Failure to Obtain Physician Orders for Adaptive Device
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident had physician orders for immediate care upon admission, specifically for the use of a magnet device intended to manage seizure activity. The resident, a male with a history of sepsis, UTI, Marfan syndrome, and epilepsy, was admitted without an order for the magnet device, which was crucial for his care. The absence of this order was identified during a review of the resident's records, which showed no documentation of the device despite its mention in hospital admission paperwork. On the day of the incident, the resident was found in respiratory distress by a CNA, who then alerted a nurse. The nurse attempted to use the magnet device, which was provided by the resident's family, but there was no response from the resident. The nurse initiated CPR after the resident showed no pulse, but the resident was pronounced deceased shortly after EMS arrived. Interviews with staff revealed that the device was not known to the attending physician, and there was no formal order for its use, which was a critical oversight given the resident's condition. Further interviews with the facility's staff, including the DON and other nurses, confirmed that there was a lack of awareness and formal documentation regarding the magnet device. The family had brought the device to the facility, but it was not integrated into the resident's care plan or communicated to the physician. This lack of communication and documentation led to the facility's failure to provide appropriate care, contributing to the resident's death.
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