Failure to Implement Behavioral Health Interventions for Aggressive Resident
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
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Failure to address a resident’s alcohol use and substance use disorder concerns. A cognitively intact resident with stroke, malnutrition, a G-tube, and an NPO diet was observed with signs of intoxication, and staff found alcohol in the room and documented that the resident admitted sneaking alcohol into the facility daily. The care plan did not include the resident’s alcohol use or any interventions, and multiple staff reported there were no documented interventions related to monitoring for intoxication or substance use.
A resident with schizoaffective disorder, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and an intellectual disability repeatedly manipulated his colostomy bag and ate feces, while staff also observed him adding excessive salt to food and becoming tearful or aggressive when redirected. The care plan did not address the feces-eating behavior, trauma history, or triggers, and social services did not follow through on a physician’s guardianship recommendation. The resident later developed nausea, hypoxia, and respiratory distress, and hospital records showed pneumonia likely related to aspiration.
Failure to Provide Behavioral Health Care for Resident Grief: A resident with Lewy body dementia and severe cognitive impairment developed grief-related behaviors after learning of her sister’s death, including yelling at staff and attempting to hit staff. The record contained only a RD note linking poor intake to grief, with no social work or psych notes and no care plan addressing grief or the resident’s psychosocial symptoms.
Failure to Manage Unsafe Behaviors and Behavioral Health Needs: A resident with dementia, schizophrenia, and a history of fire-setting repeatedly smoked in undesignated areas and in the building, while another resident with mood disorder, nicotine dependence, and TBI repeatedly smoked in the room and bathroom and kept smoking paraphernalia in the room. The facility also failed to monitor residents with elopement risk, allowing one resident to wander unsupervised and elope, another to leave the building unsupervised multiple times and nearly be struck by a vehicle, and a third resident with a history of aggression to physically assault other residents.
Failure to Identify and Monitor Behavioral Health Needs Related to Substance Use: The facility did not adequately assess or monitor residents with known SUD histories and recent signs of relapse. A resident with opioid withdrawal, fentanyl use disorder, and polysubstance use disorder showed erratic behavior, withdrawal signs, and self-injury, while staff documented concerns but did not clearly communicate withdrawal from illegal drugs to the physician. Another resident with psychoactive substance abuse was found unresponsive with labored respirations, required Narcan and CPR, and was later on a Narcan drip. The record also showed narcotics found in a resident’s purse and room, with police involvement after the resident admitted recent fentanyl and methamphetamine use.
Failure to Individualize Behavioral Health Care Plan: A resident with agitation, verbal aggression, and loud outbursts had repeated behavioral issues documented in psych, psychosocial, and nursing notes, including distress when needs were not met right away. The care plan did not address his behaviors, cultural background from Honduras, preferences, or refusal of outside psychiatric services, and the ADM and DON confirmed these items were not care planned.
Failure to Address Resident Alcohol Use and Substance Use Disorder
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement interventions related to substance use disorder for a resident who was admitted with diagnoses including stroke and malnutrition and who was receiving tube feeding through a gastrostomy tube with a current NPO diet order. The resident had a BIMS of 15 and was cognitively intact. On 4/14/26, an RN observed the resident ambulating with an unsteady gait, red/glossy eyes, increased drooling from baseline, and an odor of alcohol, and found a bottle of whiskey that was about 60% gone in the resident’s room. The resident admitted to sneaking alcohol every day since admission and refused transfer to the hospital for further evaluation, so hourly monitoring was initiated. A physician progress note on 4/15/26 documented that the resident admitted being an alcoholic and sneaking alcohol into the facility daily despite the NPO order and facility policies, and the risks of aspiration were reviewed. The care plan contained no information related to the resident’s noncompliance with the NPO diet order and alcohol consumption, and no interventions were implemented, including monitoring for signs and symptoms of substance use disorder. Multiple staff members later stated they found empty alcohol containers or observed signs consistent with alcohol use, but reported there were no interventions in place related to the resident’s alcohol use, and the DNS acknowledged the medical record needed to include interventions such as signs and symptoms of intoxication.
Failure to Address Recurrent Coprophagia and Behavioral Health Needs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to facilitate guardianship and appropriate behavioral health services for a resident with schizoaffective disorder, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and an intellectual disability, while the resident continued to display behaviors that were detrimental to his psychosocial and physical well-being. The resident also had paraplegia, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, dysphagia, and a colostomy. Care plans addressed elimination needs and psychosocial/mood concerns, but the record did not include interventions for the resident opening his colostomy bag, eating feces, or what staff should do when that behavior was observed or suspected. The social services director confirmed there was no care plan mention of the resident’s trauma history or triggers and no evidence that a PASRR had been filed regarding his intellectual disability, psychiatric diagnoses, and acute respiratory illness with hypoxia. The record showed repeated episodes of the resident manipulating his colostomy bag and ingesting stool. A nurse documented witnessing the resident eating bowel movements from a leaking colostomy bag, and the resident became yelling and hit the nurse when educated. A provider note later described the behavior as consistent with pica and documented that staff had seen the behavior multiple times. Additional notes and staff interviews described the resident putting multiple salt packets into food, crying when redirected, picking at his colostomy bag, and eating his own scabs. Several staff members stated they had seen the resident eat feces or touch and lick stool from the colostomy bag, but some said they did not document the behavior or did not think it was a big deal. The resident’s behavior escalated to a hospital transfer after he was found to have gotten into his colostomy bag and eaten stool, followed by nausea, dry heaves, minimal intake, sudden hypoxia, tachycardia, sweating, and low-grade fever. Hospital records documented pneumonia, likely aspiration, and acute respiratory failure with hypoxia. The physician later noted the resident lacked decision-making capacity for surgery and recommended expediting guardianship, but the medical record contained no follow-up documentation related to that recommendation. Interviews also confirmed the social services director had not followed up on the guardianship request and did not know the resident’s triggers, while staff and providers described the resident as childlike, tearful, and unable to understand the impact of his behaviors.
Failure to Provide Behavioral Health Care for Resident Grief
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that Resident 41 received necessary behavioral health care in a timely manner to attain or maintain the highest practicable mental and psychosocial well-being. Resident 41 was admitted with diagnoses including neurocognitive disorder with Lewy body dementia and was severely cognitively impaired on the Quarterly MDS, with a BIMS score of 3. The record showed that the resident experienced grief after learning of her sister’s death, and a roommate reported that Resident 41 had been exhibiting new behaviors, including attempting to hit staff and yelling at staff, related to that loss. The clinical record contained only one note addressing the resident’s loss, which was a nursing progress note by the Registered Dietician stating that the resident’s recent poor intake could potentially be related to grief. There was no documented evidence that behavioral health services were provided for the grief, no social service notes, no psychological services notes, and no care plan for grief. The resident’s care plan did not address the specific mental health concern or psychosocial symptoms, and the NHA was unable to provide evidence that Resident 41 was receiving psychological services to maintain the highest practicable level of mental and psychosocial well-being.
Failure to Manage Unsafe Behaviors and Provide Behavioral Health Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure behavioral health care and services were provided for residents with known unsafe behaviors, including unsafe smoking, wandering, elopement risk, and physical aggression toward other residents. The report states the facility did not implement a behavior management process to identify, evaluate, and address behaviors affecting resident safety, and did not recognize the need for adequate supervision and monitoring of residents with unsafe behaviors. The Immediate Jeopardy was cited under F740 Behavioral Health Services and was identified as beginning on 03/30/2024. Resident #33 had diagnoses including Dementia with Moderate Mood Disturbance, Insomnia due to other mental disorders, Mental Disorder NOS, and Paranoid Schizophrenia, and had a BIMS score of 15 of 15. The resident’s behavior management care plan addressed noncompliance with smoking and setting fires, with interventions including 1:1 supervision, re-education on smoking policy, observation and documentation of target behaviors, diversional activities, and behavior medications as ordered. Progress notes and staff interviews documented repeated unsafe smoking-related behaviors, including smoking in undesignated areas, smoking in the building, possession of cigarettes and lighters, and a history of starting fires. Staff described that when cigarettes or lighters were found, they were taken away, and the medical director stated she was aware of the smoking and aggression but not that the resident was a fire starter. Resident #109 had diagnoses including Mood Disorder due to Psychological Condition with Depressive Features, Paraplegia, Nicotine Dependence, and Personal History of Traumatic Brain Injury, and also had a BIMS score of 15 of 15. The resident was care planned for verbal behavioral symptoms, nicotine addiction, and smoking outside designated areas, with an approach to observe for need for 1:1 smoking supervision. Progress notes documented repeated smoking in the room and bathroom, strong cigarette odor, cigarette butts and smoking paraphernalia in the room, and marijuana odor in the room. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident continued to smoke in the room and that no new interventions were put in place beyond education on the smoking policy. Resident #106, who had a history of elopement risk, wandered the facility unsupervised during the day and at night and eloped on 04/14/2026 without the facility being aware. Resident #121, who had a history of elopement risk, noncompliance with care/treatment, and confusion, left the building unsupervised on 04/05/2026 and 04/10/2026, and eloped again on 04/11/2026, nearly being struck by an employee’s vehicle. The facility was aware of the earlier instances because the resident was allowed to leave unsupervised. The report also states the facility failed to manage Resident #116’s pattern of abusive behavior toward other residents, including swinging at, hitting, and pulling other residents to the floor when wheelchairs bumped into each other. Investigative files documented physically abusive incidents involving multiple residents on several dates, and the deficiency affected five sampled residents.
Failure to Identify and Monitor Behavioral Health Needs Related to Substance Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to identify, assess, monitor, and address behavioral health needs related to substance use disorder for residents with known histories of substance abuse. The report states that the facility did not thoroughly review referral information that identified recent substance use and positive toxicology results, and it did not implement appropriate behavioral health interventions, monitoring, and services during a period when social services staff were unavailable. As a result, warning signs of relapse and ongoing substance use were not identified or addressed for Residents #104, #105, and #101. Resident #104 had a hospital history that included opioid withdrawal, fentanyl use disorder, and polysubstance use disorder. The resident’s psychosocial history listed substance abuse, increased anxiety, and a past history of suicidal ideations/attempts. The care plan identified risk for polysubstance abuse and overdose, with interventions to monitor for substance abuse, intoxication, withdrawal, and items brought into the facility. Progress notes described erratic behavior, signs of withdrawal, repeated sliding out of a wheelchair, and self-picking that caused a sore on the face. Staff documented that the resident refused clinical evaluation and a telehealth visit, and the physician was notified of behavior and refusal of care, but the notes did not show staff spoke with the physician specifically about withdrawal from illegal substances. Interviews showed staff believed the resident was withdrawing from street drugs, had a history of opioid abuse, and was later found with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other substances in the resident’s purse and room. Resident #105 had diagnoses including other psychoactive substance abuse and homelessness. The resident experienced an acute change in condition and was found slumped over in a wheelchair, unresponsive, with labored and irregular respirations and oxygen saturation of 82% on 5 liters of oxygen. Narcan was administered twice, CPR was initiated, EMS transported the resident to the hospital, and the resident was later documented as being on a Narcan drip. The record also showed a care plan addressing overdose risk, substance-seeking behavior, monitoring for intoxication and withdrawal, and room checks. The report further described that Resident #104 and Resident #105 spent time together before the overdose event, and police later reported that Resident #104 admitted obtaining narcotics from an outside source and that narcotics were found in the resident’s room and purse.
Failure to Individualize Behavioral Health Care Plan
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop an individualized behavioral health care plan to address one resident’s behavioral health needs. Resident #1’s psychiatric consult note documented increased agitation, verbal aggression when needs were not met right away, defensiveness and irritability during conversation, and statements about talking loudly so people would understand him. The note also recorded that he said he had been a slave in Honduras and did not like being disrespected or labeled as something he was not. Nursing notes documented multiple dates when behaviors were present, including an incident in which he was observed yelling in the hallway for a pillowcase and continued to yell and act irate even after staff promptly provided it. The resident’s psychosocial note also documented increased agitation when his needs or preferences were not met immediately. Review of the care plan showed no plan addressing his behaviors, cultural background and preferences, or refusal of outside services. Staff interviews confirmed he was verbally aggressive, difficult to calm when he did not get his way, and had loud outbursts when things did not go as he wanted. Social services and nursing staff stated he refused all therapeutic psychiatric services except the consulting psychiatric group, and the administrator and DON confirmed that his behaviors, cultural background, and refusal of services should have been care planned but were not.
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