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

Failure to Provide Proper Skin Assessments and Notify Physicians

The Rehabilitation Center Of Los AngelesLos Angeles, California Survey Completed on 04-04-2024

Summary

The facility failed to provide care, treatment, and services for five residents in accordance with professional standards of practice. Specifically, the facility did not conduct proper assessments to identify the cause of generalized and severely itchy skin rashes for two residents, despite multiple treatments. Additionally, the facility did not notify a physician that the treatment ordered for the skin rashes was ineffective, as required by the residents' care plans. This resulted in one resident experiencing unrelieved itching, discomfort, and inability to sleep, and an increase in their Zoloft dosage due to crying episodes. The resident was eventually referred for psychiatric services due to intermittent crying episodes. The facility also failed to assess four other residents for generalized itchy skin rashes and did not notify a physician about these conditions. These residents had no pre-existing skin conditions upon admission or readmission to the facility. The lack of timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment placed these residents at increased risk for significant decline in their physical, mental, or psychosocial well-being. The facility's failure to implement routine skin assessments and notify physicians of ineffective treatments contributed to the residents' ongoing discomfort and potential for further complications. Observations and interviews revealed that the facility did not follow its policies and procedures for skin assessments and infection control. Staff members admitted that they did not conduct proper assessments or notify physicians in a timely manner. The facility's documentation also lacked detailed descriptions of the residents' skin conditions, and there was no evidence of follow-up actions to address the ongoing rashes. This lack of adherence to professional standards of practice and facility policies resulted in the residents' prolonged suffering and potential for further harm.

Removal Plan

  • The licensed nurse contacted Resident 1's physician and obtained orders for a skin scraping to identify the presence of scabies mites, the test was completed and sent the specimen to the laboratory for processing. The licensed nurses began immediate cleaning and disinfection of all multi-use resident care equipment to reduce the potential to transmit contagious skin rashes to the extent possible.
  • The Clinical Consultant inserviced the DON, Infection Prevention Nurse (IPN), and the Administrator on the facility's policy and procedures (P &P) and the guidelines for Prevention and Control of Scabies in California Healthcare settings.
  • The DON and IPN began in servicing licensed nurses working in the facility on the facility's P & P and the guidelines for Prevention and Control of Scabies in California Healthcare settings including weekly assessments of each residents skin, completion of change in condition assessments for all resident rashes identified, notification of the resident's physician and representative and under the direction and guidance of the physician, place the resident on contact precautions, complete a skin scraping to identify the presence of scabies mites, and proper use of PPE.
  • The licensed nurse completed head to toe body assessments of Residents 2, 3, 4, and 5 to identify the presence of a skin rash.
  • The DON and Registered Nurse (RN) Supervisors reviewed and revised Residents 3 and 4's care plans to address the changes in condition, potential exposure to a resident with possible scabies rash and to ensure continued care and services to maintain their highest practicable outcomes.
  • Physical Plant and Environmental Services Consultants in-serviced housekeeping supervisor and housekeeping staff regarding Housekeeping Disinfection Plan which includes using EPA approved disinfectant for cleaning, wearing gloves and long sleeve gown while conducting disinfection, changing gloves and long-sleeve gown between affected resident rooms, performing handwashing between rooms and tasks, changing water, mop, and rags between resident rooms or between disinfection tasks, and when possible complete cleaning and disinfection of each affected room while the resident is showering. The housekeeping staff deep cleaned Resident l, 2, 3, 4, and 5's room. The 3rd and 4th Floor were deep cleaned to reduce potential for transmission of contagious pathogens.
  • The DON and the IPN completed resident body assessments to identify the presence of rashes on other residents to prevent harm to affected residents. Dermatologist also completed an assessment of all residents to identify residents who are likely to suffer, a serious adverse outcome because of the facility's noncompliance. The Don and the dermatologist, identified residents were identified with rashes. Residents already had on-going treatment orders for identified skin rashes. Residents are newly identified with diagnosis of unspecified dermatitis. The licensed nurses completed change in condition assessments for the residents identified with skin rashes and the roommates for the residents. The residents' physicians and resident representatives were notified. Residents that were newly identified with unspecified dermatitis, were placed on isolation. Skin scraping was performed on residents and Elimite treatments per physician were completed.
  • Clinical Consultant continued evaluation through interview of available staff to identify any staff with skin conditions. To reduce the potential for transmission of contagious rashes, employee interviews were continued in person and via the telephone, prior to staff working with residents during their next assigned shift, to identify any staff members with skin conditions. Staff were contacted and interviewed. Staff who reported itchiness and identified with rashes were offered Elimite.
  • The IPN revised new employee and annual infection prevention and control training to include education of Scabies prevention in Healthcare Settings and reporting the development of new skin rashes identified to their physician, especially when known to have provided direct care with residents diagnosed with contagious skin rashes.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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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

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0684 citations
Failure to Follow Physician Orders for Insulin, Weight Monitoring, and Lab Tests
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F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that staff did not follow multiple physician orders for three residents. A resident with diabetes received ordered insulin even when blood glucose readings were below the ordered hold parameter. Another resident with cerebral palsy, DM, and heart failure had repeated significant overnight weight gains without evidence that the physician was notified as ordered. A third resident with anemia and CKD had ordered CBC and CMP lab tests that were not documented as completed. The DON confirmed there was no documentation that these physician orders were carried out.

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 Implement Ordered Bowel Protocol for Constipation Management
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F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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A resident with multiple medical conditions, including respiratory disorders and diabetes, had physician orders for scheduled laxatives and a three-step PRN bowel protocol to be used when no bowel movement occurred within specified timeframes. Over a four-day period without a documented BM, the MAR showed that none of the ordered bowel protocol steps were administered, and there was no documentation of bowel care on one of those days. Facility records also lacked any notes of medication refusal or staff education regarding bowel care, and leadership confirmed the absence of documentation and implementation of the ordered bowel protocol.

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 Reevaluate Blood Glucose After Treatment for Hyperglycemia
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F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with Alzheimer's disease and type II DM, who required extensive assistance with ADLs and was receiving scheduled Lantus and sliding-scale Humalog, experienced a severely elevated blood glucose level. The on-call provider was notified and ordered an additional dose of lispro insulin with a directive to recheck the blood glucose after administration. Nursing staff administered the extra insulin but did not document any follow-up blood glucose check, and the DON confirmed that this reevaluation was required by the facility's abnormal blood glucose policy and was not completed or 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 Assess and Notify Providers for Abnormal Blood Glucose Levels
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F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

The facility failed to follow professional standards and physician orders for multiple diabetic residents by not consistently assessing and responding to abnormal capillary blood glucose (CBG) results. Several residents with diabetes and comorbid conditions such as CKD, CHF, CAD, COPD, dementia, ESRD, and heart failure had repeated CBG readings in both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic ranges, including values below 70 mg/dl and above 400 mg/dl, without documented provider notification, rechecks, or clinical assessment. Some insulin and CBG monitoring orders lacked clear parameters for provider notification, and in at least one case a resident left on a leave of absence after a markedly elevated CBG without reevaluation. Although LPNs described appropriate protocols for managing low and high blood sugars during interviews, the documentation in the medical records did not show that these steps were consistently implemented or recorded, leading to an immediate jeopardy finding related to quality of care.

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 Respond to Post‑Fall Hip Pain and Mobility Decline
G
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with dementia, osteoporosis, and prior femur fracture experienced an unwitnessed fall and subsequently developed severe hip pain and decreased ability to ambulate and transfer. Nursing staff failed to document the fall on the day it occurred, did not complete comprehensive lower‑extremity or mobility assessments, and repeatedly charted pain scores of 0 despite the resident’s complaints and nurse aide reports of significant pain with movement and increased assistance needs. An NP evaluated the resident for hip pain but was not informed of the fall, did not assess the hips or legs, and treated the pain as baseline neuropathic discomfort. Over several days, PRN acetaminophen was given intermittently without consistent pain scoring, multiple shifts lacked progress notes or assessments, and aides assumed nurses were aware of the resident’s worsening pain and functional decline. Bilateral hip x‑rays were eventually ordered after internal communication about hip pain, and the report later showed an acute displaced femoral neck fracture, after which the resident was sent to the hospital and underwent a left hip hemiarthroplasty.

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, Notify, and Monitor Resident After Facial Trauma
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F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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A resident with Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis reported being punched in the face by another resident, resulting in facial bruising. The resident’s MDS showed intact cognition, and a change in condition evaluation documented the assault; however, the MD was not notified until more than a day later. The care plan directed licensed nurses to assess the resident’s body, and staff observed a purplish bruise on the right lower eyelid/orbital area, but this was not documented in the progress notes. Required every-shift monitoring for 72 hours after the change in condition was not documented on multiple day shifts. The DON confirmed lack of awareness of the bruise and acknowledged missing documentation and monitoring, despite facility policies requiring immediate provider notification and complete, accurate charting of changes in condition.

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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