F0740 F740: Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
J

Failure to Implement Behavioral Health Interventions for Aggressive Resident

The Health Center At Research ParkHuntsville, Alabama Survey Completed on 06-18-2024

Summary

The facility failed to ensure necessary behavioral health care and services were provided to a resident, identified as RI #335, who exhibited physically and verbally aggressive behaviors, as well as homicidal and suicidal ideations. On one occasion, RI #335 was sent to the hospital emergency room after being physically and verbally abusive to staff and expressing homicidal and suicidal ideations. Upon returning from the hospital, the facility did not develop a plan to ensure the safety of other residents, nor were any new orders or interventions implemented. The deficiency was highlighted when a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) witnessed RI #335 in another resident's room, attempting to smother the resident with a pillow. This incident occurred shortly after RI #335's return from the hospital, during which time no nursing assessment was conducted, and no interventions were put in place to address the resident's aggressive behaviors. Interviews with facility staff revealed that there was an expectation that the hospital would have kept RI #335, and as a result, no immediate interventions were planned upon the resident's return. The facility's policy on Behavioral Health Services was not adhered to, as it mandates that necessary behavioral health care services be person-centered and reflect the resident's goals for care while ensuring safety. Despite RI #335's history of aggressive behavior and cognitive impairment, the facility did not implement appropriate interventions or conduct a comprehensive assessment upon the resident's return from the hospital, leading to a situation that posed a risk of serious harm to other residents.

Removal Plan

  • Resident #335 was redirected from the Dining room by the Administrator after yelling, throwing things and grabbing at staff.
  • Social services made referrals for Psych services related to physical and verbally abusive behaviors and suicidal ideation. Charge Nurse sent RI #335 to the ER and transported by HEMSI.
  • Resident #335 returned from the hospital by HEMSI with no new orders. Labs were drawn at the ER. Per ER records resident denied any complaints, denied suicidality and homicidal ideations.
  • Resident's #334 and #335 were separated by the CNA.
  • Resident #334 was assessed by the Charge Nurse, with no injuries noted.
  • The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner assessed Resident #334 and documented in a provider note with no negative findings. Resident #334 was assessed by the Nurse with no negative findings.
  • Resident #335 was placed on one on one by the Charge Nurse until resident transferred to the hospital by HEMSI and ultimately discharged.
  • Resident interviews were conducted by the Social Services Director and Activity Coordinator with a BIMS of 13 or greater regarding physical or verbal abuse by another resident with no negative findings.
  • Residents with a BIMS of 12 or less, a body audit was completed by the Director of Nursing and Charge Nurse with no negative findings.
  • Alabama Department of Health, Adult Protective Services, and law enforcement were notified of the reported events by the Administrator.
  • Resident interviews were conducted by the Social Services Director with a BIMS of 13 or greater regarding abuse by anyone with no negative findings.
  • Residents with a BIMS of 12 or less, a body audit and observation for abuse and behaviors was completed by the Director of Nursing, Staffing Coordinator, and Charge Nurse with no negative findings.
  • Resident interviews using a Resident Psychosocial Health Questionnaire were conducted by Social Services Director with BIMS of 13 or greater to determine resident's mood, behaviors, and thoughts such as anxiety, agitation, depression, suicidal and homicidal ideations, with no new negative findings.
  • Charge Nurse made notifications to the practitioners and responsible parties for resident #334 and #335.
  • Clinical Record Review was initiated and completed by the Director of Clinical Education and Regional Nurse Managers to include clinical notes, event notes, and daily skilled notes to identify any potential residents for instances of allegations of potential/actual abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behaviors, and suicidal and homicidal ideations, with no new unknown findings.
  • Inservice was provided by the Assistant President of Operations and the Regional Nurse Manager to the Administrator, DON, Staffing Coordinator, Social Services, and Receptionist/CNA on the Abuse Policy Protocol, updated Behavior Health Services Policy, and interventions related to abuse, aggressive, distress and combative behaviors, and suicidal/homicidal ideation. Education was also provided regarding staff unavailable to receive education will not be permitted to work until required education is completed.
  • The Staffing Coordinator was designated as responsible for ensuring staff are educated on abuse prohibition plan, behavioral health services policy, and list of interventions for behaviors.
  • Inservice was provided by the DON, Staffing Coordinator, Social Services, and Receptionist/CNA on the Abuse Policy Protocol, updated Behavior Health Services Policy, and interventions related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behaviors, and suicidal/homicidal ideation to all staff. Staff unavailable to receive education will not be permitted to work until the required education is completed. 73 out of 77 employees have been educated.
  • Competency and validation questions were answered by staff currently working to ensure competency verbalized from education received.
  • The Regional Nurse Manager placed signage in break rooms, nurses stations, and behavior communication binders that list interventions for behaviors including abuse, aggressive, distress and combative behaviors, and suicidal/homicidal ideation. This communication binder is used as a communication tool for staff to note resident behaviors, new or changes. This communication binder is brought to morning QA by a member of the Behavior Committee and reviewed during QA to determine appropriate interventions.
  • Regional Nurse Manager inserviced the DON, Staffing Coordinator and Risk Manager that upon return from a transfer when ER deems residents appropriate for return for residents sent out related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behavior, and suicidal/homicidal ideations a behavioral assessment should be conducted. This form will help us determine if behaviors are present and require interventions upon return to the facility after a transfer related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behavior, and suicidal/homicidal ideations.
  • The DON, Staffing Coordinator, and Risk Manager in-serviced Nursing Staff that upon return from a transfer when ER deems residents appropriate for return for residents sent out related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behavior, and suicidal/homicidal ideations a behavioral assessment should be conducted using the Resident Return from Transfer Behavior assessment form. This form will help us determine if behaviors are present and require interventions upon return to the facility after a transfer related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behavior, and suicidal/homicidal ideations. Nursing Staff unavailable to receive education will not be permitted to work until the required education is completed. 20 out of 22 Nurses have been educated.
  • Adhoc QAPI was conducted to include Administrator, Director of Nursing, Senior President of Operations, Assistant President of Operations, Regional Nurse Manager, Assistant President of Clinical Operations, Regional Nurse Manager to discuss resident to resident altercation event, education, root cause, and interventions.
  • The Medical Director was notified of the immediate jeopardy citations by the Assistant President of Operations.
  • A Root cause analysis was conducted by the Administrator, Regional Director of Operations, Assistant President of Clinical Operations, Regional Nurse Manager, Directors of Nursing, Assistant President of Quality, Director of Clinical Education. Root cause was identified as ineffective training and education related to behavioral health services.
  • QAPI meeting was conducted to include Administrator, Director of Nursing, Staffing Coordinator, Dietary Manager, Activity Coordinator, Treatment Nurse, Receptionist, MDS Coordinator, Social Service Director, Business Office Manager, Maintenance Director, Regional Nurse Manage, Assistant President of Operations, Regional Nurse Manager, Medical Director, Assistant President of Clinical Operations, Senior President, and Director of Clinical Education regarding Immediate Jeopardy citations, Abuse and Behavior Health Services policy review, education, interventions for immediate removal plan, Medical Director notification, facility assessment updated/reviewed and root cause analysis determined.
  • Behavior Health Services Policy reviewed with recommendation made to include suicidal and homicidal ideations under procedures- to include risk factors, triggering events, examples used to harm self. Definition of Suicidal Ideation added to provide clarification of terminology related to behavioral health services.
  • Updated Intervention list attachment included in the updated Behavior Health Policy for behaviors to include immediate action steps to implement related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behaviors, and Suicidal and Homicidal Ideations.
  • The facility assessment plan was revised to include suicidal ideations.
  • A Governing Body meeting was held to include the Administrator, Director of Nursing, Assistant President of Operations, Assistance President for Clinical, Senior President of Operations, and Regional Nurse Managers to discuss the corrective action plans to address the immediate concerns for F 600, F 740, F 741 and F 867 for Resident's #334 and #335 and all current residents in the facility have the potential to be affected. The Medical Director agreed with the current action plan and had no new recommendations.
  • This Behavior Communication binder is brought to morning QA by a member of the Behavior Committee and reviewed during QA to determine any new or changes in behaviors, intervention implementation and appropriateness and will be revised as necessary.
  • Upon return from a transfer when ER deems resident appropriate for return for residents sent out related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behavior, and suicidal/homicidal ideations a Resident Return from Transfer Behavior assessment will be conducted. This will help us determine if behaviors are present and require interventions upon return to the facility after a transfer related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behavior, and suicidal/homicidal ideations. For any resident discharged and readmitted a readmission assessment is already part of the readmission process and is completed to include an abuse and behavior section. Nursing Staff was educated that upon return from a transfer when ER deems residents appropriate for return for residents sent out related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behavior, and suicidal/homicidal ideations a behavioral assessment should be conducted using the Resident Return from Transfer Behavior assessment form. This form will help us determine if behaviors are present and require interventions upon return to the facility after a transfer related to abuse, aggressive, distress, and combative behavior, and suicidal/homicidal ideations. Nursing Staff unavailable to receive education will not be permitted to work until the required education is completed. 20 out of 22 Nurses have been educated.

Penalty

Fine: $69,0114 days payment denial
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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 F0740 citations
Failure to Follow Care Plan Requiring Two Caregivers During Resident Care
D
F0740 F740: Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Short Summary

A resident with a history of making allegations of rough care and a care plan requiring all care to be provided by two caregivers was assisted by a single CNA, contrary to the documented "cares in pairs" intervention. The care plan identified manipulative behavior and alleged mistreatment, and specified that two caregivers should be present to address the resident’s needs and observe the entire care session. On one occasion, the CNA entered the room alone and began providing care, after which the resident reported to an LPN that the CNA had been rough, leading to a deficiency citation for failure to follow the resident’s care plan under F684.

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 and Individualize Care for Sexually Focused Behaviors in Cognitively Impaired Residents
E
F0740 F740: Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Short Summary

The facility failed to monitor and develop individualized interventions for sexually focused behaviors in multiple cognitively impaired residents. Several residents with dementia had documented histories of inappropriate touching, hypersexuality, or intimate relationships with other residents, yet behavior monitoring orders and tools focused only on depression, anxiety, or general boundary issues. One resident was observed performing oral sex on another resident, and another was found receiving oral sex, while another made explicit sexual comments and requests to CNAs. Care plans for companionship emphasized hand holding and social engagement but did not include specific monitoring or tailored interventions for sexual behaviors, and the facility had no formal assessment for sexual behaviors despite policy requiring daily monitoring of target behaviors and social services involvement in behavior care planning.

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 Required Mental Health Services to a Resident With Serious Mental Illness
D
F0740 F740: Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Short Summary

A resident with multiple serious mental health diagnoses, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety, panic disorder, delusional disorder, and dementia, was admitted after an extended psychiatric hospitalization with orders and consent in place for psychiatric services, counseling, and medication management. Despite a PASSAR requirement for individual therapy and care plans calling for psychiatric referrals, counseling, and supportive group or one-on-one therapy, the clinical record showed no documented mental health services over extended periods, and the resident reported not receiving therapy and wishing to attend it. Staff, including a unit manager and the DON, confirmed the resident was not currently being seen by a psychiatric provider or receiving mental health services, and the facility lacked a policy on mental health services.

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 Individualized Behavioral Health Interventions for Suicidal Resident
D
F0740 F740: Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Short Summary

A resident with Alzheimer's disease, personality disorder, major depressive disorder, and a known history of suicide attempts, including use of a garbage bag over the head, was admitted from a psychiatric hospital and assessed as cognitively intact but needing hands-on ADL assistance. Despite this history, the care plan contained only general behavioral strategies such as medication administration, redirection, supportive approaches, environmental calming, and behavior monitoring, without specific, measurable interventions like enhanced supervision or environmental safety precautions. A CNA later found the resident with a plastic bag over the head and face while preparing for dinner; the bag was removed and nursing was notified. On assessment, the resident voiced active suicidal ideation and a plan to attempt self-harm if left unsupervised, while the DON acknowledged the care plan lacked measurable interventions to address the resident’s suicidal ideation and behaviors, contrary to facility policy requiring comprehensive, person-centered care plans.

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 Address Repeated Refusal of Behavioral Health Medication
D
F0740 F740: Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Short Summary

A resident with bipolar disorder, morbid obesity, and diabetes repeatedly refused a prescribed trazodone 50 mg dose for insomnia over multiple days, later reporting passive suicidal ideations and emotional distress. Although the MAR documented numerous refusals and a behavioral health note described an ED visit for passive suicidal ideation and concerns about antidepressant inconsistencies, there was no documentation that the physician was notified of the refusals until the medication was discontinued. The SSD and Social Service Assistant were unaware of the trazodone prescription and the refusals, and the refusals were not discussed in clinical meetings as was customary, contrary to the facility’s documentation policy requiring recording of services and 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.
Failure to Provide Necessary Behavioral Health Services and Supervision for Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors
E
F0740 F740: Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Short Summary

A facility failed to provide necessary behavioral health services and effective supervision to prevent inappropriate sexual contact between residents. In one case, a cognitively impaired resident with borderline intellectual functioning inappropriately touched another resident’s leg in a lobby area, and the affected resident later reported minimal follow-up and no documented assessment of the incident in her health status note. In another case, a resident with vascular dementia reported that another cognitively intact resident touched her breast in a hallway, despite prior documentation of that resident touching another resident inappropriately. In both incidents, residents were in common areas without effective supervision, and the facility did not proactively implement sufficient behavioral interventions or consistent behavioral health follow-up for the affected residents.

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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