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

Failure to Monitor Neurological Status After Fall

River Trace Nursing And Rehabilitation CenterWashington, North Carolina Survey Completed on 06-21-2024

Summary

The facility failed to adequately monitor and assess a resident's neurological status following an unwitnessed fall, particularly given the resident's use of anticoagulant medication. The resident, who had a history of severe cognitive impairment, hypertension, and was on Coumadin, was found on the floor in her room and was unable to explain what had happened. Initial neurological checks were conducted and reported as normal, except for limited movement in the hips, which was consistent with the resident's existing condition. However, the facility did not continue these checks as per protocol, and the seriousness of the resident's change in condition was not recognized in a timely manner. As the day progressed, the resident exhibited signs of lethargy and altered mental status, which were initially attributed to the administration of pain medication. Despite these changes, the facility staff did not seek immediate medical intervention. The Physician Assistant was informed of the resident's condition but was under the impression that the lethargy was due to the pain medication. The resident's condition continued to deteriorate, with unclear speech and further lethargy noted, yet the facility did not escalate the situation until the family insisted on a transfer to the emergency room. Upon arrival at the hospital, a CT scan revealed significant intracranial hemorrhages, which were deemed life-ending. The resident was subsequently placed on comfort care and passed away. The facility's failure to adhere to its protocol for neurological assessments and to recognize the urgency of the resident's condition after the fall contributed to the deficient practice identified by the surveyors.

Removal Plan

  • Address how corrective action will be accomplished for those residents found to have been affected by the deficient practice.
  • Address how the facility will identify other residents having the potential to be affected by the same deficient practice.
  • The Assistant Director of Nursing initiated a head-to-toe assessment of all residents including residents with recent falls who are on blood thinners for signs and symptoms of acute change in condition.
  • The Assistant Director of Nursing reviewed all progress notes to identify any resident with an acute change including residents with recent falls who are on blood thinners.
  • The Assistant Director of Nursing reviewed fall incident reports to include residents on blood thinners.
  • Address what measures will be put into place or systemic changes made to ensure that the deficient practice will not recur.
  • The Assistant Director of Nursing initiated an in-service with all nurses to include the agency regarding Acute change with emphasis on assessing changes in condition to include neurological checks, obtaining vital signs, initiating interventions for the acute change, notification of the physician for further recommendations and notifying the resident representative with documentation in the electronic record.
  • The Assistant Director of Nursing initiated an in-service with all CNAs to include agency staff regarding Notification of Acute Changes with emphasis on immediately reporting to the nurse any change in condition to include but not limited to a decreased level of consciousness.
  • The ADON initiated an in-service with all nurses regarding Incidents with emphasis on investigating all incidents thoroughly including obtaining statements and completion of investigative folder, assessment of the resident to include neuro checks for suspected head trauma to include residents prescribed blood thinners, initiating intervention based on root cause, updating care plans for new safety interventions and notification of MD/RR.
  • Indicate how the facility plans to monitor its performance to make sure that solutions are sustained.
  • The facility's interdisciplinary team including the Administrator, Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, and Unit Managers will review progress notes and incident reports to identify residents with an acute change including residents with falls prescribed blood thinners utilizing the Acute Change Audit Tool.
  • The Director of Nursing or Assistant Director of Nursing will review the Change in Condition audits to ensure all areas of concern were addressed appropriately.
  • The Administrator or Director of Nursing will present the findings of the Acute Change Audit Tools to the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement committee to review and to determine trends and/or issues that may need further interventions and the need for additional monitoring.

Penalty

Fine: $15,646
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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
D
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
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

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

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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