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

Failure to Monitor CHF Resident Leads to Hospitalization and Death

Brenham Healthcare CenterBrenham, Texas Survey Completed on 02-01-2025

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

No penalty information released
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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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