New Jersey law defines a “healthcare service firm” as an employment agency that places personnel to provide healthcare or personal care services in the homes of clients with disabilities or who are senior citizens. Precious Hands, owned by Grace Njenga, has been registered with the Division as such a firm since November 2008. A recent inspection by the Division’s Office of Consumer Protection uncovered numerous alleged deficiencies in violation of the regulations that govern healthcare service firms.
The alleged deficiencies include:
Falsification of Documents: Each healthcare service firm must employ a Director of Nursing who is a registered nurse in good standing with the State Board of Nursing.
Since 2008, Precious Hands has filed registration documents with the Division that listed three individuals, all of whom are registered nurses, as having been its Director of Nursing at various times.
However, each of the individuals has since provided separate, sworn statements to the Division indicating that they were never employed by Precious Hands and did not know the business was using their name and registration information.
Client Care Issues: Before placing a care provider into the home of a client who requires care from a licensed or registered nurse or a CHHA, the healthcare service firm must:
Precious Hands allegedly failed to meet the above requirements. Specifically:
Based on the above and other Findings of Fact, Division of Consumer Affairs Acting Director Steve Lee signed a Provisional Order of Suspension that will assess a $2,000 civil penalty and suspend the healthcare service firm registration of Precious Hands for six months, beginning April 6, unless Precious Hands requests a hearing.
Following the six-month suspension, the Division’s Office of Consumer Protection would verify that Precious Hands had corrected the alleged violations, including the legitimate hiring of a Director of Nursing and other changes to its business practices.
Investigator Ron Regen, assigned to the Office of Consumer Protection within the Division of Consumer Affairs, conducted this investigation.
Deputy Attorney General Alina Wells, of the Division of Law, is representing the State in this matter.
Advice for Consumers Seeking a Healthcare Service Firm for At-Home Care:
Consumers seeking assistance from a healthcare service firm for at-home client care should make contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs to ensure that the healthcare service firm is registered with the State, and whether it has been the subject of consumer complaints. They should also ask the Division to verify whether individual nurses or CHHAs provided by the agency are licensed or registered by the State Board of Nursing.
Consumers can find additional information in these documents, available free of charge at the Division’s website:
Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file a complaint online with the State Division of Consumer Affairs or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
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