Failure to Provide Timely and Adequate Care for Resident
Summary
The facility failed to provide timely and adequate care for Resident #78, who was admitted following a hospitalization for acute ischemia of the small intestine, septic shock, and gastroenteritis. Despite exhibiting symptoms such as increased nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain between 09/05/24 and 09/18/24, the facility did not update the physician on the resident's change in condition, including abnormal laboratory values and meal refusals. The resident's thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level was significantly elevated, and the physician, unaware of the resident's current levothyroxine treatment, ordered a lower dose, exacerbating the resident's condition. From 09/24/24 to 10/09/24, Resident #78 continued to experience severe symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, and weight loss, without adequate intervention or physician notification. The resident's laboratory results on 09/24/24 showed abnormal sodium, potassium, and creatinine levels, yet there was no evidence of physician notification. The resident's condition deteriorated, leading to a transfer to the emergency room on 10/09/24, where she was diagnosed with severe dehydration, malnutrition, and an abnormal TSH level, requiring hospitalization. Additionally, the facility failed to ensure continuity of care for Resident #25, who missed scheduled appointments, and did not assess Resident #71 in a timely manner for elevated blood sugar. These failures affected three residents out of the twelve reviewed for changes in condition and continuity of care, indicating systemic issues in the facility's management of resident care and communication with healthcare providers.
Removal Plan
- Resident #78 was transferred to the emergency room and did not return to the facility.
- The DON conducted a whole house audit to ensure all resident labs in the last 30 days had documented evidence of physician notification.
- The DON conducted a whole house audit to ensure any resident who refused meals in the last 72 hours had physician and registered dietitian (RD) notification and documentation.
- The DON educated Registered Dietitian (RD) #613 on communicating meal refusals with the facility nursing management.
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #578/Unit Manager conducted a whole house audit for all resident's nursing progress notes from the previous 72 hours to ensure any change in condition had proper notification and documentation.
- The DON educated all nurses on the proper process for reporting labs, observing new orders and ensuring appropriate documentation of all notifications and new orders. The education also included current medications related to lab values should be relayed to the physician at the time of notification.
- The DON completed verbal education to all facility physicians and nurse practitioners regarding verifying the current dose of any medication related to a lab value before changing the dose.
- The DON completed education for all nurses on notification of change in condition policy and recognizing signs and symptoms of a change in condition.
- Registered Nurse (RN) #583/Unit Manager conducted a whole house audit for all residents ordered levothyroxine to ensure labs within the last 30 days were managed appropriately. All orders were verified for accuracy. Any concerns were addressed and documented.
- Physician #600, who was the Medical Director, was notified of the concern related to Resident #78 and notified of the facility current corrective action plan.
- An ad hoc Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) meeting was held with the Administrator, DON, RDO #606, VPO #612, RCRN #605, LPN #593/Minimum Data Set Nurse, RN #583/Unit Manager, LPN #578/Unit Manager, and with Physician #600 via telephone. Discussion included requirements of visits, labs, notifications, communication, current orders, and resident conditions.
- The DON/designee would audit all labs for results, notifications and documentation every business day for four weeks then randomly thereafter for a total of two months. Quality Assurance (QA) would review the results of the audits weekly.
- The DON/designee would audit all nurses' notes for a change in condition and proper notification and documentation each business day for four weeks, then randomly thereafter for a total of two months. QA would review the results of the audits weekly.
- The DON/designee would audit meal intakes on five residents each business day for four weeks, then randomly thereafter for a total of two months. QA would review the results weekly.
- The DON/designee would audit four residents on Levothyroxine each week to check for notification of physician as warranted, if new orders were reviewed and were appropriate, documentation of labs, new order notification to family, and if any needed follow up was completed immediately for four weeks, then randomly thereafter for a total of two months. QA would review the results weekly.
Penalty
Resources
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