F0865 F865: Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
F

Deficiencies in QAPI Program and Facility Maintenance

Worcester Rehabilitation & Health Care CenterWorcester, Massachusetts Survey Completed on 10-02-2024

Summary

The facility failed to maintain a comprehensive Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program, which resulted in an environment that did not promote a clean, safe, and homelike atmosphere for residents. The QAPI policy, dated April 2015, outlined the need for a systematic approach to address all systems of care, including clinical care, quality of life, and resident choice. However, the facility's QAPI meeting minutes from June to August 2024 revealed ongoing issues with pest control and non-functional call lights, which were not adequately addressed. Despite the facility's policy to use a structured approach to identify and resolve problems, the pest control services were inconsistent, with no visits recorded in June and July 2024, contrary to the monthly service claims in the QAPI meeting minutes. Additionally, the facility's audit on October 1, 2024, highlighted significant issues with the call light system, with numerous rooms across multiple units having non-working call lights. This problem had been identified months prior but remained unresolved at the time of the survey. The administrator acknowledged the need for more detailed QAPI measures to combat pest infestations and admitted that the call light issues should have been resolved earlier. The lack of effective implementation and maintenance of the QAPI program contributed to the deficiencies observed during the survey.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $59,511
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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 F0865 citations
QAPI Oversight Failed to Ensure CPR Response Competency
D
F0865 F865: Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Short Summary

QAPI oversight failed to ensure continued monitoring of an IJ removal plan after a prior IJ related to CPR response. Although the facility audited code status and CPR certification and conducted a mock code, there was no documentation showing staff were verified as competent and confident in responding to a code blue or performing CPR. In one event, two CPR-certified CNAs failed to check a resident's pulse and breathing, obtain immediate help, activate a code blue, or call 911 when the resident was found unresponsive.

Inspection fine: $27,378
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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.
Ineffective QAPI Process With Repeat Deficiencies
F
F0865 F865: Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Short Summary

Ineffective QAPI Process With Repeat Deficiencies: The facility failed to maintain an effective QAPI process to address repeated deficiencies cited on prior recertification and complaint surveys, including repeat F760 and F880 citations. The Administrator reported daily QA meetings and monthly QAPI committee meetings, with infection control identified as a focus area and staff education, PPE competency checks, and audits already in place, but the repeat citations showed the facility had not achieved substantial compliance.

No penalty information released
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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.
QAPI Program Failed to Correct Activity Service Deficiencies
F
F0865 F865: Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Short Summary

QAPI failed to identify, monitor, and correct ongoing activity program deficiencies. The Administrator stated activity programming and staffing concerns were being reviewed through QAPI, but survey observations found residents on multiple units with little to no staff-facilitated engagement, individualized programming, one-to-one activities, or organized activities despite the posted calendar. Record review also showed the person functioning as Activities Director lacked documentation of the required qualifications, and the Activities Director reported that one-to-one visits, weekend activities, and resident-specific programming were not being consistently documented or completed.

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.
QAPI Process and Repeat Quality Deficiency
D
F0865 F865: Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Short Summary

The facility failed to show good faith efforts to correct repeat quality deficiencies during the survey process. The CMS 2567 showed a prior F725 for insufficient nursing staff, and the ADON reported ongoing call light audits and on-the-spot education when staff were observed sitting at the nurse’s station while active call lights were present. The QAPI policy required the committee to analyze data, identify and resolve quality problems, use root cause analysis, and help implement systems to correct issues.

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.
QAPI Failure to Track Repeated Resident Altercations in Dementia Unit
E
F0865 F865: Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Short Summary

The facility failed to maintain an effective QAPI program for repeated resident-to-resident altercations in the secured dementia unit. QAPI identified increased incidents and implemented staff in-services, a hall monitor, and added activity staffing, but the DON, ADM, and other staff stated the facility did not track or trend key data such as time, location, injuries, repeated involvement, or staffing patterns. The unit had frequent physical and sexual altercations involving the same residents, and staff reported that the long hallway, limited hall monitoring, and insufficient CNA activity staffing made observation and redirection difficult.

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.
QAPI Failed to Prevent Repeat Homelike Environment Deficiency
D
F0865 F865: Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Short Summary

QAPI failed to sustain oversight after a prior F584 citation for a homelike environment issue, and the facility was cited again for the same deficiency. Surveyors observed stained hallway vents and wall surfaces, damaged walls with exposed underlying material, and recurring roof leaks in multiple halls, along with prior findings of holes in resident room walls and leaks in the dining room and hallways.

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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