Failure to Monitor CHF Resident Leads to Hospitalization and Death
Summary
The facility failed to provide treatment and care in accordance with professional standards of practice and the comprehensive person-centered care plan for a resident with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia. The facility did not obtain daily weights as ordered by the medical provider, which was crucial for monitoring potential fluid overload in the resident. Despite the medical provider's order to notify them of any significant weight gain, the facility did not report a weight increase of over 8 pounds within a short period, which could have indicated fluid retention. Additionally, the facility failed to timely and accurately obtain and report laboratory results as ordered by the medical provider. The resident's lab work, which included critical tests such as CBC, CMP, and others, was delayed by 20 days, and the results were not communicated to the medical provider or the resident's family. This lack of timely lab results hindered the ability to monitor and manage the resident's chronic conditions effectively, potentially contributing to the resident's decline. The resident experienced shortness of breath and altered mental status while at the facility, leading to an emergency transfer to the hospital, where they were diagnosed with sepsis and subsequently passed away. Interviews with facility staff and medical providers revealed a lack of adherence to the facility's policies on weight and lab management, contributing to the resident's deterioration and eventual death.
Removal Plan
- DON/ADON in-serviced administrative staff and nursing staff regarding policy and procedures for weight tracking and management and methods for obtaining weights.
- The resident's height and weight will be obtained upon admission, documented by nursing staff in electronic medical records and lab binder.
- The resident is then weighed at least weekly.
- Nursing staff will notify Physician, resident, and family of the weight loss/gain and documented in EMR.
- Nursing staff will monitor residents' eating habits and documented in residents EMR.
- Weekly weights will be obtained and documented by nursing staff in EMR.
- Initiation of the Weight Surveillance Form until all resident's weight has stabilized.
- Any planned weight loss will be care planned and noted in the clinical record.
- Dietitian recommendations will be implemented or if needed, sent to the physician immediately upon receipt.
- A call will be placed to the physician's office if the physician has not responded.
- DON/ADON completed a lab audit to ensure all labs ordered have been collected with results indicating no other residents to have labs that were ordered and not completed.
- DON/designee will monitor and track residents' weight loss of 5% or greater with immediate notification sent to dieticians and physicians for recommendations and documented in EMR.
- DON/ADON will maintain a current list of residents and a communication form will be provided to the dietary manager to notify them of extra assistance, encouragement, substitute meals, or supplements or any weight loss identified.
- The dietary manager will document in residents' EMR followed by a consultation call to Registered dietician for further instructions.
- DON/ADON will in-service administrative staff, dietary management and staff regarding procedure with communication slips concerning weight loss, diet changes, new admits and readmits with documentation placed in residents EMR.
- The Medical Director immediately made aware of IJ for noncompliance via telephone.
- DON/ADON completed a lab audit to ensure all labs ordered have been collected with results indicating no other residents to have labs that were ordered and not completed.
- Report all lab results to MD/NP immediately, report abnormal lab results to MD/NP/DON or designee and documented in each resident EMR.
- Lab tracking binder will be located at each Nurse's station.
- DON/ADON will perform lab audits to ensure all labs that are ordered are placed in the lab tracking binder.
- Proof of notification to be included on the lab report sheet via signature, route of notification and documented in the nurse's notes.
- Lab draws that cannot be drawn will be communicated to the physician immediately, documented in residents EMR and checked by DON/ADON for completion of results.
- Lab results will be maintained in the resident's clinical record via Electric Medical Record integration documentation system.
- Administrator/DON and ADON will in-service charge nurses on laboratory monitoring and management with signature for comprehension.
- Agency and PRN staff will be in-serviced prior to the start of shift in addition to the binder placed at nurses' station with lab policy and procedures.
- The DON/designee will be responsible for monitoring lab orders to ensure that all ordered labs have been drawn as ordered by the physician.
- The ADON/designee will be responsible for notifying the lab when a lab result is not received in a timely manner.
- If issues are identified with the lab provider process, DON is to contact lab company immediately for corrective action.
- The Administrator will check lab tracking books via signature page of lab binder to ensure DON/designee is compliant with the laboratory monitoring and management tracking process.
- QA plan to be developed by Administrator /DON to prevent recurrence of identified issues(s).
Penalty
Resources
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