F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
F

Incomplete Facility-Wide Assessment

Brandon Woods Of New BedfordNew Bedford, Massachusetts Survey Completed on 12-16-2024

Summary

The facility failed to conduct and implement a comprehensive facility-wide assessment that included the necessary resources to provide both emergency and day-to-day care for its resident population. The assessment was not updated to meet the new requirements specified in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Quality Safety Oversight Memorandum (QSO-24-13-NH), which became effective in August 2024. The facility's assessment lacked critical information about the resident population, such as diseases, conditions, and cognitive limitations, which are essential for determining staffing needs and competencies. The facility assessment tool, last updated in December 2023 and reviewed with the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) committee in June 2024, was incomplete. Key sections, including those related to resident profiles, staff competencies, and facility resources, were left blank. The assessment did not involve active participation from key individuals such as direct care staff, residents, and families, as required by the new guidance. The Administrator and Director of Nurses (DON) were the only individuals involved in creating the assessment, and they acknowledged the missing information during interviews with the surveyor. Additionally, the facility did not incorporate a Hazard Vulnerability Analysis and Summary into the assessment, which is required to address potential emergencies and natural disasters. The Administrator admitted that the analysis was part of the facility's disaster plan but was not included in the facility assessment. Both the Administrator and the DON recognized that the current facility assessment did not meet the new requirements and contained numerous incomplete sections.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $464,490
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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 F0838 citations
Failure to Update Facility Assessment Annually
C
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Failure to Update Facility Assessment Annually: The facility failed to conduct and document an annual facility-wide assessment to determine resources needed to care for residents competently. Record review showed the Facility Assessment had not been updated since January 2025. The AIT and Interim ADM both stated they had not reviewed the assessment after assuming their roles and acknowledged it should be reviewed and updated annually or when significant changes occurred.

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.
Facility Assessment Missing Staffing and Resource Details
E
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Missing Staffing and Resource Details: The facility failed to complete a Facility Assessment with the required details on staffing decisions, specific staffing needs by unit and shift, staff competencies, and a plan to maximize recruitment and retention of direct care staff. The assessment also lacked evidence of the resources needed for competent resident care during routine operations and emergencies. The ADMN stated she used the prior administrator’s assessment as a template and was unaware these items needed to be included; the facility also had no policy for the Facility Assessment.

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.
Facility Assessment Not Updated for Lack of RT Contract
D
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Not Updated for Lack of RT Contract: The facility failed to update its Facility Assessment after it no longer had an active RT contract. The assessment still listed RT as a needed resource, while the Admin confirmed there was no contracted RT company in place and acknowledged the assessment should be updated annually and as needed.

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.
Incomplete Facility Assessment With Blank Nurse Staffing Section
D
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Incomplete Facility Assessment With Blank Nurse Staffing Section: The facility failed to complete and document a facility-wide assessment used to staff the facility, leaving the nurse staffing section blank. The Administrator stated she had not updated the assessment based on census, and the RCN stated residents were at risk of not receiving timely care. The facility also stated it did not have a facility assessment policy it followed.

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.
Facility Assessment Not Updated to Reflect Staffing Needs
C
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

The facility failed to complete and document a comprehensive facility-wide assessment for resident care needs during routine operations and emergencies. The 2025 Facility Assessment was signed by former leadership, referenced a missing Staffing and Personnel Worksheet, listed prior admin and DON staff, and contained multiple sections stating no records were found. The facility also could not provide evidence of a plan to maximize recruitment and retention of direct care staff, and the DON acknowledged the assessment did not accurately reflect staffing patterns.

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.
Facility Assessment Not Reviewed Annually
F
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Not Reviewed Annually: The facility failed to review and update its Facility Assessment annually. The ADON confirmed the assessment had not been updated or reviewed since 2023, despite 77 residents in the facility, and stated there was no policy on Facility Assessment. The Administrator was unavailable for interview initially and later said he thought the assessment had been reviewed last year.

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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