Failure to Communicate Change in Condition Leads to Resident's Death
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide the highest practicable care for a resident, identified as Resident CR1, who experienced a change in condition that led to hospitalization and death. The resident was admitted with a physician's order to receive Lactulose three times a day, with instructions to hold the medication for loose stools. Despite documentation of multiple episodes of loose stools, the medication was administered as scheduled without adjustment or notification to the physician. Nurse aide staff documented numerous occurrences of loose stools over several days, but there was no evidence that this information was communicated to licensed nursing staff or that the physician was informed of the resident's condition. The medication administration record showed that Lactulose was given consistently, even as the resident's condition worsened, with increased lethargy, confusion, and abdominal distention noted before the resident was sent to the hospital. Upon hospitalization, the resident was diagnosed with C. difficile colitis, sepsis, and toxic megacolon, which ultimately led to her death. The surveyor's review highlighted the lack of communication between nurse aide staff and licensed staff, as well as the failure to notify the physician of the resident's significant change in condition, contributing to the adverse outcome.
Plan Of Correction
Action Steps: 1. The Robert Packer Hospital (RPH) Skilled Nursing Unit Administrator is responsible for this action plan. 2. The Director of Nursing for the Skilled Nursing Unit completed audits of current residents for physician-ordered Lactulose and parameters. 3. The Director of Nursing for the Skilled Nursing Unit completed an audit of current residents to determine any other residents that might be affected. The audit of current residents included the number of stool occurrences and consistency; no other residents were affected. 4. Updated Change in resident condition policy to include the suggestion of notification to the physician of 2 or more loose/watery stools within 12 hours was completed and approved. 5. Weekly BM paper tool utilized in addition to EMR for tracking started on 1/15/2025. 6. Additional electronic report created to assist with monitoring bowel consistency and occurrence daily on 1/14/2025. 7. Education to all nursing staff provided on reporting a change in condition including a change in bowel consistency completed 01/17/2025. 8. All nursing staff education provided on the requirement to follow physicians' orders completed 01/17/2025. 9. The Director of Nursing will continue to audit resident medical records for bowel consistency and occurrences and that appropriate notification to the physician is documented. 10. The Director of Nursing will continue to reinforce the importance of following orders related to the administration of Lactulose with all nursing staff during staff meetings and daily huddles. 11. The Director of Nursing will review any non-compliant findings with the staff involved. Any trends identified will be addressed with the staff per the progressive disciplinary process if appropriate. 12. Audits will continue to be reported by the Skilled Nursing DON at scheduled Quality Assurance Performance Improvement meetings weekly for 12 weeks, then monthly for 9 months. 13. The Administrator of the Skilled Nursing Unit will continue to report audit compliance quarterly to the RPH Patient Safety and Quality committee. 14. Directed in-service is scheduled for 01/21/2025 through PADONA.