Delayed Response to Call Bells Due to Insufficient Staffing
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide sufficient nursing staff to meet the needs of residents, as evidenced by multiple reports of delayed response times to call bells. Residents expressed concerns about having to wait nearly an hour for assistance after activating their call bells. Specific instances included Resident R226, who was left on a bedpan for an extended period, causing discomfort, while staff were observed seated at the nursing station with the call bell system audibly and visually alerting them. During a Resident Council meeting, several residents reported similar issues with delayed responses to call bells, with wait times ranging from 30 to 45 minutes. These delays were consistent across different shifts, with some residents noting longer wait times during shift changes. The deficiency was identified under 28 Pa. Code 201.18(b)(1) Management and 28 Pa. Code 211.12(d)(4)(5) Nursing services, indicating a failure to provide adequate nursing services to ensure the well-being of residents.
Plan Of Correction
a. Facility completed a random audit of 15 residents to for call bell response times and to verify needs are being met with no adverse affects to any residents. b. Emergency Resident council meeting held on January 21st to address all concerns and nursing home administrator/designee will follow up with resident council president to ensure concerns are addressed and resolved. c. Nursing home Administrator/designee will educate facility staff of F725. d. Facility management team/designee will complete 6 random call bell audits over all 3 shifts for timeliness and resident satisfaction with needs being met daily times 5 days, weekly x 3 weeks, and monthly x 2 months. e. Findings will be summarized and brought to the quality assurance and performance improvement committee and reviewed for any further monitoring and changes needed.