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

Failure to Assess and Treat Resident's Knee Pain Leads to Severe Injury

La Bella Of CahokiaCahokia, Illinois Survey Completed on 12-17-2024

Summary

The facility failed to assess, monitor, and provide timely treatment for a resident's knee pain, which resulted in a severe medical condition. The resident, who had multiple diagnoses including Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, and functional quadriplegia, experienced continued pain and swelling in her knee from mid-November until early December. Despite multiple observations and reports of swelling, bruising, and pain, the facility did not adequately investigate or address the resident's symptoms. This lack of action led to the resident's undiagnosed femur fracture developing into an open fracture, with the bone protruding through the skin, necessitating hospitalization and surgical intervention. The resident's medical records and interviews with staff revealed a series of missed opportunities for intervention. Initial signs of injury were noted in mid-November, with reports of discoloration and swelling in the resident's foot and knee. Despite these observations, the facility's response was limited to notifying hospice and ordering x-rays, which did not reveal a fracture. Over the following weeks, the resident's condition worsened, with increased swelling and pain, yet there was no comprehensive assessment or follow-up to determine the cause of these symptoms. Staff interviews indicated a lack of communication and coordination in addressing the resident's condition, with some staff members expressing concerns about potential mishandling during transfers. The facility's failure to investigate the resident's injury and provide appropriate care was compounded by inadequate documentation and communication. The incident report from mid-November was not properly investigated, and there were gaps in the resident's medical records regarding the ongoing assessment of her condition. The facility's policies for reporting and investigating changes in condition were not followed, leading to a delay in identifying the severity of the resident's injury. This deficiency in care resulted in significant pain and suffering for the resident and raised concerns about the facility's ability to manage and respond to changes in residents' health conditions.

Removal Plan

  • The facility has conducted an ongoing investigation into R2's injuries.
  • V2, Director of Nursing, or designee has assessed all residents to identify any pain or injury of unknown origin not previously identified, assessed, reported, and treated. For any findings identified, the facility would follow its policy to ensure the pain/injury is reported, assessed, monitored, and treated timely. No residents with unreported/untreated pain or injuries identified.
  • V1 Administrator, V2 Director of Nursing, and V20 Regional Director and Facility Governing Body reviewed the facility's policies for Incidents/Accidents and Significant change to confirm policies provide a system for identifying, assessing, monitoring, and treating injuries and pain, as well as investigating the cause. Governing Body recommended retraining on policy requirements.
  • V2, Director of Nursing, or designee have provided in-service training to all direct care staff and nursing staff on facility policy for: Significant changes, with an emphasis on ensuring timely reporting, assessment, and follow-up when a resident demonstrates a significant change; and Incidents and Accidents, with an emphasis on policy section addressing injuries of unknown origin including the process for identifying, reporting, assessing, and facilitating treatment, as well as investigating the cause of any unknown injury. Any staff or agency who have not received the in-service training(s) by the Removal/Abatement date will receive the training before starting their next shift.
  • V2, Director of Nursing or designee will conduct random observations of at least 5 residents to determine if there is any pain or injuries of unknown origin that have been addressed per policy. V1, Administrator/designee will conduct review of PCC 24-hour Communication and Incident reports to ensure any change of condition/injury is monitored, assessed, investigated, reported, and treated. Any identified failures will be immediately addressed. Results will be documented and shared with QAPI for review, analysis and follow-up as needed.

Penalty

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.

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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