Failure to Provide Proper Skin Assessments and Notify Physicians
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
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release May 27, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
Trusted by long-term care providers and associations.



