Delayed X-ray Results Lead to Deficiency in Resident Care
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely care and treatment for a resident who required an x-ray to rule out a fracture in the left forearm. The x-ray was ordered by a medical doctor on the night of 12/05/2024, but it was not performed until 12/07/2024. The results, which indicated fractures of the midshaft radius and ulna with mild displacement, were finalized on 12/08/2024 but were not communicated to the facility until 12/09/2024. This delay in obtaining and acting upon the x-ray results led to the resident being transferred to the hospital for further evaluation. The facility's policy required that final written reports be submitted within 48 hours, but this was not adhered to. Interviews revealed that the medical doctor did not order a STAT x-ray initially due to the resident not complaining of pain and the swelling being attributed to a possible medical condition. The Director of Nursing and the Medical Director noted that the facility did not receive timely communication from the radiology department, which stated that it was the facility's responsibility to follow up on outpatient results. This lack of timely follow-up and communication contributed to the deficiency in care provided to the resident.
Plan Of Correction
Plan of Correction: Approved January 21, 2025 F 684 483.25 Quality of Care § 483.25 Quality of care I. The Following actions were accomplished for the resident identified in the sample: Immediate action to correct the alleged deficient practice included MD, and family notification of resident #1 x-ray results. On 12/10/24 resident returned to facility with hard cast to the left arm in place. Full body assessment of the resident complete, no additional area of concern noted. Pain assessment completed, pain management implemented, continued monitoring for skin integrity and circulation. The resident was immediately placed on another unit in another pavilion of the facility. Resident #1 was also placed on 1:1 monitoring for safety and observation. Resident was seen by psychiatrist on 12/11/24, physician determined there was “no psychological impact.” Rehabilitation consultation was ordered. Physical and Occupational Therapy consultation was completed on 12/12/24. Resident #1 was seen by orthopedics in the ER with follow-up on 12/14/24. II. The following corrective actions will be implemented to identify other residents who may be affected by the same practice: All residents requiring x-rays have the potential to be affected by the alleged deficient practice. An audit was conducted to ensure all residents with pending x-ray results were obtained and reviewed timely by the physician and timely notification made to resident/family member. A full body assessment was completed on all residents on all floors on 12/12/24 to ensure no other residents have injury, which the facility was not aware of. No other residents were affected by the deficient practice in the facility. Social Services conducted an audit by interviewing alert residents to ascertain whether anyone had witnessed the abuse of other residents or if they have been victims of abuse themselves. No residents have verbalized that they have been abused or observed any abuse of other residents. Risk for Abuse is in place for all residents. The re-education of all staff commenced on 12/10/24 and is ongoing: The following training was provided: 1. Resident Rights 2. Abuse, Neglect & Mistreatment 3. Siderails Monitoring, Bed Entrapment & Restraint 4. Reportable Concerns 5. Pain Management 6. Managing Difficult Residents 7. Resident Safety Quality of Care education commenced on 1/10/25. The following system changes will be implemented to ensure continuing compliance with regulations: On 12/17/24 a medical staff meeting was held, and education was provided to physicians, that effective immediately any suspicion of a fracture or trauma related occurrence, even if low suspicion, order should be made to stat on priority. Physicians are to follow-up on image results in EPIC, if ordered with suspicion of fracture is made. Medical staff meeting was conducted on 1/15/25, physicians were provided with education on residents’ right to be free from physical restraints, reporting of alleged violations and review of the regulations regarding Quality of Care. Education was provided by the medical director and the director of nursing. QAPI Committee meeting was held on 1/10/2025 to review the findings of the compliant survey. Staff Education started on 1/10/25 and is ongoing. Education will be provided during education, annual during mandatory in-service education and as needed. Education will be provided by the staff educator/designee. Nurses were provided with education starting on 12/17/24 that any X-ray orders are to be communicated on the 24-hour report by unit nurse, nurse managers/supervisors. Once the radiology images have been completed, the staff nurse will call the radiology department to obtain results. If the result is not available at the end of the nurses tour it is endorsed to the oncoming shift until results are finalized. Nurses will also check the shared medical records system (EPIC) to obtain posted results. On 1/15/2024, Diagnostic Test Policy and Procedure were reviewed with no changes. The Provision of Radiology Services Policy was reviewed and revised to indicate physicians will check order status in EPIC. IV. The facility’s compliance will be monitored utilizing the following quality assurance system. The facility Director of Nursing and Medical Director Designee will conduct random audit to ensure compliance with the review of x-ray orders and imaging results weekly for 4 weeks then monthly for 3 months and quarterly thereafter. The action plan will be reviewed by the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) Committee for further review and recommendations for three months. QAPI committee will make recommendations for ongoing monitoring. The Medical Director and Director of Nursing/Designee will be responsible for the implementation of this plan of correction.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Failure to Follow Care Plan for Protective Sleeve: A resident with severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and PVD had a care plan directing staff to keep protective sleeves on the left elbow at all times due to skin tear risk. During repeated dining room observations, the resident was not wearing the sleeve. A NA said she did not apply it because the resident would remove it and chew on it, and an RN said he was unaware the sleeve was not being worn.
Failure to follow wound care orders and dressing documentation requirements was cited for multiple residents. A resident had a skin tear dressed without a physician order, another resident had a knee dressing with no date or initials, and a third resident had a dated dressing and pain patch that did not reflect the ordered treatment schedule. The DON and wound care RN acknowledged that dressings and treatments should be completed as ordered and that dressings are expected to be dated and initialed.
Failure to Follow Ordered Treatments and Weight Monitoring: The facility did not ensure ordered care was carried out for several residents. One resident with Parkinson’s disease and anxiety sustained a skin tear to the hand during an agitated episode, but there was no physician order for the wound treatment that was provided. Two residents had ordered weekly weights that were not obtained as scheduled, and the records did not explain why. Another resident with HTN, depression, and DM had body blisters, but the wound company’s recommendation for skin prep was not entered as an order, and there was no documented evidence that the practitioner was contacted about the missed recommendation.
Failure to Follow Insulin Orders: Two residents with diabetes received insulin contrary to physician orders. One resident was given insulin aspart at times when blood glucose was below the ordered hold parameter, and a second resident received scheduled insulin without documented meal intake despite orders to hold if blood sugar was low or if less than 50% of the meal was eaten. The DON confirmed the medication administration did not follow the orders.
Failure to follow bowel management protocol: three residents had extended periods without a BM and no documented nursing interventions despite the facility’s protocol requiring specific measures after 2, 3, 4, and 5 days without a BM. The residents had significant diagnoses including schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, TBI, and Alzheimer’s disease, and the RNC confirmed the missing BM-related interventions in the chart.
A resident with dementia, severe cognitive impairment, limited ROM in both LEs, and dependence on staff for wheelchair locomotion was observed sitting in her wheelchair with her feet hovering above the footrests. CNAs confirmed her feet did not reach the footrests, and an administrative nurse stated the footrest needed to be adjusted to better fit and support her feet.
Failure to Follow Care Plan for Protective Sleeve
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a sleeve protector was provided in accordance with the comprehensive care plan for a resident with severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and peripheral vascular disease. The resident’s admission MDS identified the resident as needing partial/moderate assistance with upper body dressing and footwear and as being at risk for pressure ulcer/injury without existing pressure ulcers. The Pressure Ulcer/Injury CAA identified the resident as at risk for pressure ulcers and in need of a pressure relieving device for the bed and chair. The resident’s care plan, revised 7/28/26, identified a skin tear/potential for skin tear of the left anterior shin and left posterior calf related to falling and hitting self on the wheelchair, and directed staff to keep protective sleeves on the left elbow at all times. During multiple observations in the dining room, the resident was seated in a tilt-in-space wheelchair and was not wearing the protective sleeve to the left elbow. A NA stated she had been assigned to the resident all week and did not put the sleeve on because the resident would take it off and chew on it. An RN stated he was unaware the resident was not wearing the sleeve but said the resident should wear it if it was care planned. The DON stated the sleeve protector should be assessed and removed from the care plan if inappropriate, but staff were expected to follow the care plan to ensure the resident received the needed care.
Failure to Follow Wound Care Orders and Dressing Documentation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure physician orders and facility policy were followed for wound care for 3 of 10 residents reviewed for wounds. Resident #28 was observed with a gauze dressing to the right wrist dated 08/06/2026, and the nursing note documented that a CNA noticed a new skin tear to the right wrist that was bleeding, was assessed by the nurse, cleaned, and dressed. However, review of the physician orders showed no wound care order for the right wrist. The wound care RN stated the resident did not have any wounds to her knowledge and explained that when a resident gets a skin tear, the nurse should cleanse it, recover the skin, dress it, notify the physician and family, and enter new orders. The DON stated the resident did not have orders for wound care to the right wrist and that the LPN should have notified the provider and obtained orders. Resident #21 was observed with an island dressing on the right knee that had no date or initials. The DON stated dressings are expected to be dated, and the wound care RN stated it is her practice to date and initial every dressing change, with weekend and PRN dressing changes done by the nurse on the cart. The TAR directed daily cleansing and application of a long island dressing to the right knee surgical site, and the facility policy for clean/dry dressings required tape/labels with date and initials. Resident #113 was observed with a dressing dated 8/6 and a white pain patch on the left arm dated 8/6/2026. The physician order required cleansing the left arm skin tear and applying xeroform, honey gel, and border gauze every day shift, and another order directed Aspercreme Lidocaine Patch 4% to the left shoulder in the morning and night and to the left hip with removal at bedtime. The wound care RN stated she was not familiar with the resident's skin tear dressing orders and that wound care should be done as ordered, while the DON stated dressings and treatments should be done as ordered and a check mark in the treatment record means completed.
Failure to Follow Ordered Treatments and Weight Monitoring
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate treatment and care in accordance with orders and professional standards for four residents. Facility policy stated that weights were to be obtained routinely to monitor nutritional health, including weekly for the first four weeks after admission or readmission and more often if risk was identified or as ordered. For one resident with diagnoses including high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, and anxiety, a nursing note documented that the resident sustained a skin tear to the right hand during an episode of agitation and attempted physical aggression toward staff while being assisted out of bed. The wound nurse confirmed there was no physician order for treatment of the right hand skin tear, although steri-strips had been applied and the wound nurse stated steri-strips are the preferred treatment for skin tears. For two residents, physician orders required weekly weights, but the clinical record did not show that the ordered weights were obtained as directed. One resident had weights not obtained on two scheduled dates, and the record lacked additional documentation explaining why the weights could not be obtained. Another resident had one missed weekly weight, and the record also lacked additional documentation explaining why the weight was not obtained. The DON confirmed that the facility failed to make certain these residents were provided appropriate treatment and care. For another resident with diagnoses including hypertension, depression, and diabetes, the record showed the resident was admitted with marks and blisters on the body and no treatment was ordered. A contracted wound company later recommended skin prep to the blisters, but physician orders did not include skin prep. A wound nurse stated there was no order for skin prep and confirmed the facility did not follow the wound company’s recommendations. An RN stated the recommendations were not followed, but the facility had no documented evidence of speaking with the practitioner about treatment for the blisters or the reason the recommendations were not followed.
Failure to Follow Insulin Orders
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow physician orders for two residents receiving insulin. One resident was cognitively intact, required maximum assistance with daily care needs, had diabetes, and was ordered to receive 6 units of insulin aspart at 8:00 a.m. with instructions to hold the medication if blood sugar was less than 110 mg/dL. Review of the MAR showed the resident received the insulin on multiple occasions when blood sugar readings were below that threshold, including readings of 92, 106, 105, 104, 94, and 75 mg/dL. The DON confirmed that the insulin had been administered on those dates and should have been held per the physician's order. A second resident was cognitively impaired, dependent on staff for daily care needs, and had insulin-dependent diabetes. The physician ordered 6 units/mL of insulin aspart twice daily with lunch and supper, with instructions to hold the dose if blood sugar was less than 150 mg/dL or if the resident ate less than 50 percent of the meal. The MAR showed no documented meal intake for several lunch and dinner meals on specified dates, yet the insulin was still administered. The DON confirmed that staff should have obtained the resident's meal intake before giving the insulin on those occasions.
Failure to Follow Bowel Management Protocol
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow its Bowel Management - Clinical Protocol for residents who did not have a bowel movement within the required time frame. The protocol dated April 2026 directed staff to assess, monitor, and manage bowel and bladder function according to individualized needs and physician/provider orders, with specific interventions beginning on Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5 without a BM. For Resident #31, the record documented no BM from 7/27/26 at 2146 to 7/31/26 at 2130, with no documented nursing interventions during that period. Resident #31 had diagnoses including schizophrenia and alcohol abuse. Resident #4’s record documented no BM from 7/9/26 to 7/12/26 with no documented nursing interventions related to the lack of BM during that time. Resident #4 had diagnoses including Parkinson’s Disease and major depressive disorder. Resident #56’s record documented no BM from 7/21/26 to 7/28/26 and again from 7/29/26 to 8/2/26, with no documented nursing interventions during those periods. Resident #56 had diagnoses including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer’s disease. On 8/5/26, the RNC stated that Residents #4, #31, and #56 had no documented BM-related interventions for July and the first part of August 2026 and should have.
Wheelchair Footrest Not Adjusted for Resident With Limited LE ROM
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure appropriate wheelchair positioning for R11. R11 had a diagnosis of dementia, severe cognitive impairment on MDS assessments, limited ROM in both lower extremities, and was dependent on staff for locomotion in her wheelchair. Her care plan, revised 07/02/2026, instructed staff that she was dependent on staff for locomotion in her wheelchair. During observations on 08/03/2026 and 08/04/2026, R11 was seen sitting in her wheelchair at the dining room table with her feet hovering several inches above the wheelchair footrest. CNA M confirmed on 08/04/2026 that R11's feet did not reach the footrests, and CNA N stated the footrest needed to be adjusted to fit R11 better. On 08/05/2026, Administrative Nurse D also stated the footrest needed to be adjusted to better fit the resident and support her feet. The facility policy for Use of Assistive Devices stated that assistive device use would be based on the resident's needs, as indicated.
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