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

Failure to Manage Hypoglycemic Episodes

Woodbury Wellness Center IncHampstead, North Carolina Survey Completed on 07-24-2024

Summary

The facility failed to manage and assess a resident's hypoglycemic episodes on two consecutive mornings. On the first morning, the resident's blood glucose levels were critically low, ranging from 37 mg/dL to 44 mg/dL, and the on-call provider was not notified. The standing orders were not followed, and there was no documentation of continued monitoring after 7:15 AM. Long-acting insulin was administered without a documented blood glucose level, and the resident's refusal of snacks and meals was not adequately addressed. On the second morning, the resident's blood glucose level was so low that the meter read 'LO', indicating less than 20 mg/dL. The nurse contacted the on-call provider and was verbally ordered to administer glucagon, but no written order was documented. There was a significant delay in further blood glucose assessment, and the resident's blood glucose levels later spiked to 343 mg/dL and 400 mg/dL in the afternoon. The nurse practitioner was contacted and gave a verbal order to hold the long-acting insulin, but the short-acting insulin was also withheld incorrectly. The resident involved had a history of type 1 diabetes, dementia, and other conditions, and was dependent on staff for all activities of daily living. The facility's failure to follow standing orders and notify the provider in a timely manner during these hypoglycemic episodes posed a risk of serious harm to the resident. The lack of documentation and communication among staff contributed to the deficiency, affecting the resident's diabetes management and overall care.

Removal Plan

  • Identify those recipients who have suffered, or are likely to suffer, a serious adverse outcome as a result of the noncompliance.
  • Director of Nursing notified the Medical Director/Provider of resident #69's incidents with no new orders received.
  • The Facility Director of Nursing and/or her designee completed an audit of all in house residents identified as using insulin for control of diabetes management and identified residents with blood sugars and using the sliding scale for insulins, which could require utilization with the Standing Orders.
  • If implementation of Standing Order for Blood Glucose checks and Hypoglycemia occurred or should have occurred for these residents, any failure to implement or follow these standing orders will be reported to the Medical Provider for review.
  • The Facility Director of Nursing and/or her designee have initiated the education for all Licensed Nurses currently on duty.
  • Nurses not scheduled for this day shift will be contacted by phone by Director of Nursing/Designee and provided verbal education and will be required to sign the education sign in sheet, confirming receipt, prior to working next scheduled shift.
  • Staff Development Coordinator educated by Director of Nursing that all future Newly hired Licensed Nurses (including Agency nurses) will be educated during the hiring orientation process.
  • Education provided Licensed Nurses includes: Blood Glucose checks: May perform a fingerstick blood glucose level PRN sign/symptoms of hyper/hypoglycemia.
  • Hypoglycemia: For Blood sugars less than 70mg/dl: a. Repeat the test b. If the second reading remains below 70, notify the MD for orders. If the reading is below 70mg/dl and the resident is Responsive; may give 15gm of Glucose or 4oz orange juice with one sugar packet by mouth or g-tube. Recheck in 15 minutes and notify the MD. If the resident is Unresponsive, call 911 and administer Glucagon1gm IM. Notify the MD.
  • Expectations given along with the use of the Standing Orders: a. You will follow the Standing Order being utilized b. You will enter the orders as a telephone/verbal order c. You will execute those orders d. You will notify the Medical Provider on Call of initiating the standing orders being initiated, obtain any additional orders and transcribe into the clinical orders. e. All and any interventions implemented are to be documented into the clinical record, whether nursing judgements, orders given or monitoring as related.
  • Diabetes and Clinical Protocol which includes the following: a. Assessment and Recognition b. Treatment and Management c. Monitoring and Follow-up
  • Nursing Care of the Resident with Diabetes Mellitus which includes: A. Conditions associated with Diabetes: Hyperglycemia, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Hypoglycemia B. Glucose Monitoring C. Management of Hypoglycemia
  • The Facility Director of Nursing and/or her designee have initiated the education for all Certified Nursing Assistants currently on duty, and Certified Nursing Assistants not scheduled for today on these shifts will be contacted by phone by Director of Nursing/Designee and provided verbal education and will be required to sign the education sign in sheet, confirming receipt, prior to working next scheduled shift.
  • Staff Development Coordinator educated by Director of Nursing that all future Newly hired Certified Nursing Assistants (including Agency CNAs) will be educated during the hiring orientation process.
  • Education provided to CNAs includes, but may not be limited to: What is Diabetes, Causes of Diabetes, Types of Diabetes, Typical treatment of Hypo and Hyperglycemia, Signs and symptoms of Hypo/Hyperglycemia, and reporting to nurse of these signs and symptoms, Importance of meal intake (undereating/overeating, etc) with reporting to nurse meal intake of less than 25%

Penalty

Fine: $24,070
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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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