Results for McCormick Home

June 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2017 – Concurrent Critical Incident and Complaint Investigations

On June 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2017, the ministry visited the home to conduct one complaint investigation and 16 critical incidents and that were filed in 2016 and 2017.  The following areas of concern were investigated:  falls, medication incidents, pain management and the management of responsive behaviours.

The following inspection protocols were used during this inspection:

• Falls Prevention
• Medication
• Pain
• Personal Support Services
• Prevention of Abuse, Neglect and Retaliation
• Responsive Behaviours

Five Written Notifications were received as a result of the critical incident investigations as well as five recommendations for Voluntary Plans of Correction (i.e., where areas of non-compliance were found to have the severity level of a minimal harm/risk or potential for actual harm/risk to residents).  No areas of non-compliance were found in the complaint investigation, which was resolved internally before the investigation took place.

In response to the ministry’s findings, McCormick Home has developed a Voluntary Plan of Correction that includes:

• Reviewing our nursing pain and injury assessment protocols and documentation processes
• Reviewing our procedures for handling sensitive information
• Conducting a full audit of our resident care plans
• Reviewing our protocols for discarding medications

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated September 11, 2017).

2016 Results for McCormick Home

November 28-December 2, 2016 – Resident Quality Inspection

Between November 28 to 30, 2016, and December 1 to 2, 2016, the ministry visited the home to conduct a Resident Quality Inspection. Our last RQI inspection took place in September 2015. Four Written Notifications reflecting four areas of non-compliance were received as a result of this review. Findings included an unlocked door to a cleaning closet, the use of an undocumented restraining device on a resident’s wheelchair, the use of two half-bed rails without a proper assessment, and treatment creams being stored outside of a locked area.

McCormick Home held re-education sessions for staff regarding the importance of properly securing chemicals and treatment creams, and the requirements involved when employing restraint devices.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated December 30, 2016).

June 22-23, 2016 –Critical Incident Investigation

From June 22 to 23, 2016, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident investigation. The investigation addressed an incident of verbal abuse by a nurse to a resident that took place in the fall of 2015.  The nurse was immediately suspended with pay pending an investigation. The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to this incident.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated July 11, 2016).

June 22-23, 2016 – Complaint Investigation

From June 22 to 23, 2016, the ministry visited the home to conduct a complaint investigation. The complaint involved concerns with the continence care of a resident.

The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to this complaint.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated July 11, 2016).

2015 Results for McCormick Home

September 21-29, 2015 – Resident Quality Inspection

Between September 21 and 29, 2015, the ministry visited the home to conduct a Resident Quality Inspection. Our last RQI inspection took place in October 2014. Two Written Notifications reflecting two areas of non-compliance as well as a Voluntary Plan of Correction were received as a result of this review. McCormick Home is working to quickly address these issues and has corrective measures in place as a result of the ministry’s findings.

• Care Plan Accuracy – Five examples of a discrepancy between the resident care plan and its delivery were found, including the use of a personal assistive safety device, the use of sitting and repositioning devices, a two-way communication process for a resident, and a resident’s changed mobility and transfer status. In addition to other corrective measures, McCormick Home is in the process of auditing all resident care plans to provide clear directions to staff and others who provide direct resident care and revising these plans to enhance our section on communication concerns, goals and interventions. As well, the home has developed a new Restraint Checklist for our admissions package and updated our nursing policy on the use of restraint/personal assistance service devices.
• Housekeeping – Two examples of housekeeping deficiencies include the cleanliness of dining room furniture and the management of challenging odours. In response, the cleaning of the dining room furniture, including the underside of table tops, legs, chair arms and legs was immediately undertaken and subsequently added to the four-hour weekly cleaning duty rotation. For the management of challenging odours, a thorough cleaning of the room and resident’s belongings took place immediately following the inspection, and an effective air purifier was installed. The home has also since developed an Odour Control Policy as part of its Occupational Health and Safety program.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated October 28, 2015).

May 13, 2015 –Critical Incident Investigation

On May 13, 2015, the ministry visited the home to conduct a critical incident investigation. The investigation addressed two incidents – one involving a staff member was said to have spoken harshly to a resident and intentionally moved the resident’s wheelchair out of her reach, and the other involving a resident entering another resident’s room and attempting to pull him out of the bed.

The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to these incidents.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated May 13, 2015).

January 16, 2015 – Complaint Investigation

On January 16, 2015, the ministry visited the home to conduct a complaint investigation. The complaint involved concerns with a lack of staffing and supplies as well as an issue with the cleanliness of our facilities.
The ministry’s investigation found that there were no violations in regard to the complaint.
Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated January 17, 2015).

January 16, 2015 – Critical Incident Inspection

On January 16, 2015, the ministry visited McCormick Home to follow up on a critical incident report filed by the home on December 22, 2014. The report involved an incident where a resident was in a chair with a seatbelt and was observed to have slid down in the chair while seated.

McCormick Home filed the report with the ministry as a critical incident to ensure that proper policies and procedures in the use of restraints were being followed.

The ministry’s investigation of this incident found that there were no violations of compliance with restraint policies and procedures. In the interests of added safety, the home has implemented further measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring. For example, the resident will be receiving a customized chair better suited to their needs and staff will be reviewing the home’s current restraining management program.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated January 17, 2015).

2014 Results for McCormick Home

From January to September 2014, McCormick Home underwent three critical incident inspections. There were no violations found.

In March 2014, McCormick Home volunteered its facilities for four weeks to serve as a training location for new ministry inspectors. The home appreciated this opportunity to participate in assisting in the ministry’s education effort as well as to learn the feedback resulting from this exercise. No major violations of service, care and/or cleanliness standards were found as a result of this voluntary inspection and training effort.

October 2014 McCormick Home Resident Quality Inspection

Our last full inspection (Resident Quality Inspection) by the Ministry of Health took place in October 2014. Five written notifications were received as a result of this review. McCormick Home is working quickly to address these issues and has corrective measures in place as a result of the ministry’s findings.

The written notifications and related corrective steps identified in the October 2014 inspection are as follows:

• Care plan accuracy – Inconsistencies were found in one resident’s fall assessment and another’s need for bed rails. In order to correct these errors, all care plans at McCormick Home are being verified and cross-checked for accuracy.
• Infection prevention and control – Some violations were found, including an unmarked urine collection hat and catheter bag that were improperly stored, a missing IPC notice from a required posting location, and a hand hygiene violation during mealtime. Specific steps are immediately being taken to address these errors, including properly marking and storing urine collections, replacing missing signage and re-educating staff on proper hand hygiene during mealtimes.
• Access to prohibited areas – Two servery doors were found unlocked, providing unintended resident access to a service elevator and kitchen facilities. In order to prevent a recurrence, a memo was circulated and signage was posted to remind staff to keep these doors locked.
• Labelling of personal items – The inspection found some personal items were not labelled, including two toothbrushes and one tube of toothpaste. In order to maintain hygiene, a full audit of all resident rooms was conducted to ensure that all personal items are properly labelled. A designated staff person is being assigned to ensure that all items remain labelled going forward.
• Resident weight records – A review of resident charts showed that some were missing a weight or height listing. From this point on, all residents will be weighed on the first week of each month and their height will be recorded upon admission and annually thereafter.

Please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report for a copy of the ministry’s report on this investigation (dated November 10, 2014).

Results for McCormick Home Prior to 2014

Since July 2010, McCormick Home has undergone 26 ministry inspections, including follow-ups for critical incidents and complaints and our recent full inspection. In all, a total of 15 written notifications were received, and corrective steps were immediately taken. No compliance orders were received as a result of any ministry inspection at McCormick Home over this period.
For a complete summary of all ministry inspections conducted since July 2010 at McCormick Home and their related findings, please visit the Ministry of Long-Term Care Homes – Home Report website.

For more information, please feel free to contact Tanya Pol, McCormick Home Administrator, at tpol@mccormickcare.ca. or 519-432-2648 ext. 2321.