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

Failure to Follow Dietary Orders Leads to Resident's Death

Thunderbolt Care Center LlcSavannah, Georgia Survey Completed on 12-12-2024

Summary

The facility failed to adhere to dietary orders for a resident, identified as R572, who was on a puree diet. On the day of the incident, R572 was provided with a sandwich, which was not in accordance with her prescribed diet. This led to the resident choking, resulting in cardiac arrest and subsequent death. The incident was observed by a CNA who attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver, but it was unsuccessful. The resident was pronounced dead at the facility, and the cause of death was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest. R572 had a medical history that included a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), dysphagia, cognitive communication deficit, and unspecified dementia. Her diet order specified a regular diet with pureed texture and thin consistency. Despite this, on the morning of the incident, a sandwich was found in front of her, and evidence suggested she had consumed part of it. Interviews with staff revealed that the night shift CNAs had provided snacks, including sandwiches, to residents, and there was confusion about whether R572 had taken the sandwich from another resident or if it was given to her. The facility's Director of Nursing (DON) and other staff members were not fully informed or did not follow up adequately on the incident. There was a lack of documentation and investigation into the circumstances surrounding R572's death. Interviews with various staff members indicated that there was no prior education or in-service training related to following dietary orders or monitoring residents for behaviors that could lead to choking. The facility's failure to ensure that dietary orders were followed and to provide adequate supervision and education contributed to the tragic outcome.

Removal Plan

  • The policy on Therapeutic Diet Orders and Provision of Quality Care was reviewed by the Administrator, Medical Director and Nurse Consultant with no revisions made.
  • The Dietary Manager started to audit all resident's diet orders on PCC and reconciled with software to ensure accuracy of what's ordered by MD and what's on the meal ticket. 11 residents were on large portions, and this is now reflected in PCC. Staff interviews were conducted by the nurse managers to identify any other residents who tend to retrieve food from other areas, and no other resident was identified to have this behavior.
  • The Regional Nurse educated the Nurse Managers and dietary manager regarding the importance of ensuring that residents are served the appropriate diet, as prescribed by MD to prevent any adverse effects. Facility wide education for monitoring any resident for choking was completed by the nurse consultant. Staff were educated using the [NAME] if you see something say something. Education included that any resident noted to have any behavior which poses self-risk, such as taking/grabbing/retrieving food or drinks not meant for them should immediately be reported to the nurse/nurse manager/DON. Residents on a mechanically-altered diet who manifest this type of behavior should sit with peers with similar diet to prevent risk of choking. Staff were also educated to provide direct supervision to residents with that known behavior when food is served. Admin 1 out of 1 100 (percent) %, DON 1 out of 1, Nurse manager 2 out of 2 100%, social worker 2 out of 2 100%, maintenance 2 out of 2 100%, housekeeping/laundry manger 1 out of 1 100%, rehab manager 1 out of 1 100%, activities 1 out of 2 100% (second is on vacation and will not return to work until next week), business development specialist 1 out of 1 100%, Business office/human resources 2 out of 2 100%, dietary 12 out of 14 85%, medical records
  • The remaining nursing staff and dietary staff will be in-serviced on the next scheduled workday prior to beginning their shift by the nurse manager/food service director
  • The Regional Nurse implemented a monitoring tool called Diet Audit Tool to note consistency of food/snacks served to residents and to determine resident's tolerance to the food/snacks provided.
  • The Administrator reviewed the results of the audit.
  • The Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) team comprised of the administrator, nurse managers, MDS nurse, Wound care nurse, SW, rehab director, dietary manager, activities director, business office manager, HR, medical records, business development marketer, nurse consultant and regional director of operations. The medical director attended the meeting via the phone.

Penalty

Fine: $244,780143 days payment denial
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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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