F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
D

Multiple Deficiencies in Resident Care and Documentation

Apple Rehab Laurel WoodsEast Haven, Connecticut Survey Completed on 03-14-2024

Summary

The facility failed to ensure neurological assessments were completed after multiple falls for two residents. Resident #10 experienced several unwitnessed falls, and despite the facility's policy requiring neurological checks for such incidents, these assessments were not documented. The Director of Nursing Services (DNS) confirmed that the neurological assessments were not completed as per the facility's policy, which mandates checks every 15 minutes for the first hour, then hourly for four hours, every four hours for 24 hours, and every shift for 48 hours. Similarly, Resident #48 had multiple unwitnessed falls, and the clinical record lacked documentation of neurological checks following these incidents. The DNS acknowledged issues with the responsible nurse's documentation and confirmed that the required assessments were not performed consistently as per the facility's policy. The facility also failed to ensure a physician's order for hospice services for Resident #16. Despite the social worker's notes indicating that the resident was evaluated and admitted to hospice services, the clinical record did not reflect a physician's order for hospice evaluation and treatment. The DNS confirmed that nursing was responsible for obtaining the order, which was missing from the clinical record until the surveyor's inquiry prompted a late entry. Additionally, the facility did not complete an RN assessment for a newly identified skin blister on Resident #66. The nurse's notes indicated the presence of a superficial area on the resident's left hip, but there was no documentation of an RN assessment until the wound specialist's evaluation days later. The DNS confirmed that an RN assessment should have been conducted and documented immediately upon recognizing the new wound. Furthermore, the facility failed to follow physician's orders for obtaining repeated labs for Resident #104 and did not obtain weights according to policy for Residents #2 and #315. The DNS and other staff acknowledged these lapses in following the facility's protocols and physician's orders.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $56,534
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0684 citations
Failure to Monitor Blood Glucose After Rapid Drop
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with insulin-dependent type 2 DM and mild cognitive impairment had a rapid BG drop after receiving sliding scale insulin. The resident reported fear of overnight hypoglycemia and requested BG checks every 2 hours, but the record did not show overnight monitoring, reassessment, or follow-up. Staff later stated the night nurse was notified, while the resident said BG was not checked again until breakfast.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Provide Ordered Wound Care and Aspiration Precautions
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

Failure to provide ordered wound care and aspiration precautions: A resident returned from a dermatology procedure with biopsy-site dressings and the chart lacked documentation of assessment or wound care, while the dressings remained in place and undated during observations. The same resident also had dysphagia with a FEES showing silent penetration with straw sips and an order for no straws, yet was observed drinking water from a cup with a straw; the SLP and DON confirmed the no-straw precaution and expectation to follow physician orders.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Monitor Ordered Vital Signs
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

Failure to Monitor Ordered Vital Signs: A resident with COPD, chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, and CHF had a provider order for daily vital signs, but the MAR showed an O2 sat of 87% with no follow-up vitals documented and another day with no vitals documented at all. Nursing notes did not show follow-up monitoring or documentation of the low O2 reading, and the CNO stated vitals were recorded on the night shift but not entered into the record or explained when the day-shift vitals were not completed as ordered.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Medication Administered Despite Hold Parameters
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

Medication Administered Despite Hold Parameters: A resident with HTN and hyperlipidemia had an order for midodrine with BP hold parameters, but licensed nurses administered the medication multiple times even when the resident's BP met or exceeded the ordered limits. MAR review showed doses were given despite systolic and/or diastolic readings at or above the hold threshold, and the NHA acknowledged the medication was administered contrary to the physician's parameters.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Assess and Report Abnormal Blood Glucose and Document Resident Change in Condition
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

Failure to assess and report abnormal blood glucose and document change in condition: The facility did not notify the MD of abnormal CBG results or assess for hypo/hyperglycemia for two residents with DM who had insulin orders and abnormal readings, including low and high values. The record also showed inaccurate documentation for another resident with a bruise of unknown origin that was monitored briefly and then no longer documented.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Notify Provider of Significant Weight Changes
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A facility failed to notify the provider about a resident’s weight changes per physician order. The resident had CAD, HF, HTN, and dementia, and the record showed weight fluctuations of 4 lbs and 5 lbs, but there was no evidence the provider was updated. The DON confirmed the provider was never notified and stated the provider should have been informed per the order.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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