F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
J

Flooring Hazard in Memory Care Unit Leads to Resident Injury

Vivo Healthcare LakelandLakeland, Florida Survey Completed on 02-28-2025

Summary

The facility failed to provide a safe environment for residents, staff, and visitors, particularly in the secure memory care unit, where a flooring hazard was present. This hazard was due to an incomplete floor repair in the 200 hallway, which was a high-traffic area. The flooring issue involved a missing clean-out cover that was temporarily covered with a metal sheet and tape, but not properly repaired. This inadequate repair led to a resident tripping and sustaining a serious injury, requiring hospitalization and surgical intervention. The injured resident, who had a history of difficulty walking and other medical conditions, was attempting to detach herself from tape on the floor when she lost her balance and fell. The incident was witnessed by a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), who reported that the tape was not holding anything down, and the resident's foot got caught on it. The fall resulted in a significant decline in the resident's ability to ambulate and perform activities of daily living at her prior functional level. The facility's maintenance records showed that the flooring issue was known and documented, but the repair was delayed. The Director of Maintenance (DOM) had attempted temporary fixes and was researching a permanent solution, but the repair was not completed until after the resident's injury. The facility's failure to address the flooring hazard in a timely manner placed other residents, staff, and visitors at risk for serious injury.

Plan Of Correction

1. Immediate action(s) taken for the resident(s) found to have been affected include: Administrator and Director of Maintenance performed environmental rounds, identified areas of concern noted and reported in Electronic Maintenance System. Repairs on all items identified were completed prior to survey exit on Resident # 6 no longer resides in the facility. 2. Identification of other residents having the potential to be affected: Quality review completed for monitoring of environmental hazards with a focus on uneven surfaces and hazards. Administrator/Designee rounded facility to survey for environmental hazards; identified environmental concerns reported via Electronic Maintenance System, addressed by priority level, and completed. 3. Actions taken/systems put in place to reduce the risk of future occurrence include: Administrator/Director of Clinical Services/Maintenance Director re-educated on ensuring resident environment is free of hazards with emphasis on timely completion; Director of Clinical Services/Designee re-educated staff on Accidents and Supervision Policy; Director of Clinical Services/Designee re-educated staff on Recognizing & Reporting Hazards; Director of Clinical Services/Designee re-educated staff on Redirecting Residents from Environmental Hazards; Director of Clinical Services/Designee re-educated staff on securing hazardous areas until plant ops clears, ensuring no harm; initiation and assignment of direct care staff member as Hallway Safety Monitor for secure unit (200 Hall) for additional supervision and hazard identification. 4. How the corrective action(s) will be monitored to ensure the practice will not reoccur: Administrator/Director of Maintenance/Designee will round to ensure facility is free of hazards twice weekly x 8 weeks; then weekly ongoing. Quality reviews will be completed once a week x 8 weeks and then every 2 weeks x 1 month. Quality reviews will be reviewed by the QAPI committee monthly x 3 months or until substantial compliance is met along with quarterly reviews.

Removal Plan

  • NHA and Plant Operations Director performed environmental rounds, identified areas of concern, and reported them in the electronic maintenance records system.
  • Work orders started in order of priority for hazards causing uneven surfaces, risk hazards, and items with potential to risk resident safety.
  • Summoned Corporate Plant Operations support team for assistance.
  • Initiated repairs of identified areas of concern.
  • Tiles in high traffic area of secure unit (200 Hall) repaired.
  • 400 Hall ramp missing carpet tiles replaced with one solid carpet piece.
  • Surveyors and NHA completed environmental rounds of the facility noting areas of continued concern.
  • List compiled of concerns from environmental tour, all items entered in the electronic maintenance records system.
  • 300 Hall clean out with uneven surface repaired.
  • 99.5% of all facility staff were educated.
  • Initiated and assigned direct care staff member as 'Hallway Safety Monitor' on secure unit (200 Hall) for additional supervision.
  • Quality review completed for monitoring of environmental hazards with a focus on uneven surfaces and hazards.
  • NHA/Designee rounded facility to survey for environmental hazards.
  • Identified environmental concerns reported via electronic maintenance records system, addressed by priority level, and repairs initiated and will be ongoing.
  • NHA, DCS, and Plant Operations/Maintenance Director re-educated on ensuring resident environment is free of hazards with emphasis on timely completion.
  • DCS/Designee re-educated staff on Accidents and Supervision Policy.
  • DCS/Designee re-educated staff on Recognizing & Reporting Hazards.
  • DCS/Designee re-educated staff on Redirecting Residents with from Environmental Hazards.
  • DCS/Designee re-educated staff on securing hazardous areas until plant ops clears, ensuring no harm.
  • Initiation and Assignment of direct care staff member as 'Hallway Safety Monitor' for secure unit (200 Hall) for additional supervision and hazard identification.
  • A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) has been initiated to report on the above monitoring and auditing procedures.
  • NHA/Plant Ops/Designee will round to ensure facility is free of hazards; then twice weekly; then weekly and PRN (as needed) as indicated.
  • These audits will be submitted to the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) Committee by the assigned auditors.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $102,03746 days payment denial
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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 F0921 citations
Loud Violent TV Programming in Secured Unit Dining Area
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

A large-screen TV in the secured unit dining room was playing a loud, violent movie during meals, with screaming, gunfire, crying, and dark scenes visible to residents seated nearby. Two residents with dementia-related cognitive impairment and behavioral issues were directly affected; one became angry and complained the TV was too loud and too dark, while another repeatedly turned off the lights and struck out at an NA when blocked. An LPN, RN, AD, and DON stated the programming was not appropriate for residents with dementia and could increase anxiety or agitation.

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.
Dirty G-tube Pump and Room Floor
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Dirty G-tube Pump and Room Floor: A resident with Parkinson’s disease, DM, and impaired cognition was observed sleeping in bed while connected to a turned-off G-tube pump that had visible dried milk residue, and the room floor also had visible dried milk residue. A CNA confirmed the pump and floor were dirty, and an LVN stated food or milk drippings should be cleaned right away. RN review showed the care plan called for a safe environment with a floor free from spills and clutter, and the facility did not follow its cleaning and disinfection policy.

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.
Unsafe and Poorly Maintained Environment
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsafe and Poorly Maintained Environment: A hole in the ceiling on Hall 100, a detached baseboard in a shower room on Hall 300, dim lighting in the secure unit dining room, and a leaking kitchen ceiling were observed in the LTC facility. Staff and management interviews showed the issues were known or reported inconsistently, and maintenance logs did not document several of the problems. The kitchen leak was being collected in a pot near the food prep area, and the DM stated the kitchen leaked when it rained.

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.
Unsafe and Nonfunctional Bathroom Fixtures
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsafe and nonfunctional bathroom fixtures were observed on two nursing units and in one resident room. A resident reported a broken faucet, and staff observed a replacement knob that wiggled and did not work properly. In one shower room, the hot and cold indicators were reversed, and in another shower room, the drain cover was missing.

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.
Unsafe and Unclean Unit Environment
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsafe and Unclean Unit Environment: The 200 unit had marred walls, chipped door trim, a large hole in a resident room wall, missing drywall near the offices, and dirt buildup on baseboards, floors, and around the elevator. The dining room and elevator area also had debris buildup, and the elevator door frame wrap was hanging off on both sides. An HSKP staff member stated the facility was down a housekeeper and floors should be cleaned daily.

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.
Unsafe Resident Room Conditions Due to Nonfunctional A/C and Biological Growth
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsafe resident room conditions were identified when multiple rooms had nonfunctional A/C units, temperatures above 81 degrees, and unsealed openings around replacement units. A resident with paraplegia, polyneuropathy, chronic pain, and TBI reported living in a room without working A/C for weeks, while staff said several rooms had been hot for months and administration knew about the issue. Surveyors also observed biological growth inside one A/C unit and on a ceiling tile above a sink in a room occupied by a resident with respiratory concerns.

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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