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

Failure to Communicate Suspected Abuse and Arrange Timely Transport

West Houston Rehabilitation And Healthcare CenterHouston, Texas Survey Completed on 10-25-2024

Summary

The facility failed to ensure that residents received treatment and care in accordance with professional standards of practice and the comprehensive person-centered care plan. Specifically, the facility did not notify the hospice nurse, EMS, and local hospital that a resident required assessment for sexual abuse after being observed with vaginal bleeding, a potential sign of sexual abuse. The resident was transferred to the hospital without the necessary information being communicated, leading to a delay in the assessment for sexual abuse. The resident in question was an elderly female on hospice care with a primary diagnosis of traumatic subdural hemorrhage. During routine care, a nurse and a CNA observed vaginal bleeding with clots, but there were no signs of distress. The facility's staff failed to communicate the suspicion of sexual abuse to the hospital, EMS, or hospice, which was crucial for the hospital to conduct a proper assessment upon the resident's arrival. The hospital staff was not informed of the potential for sexual abuse until later, which could have impacted the timeliness and accuracy of the assessment. Additionally, the facility failed to arrange emergency transportation for another resident in respiratory distress, resulting in a significant delay in the resident's arrival at the hospital. This delay in transportation and the lack of communication regarding the potential for sexual abuse in the first case highlight deficiencies in the facility's processes for handling emergencies and suspected abuse cases.

Removal Plan

  • The facility administrator completed a self-report incident to HHSC due to suspected sexual abuse case.
  • A Police report was made to the HCSO Case#:535847, Deputy: [name of Deputy]
  • The facility nursing management staff initiated assessments focusing on peri-area to ensure no trauma of s/s of physical injuries were present in all residents- no issues noted.
  • The Admin/Don/Designee collected statements from staff who had worked with the resident indicating observation of resident status and any other unusual events. No unusual events were reported.
  • The facility Social Worker/Designee initiated Life safety interviews with all interviewable residents. Interviews revealed no new negative events.
  • The Adm/Don conducted a 1:1 in-service with the licensed nurse assigned to Resident #2 to ensure understanding of facility expectation to call and give report to the hospital/EMS/responsible party and hospice is provided prior to the transfer. Report should include status of the resident and reason for transfer.
  • The administrator established communication with the resident attending physician and the facility medical director to inform her about the vaginal bleeding with suspected sexual abuse.
  • The administrator and DON met with resident #2 responsible party to ensure understanding of reason for transfer and the vaginal bleeding with suspected sexual abuse.
  • The facility DON verbally informed resident #2 hospice nurse of the reason for transfer, vaginal bleeding with suspicion of sexual abuse.
  • The facility marketing director went to the hospital to follow up on resident #2 status.
  • The facility DON/Designee initiated a 1:1 in-service with the licensed nurses to ensure understanding on facility expectations to call report the hospital on reference to the resident status and reason for the transfer. This in-service included reporting and disclosing suspicion of sexual abuse to the hospital, EMS, MD/NP, Responsible Party and Hospice.
  • The DON/Designee initiated 1:1 in-service with each license nurse on the steps to follow when a resident is suspected to be the victim of sexual abuse, report required prior transferring residents to the hospital, and who to disclose that information.
  • The DON/Designee initiated in-service with the facility licensed nurses on Transfer/discharged Report. This report is printed out by the nurse/designee, the nurse then writes the reason for transfer at the bottom of the page and turns it into EMS who is to submit to the hospital.
  • The DON/designee began a questionnaire to validate the effectiveness of the training. The questionnaire is conducted with facility licensed nurses. Immediate re-education will be completed by the DNS/designee if any staff is unable to answer appropriately to the questions on the questionnaire. Staff will not be allowed to work until after completion of the questionnaire.
  • An impromptu QAPI meeting was conducted with the facility's Medical Director to notify of the potential for non-compliance and the action plan implemented for approval.

Penalty

Fine: $281,5209 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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