F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
J

Failure to Ensure Resident Safety and Timely Medical Care

Indian River CenterWest Melbourne, Florida Survey Completed on 03-15-2025

Summary

The facility failed to promote a culture of safety on the locked memory care unit, resulting in negative resident-to-resident interactions, including physical fights and life-altering injuries. The administration's lack of active involvement and deficient behavioral monitoring, reporting, and investigative standards contributed to these incidents. Specifically, two residents were involved in an altercation that led to one resident suffering a bilateral jaw fracture, which was suspicious for non-accidental trauma. The facility did not ensure timely medical care for the injured resident, who was later transferred to hospice care and passed away. The administration failed to prevent physical abuse and ensure timely medical care for a vulnerable, cognitively impaired resident. The facility did not accurately document incidents and allegations of abuse in the medical record. Additionally, the facility did not provide necessary mental health services, appropriate monitoring, or a comprehensive person-centered care plan with behavioral interventions for a resident with known aggressive behaviors. This lack of intervention and oversight contributed to an unsafe environment for all residents in the memory care unit. The facility's investigation into the incident was inadequate, with missing documentation and a lack of effort to determine the root cause of the resident's injuries. The administration and corporate staff did not prioritize the investigation or implement appropriate interventions to maintain resident safety. The facility's failure to address the aggressive behaviors of one resident and the lack of a Level II PASARR screening further exacerbated the situation, leading to the life-altering injury of another resident.

Removal Plan

  • resident #1 no longer resides in the facility, discharged.
  • resident #2 no longer resides in the facility, discharged.
  • staff noticed discoloration to resident #1's jaw/neck and notified APRN per orders for anticoagulant monitoring. Upon examination APRN ordered a facial x-ray. Resident #1 transferred to hospital for evaluation related to lab results.
  • 200 of 200 current staff across all departments were provided education on abuse, neglect, exploitation, misappropriation, mistreatment, and injury of unknown source.
  • x-ray results received by facility. The Unit Manager notified the APRN and the facility Risk Manager of the x-ray results. An internal investigation was initiated, and a federal immediate report was submitted.
  • the NHA and DON were re-educated by the Registered Nurse Consultant on the components of F835 with an emphasis on taking immediate action on ensuring person centered care and interventions are in place for residents with a history of dementia and behaviors for effectiveness, thoroughly investigating and reporting allegations in a timely manner and appropriate interventions for behavioral dementia residents and timely medical treatment.
  • a quality review was conducted by the RNC/designee of 57 current residents who reside on the memory care unit to ensure appropriate interventions for behavioral dementia residents are in place and timely medical treatment is rendered. No like residents were identified.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $74,386
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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 F0835 citations
Leadership and Oversight Failures Affecting Resident Care
F
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

Facility leadership failed to oversee resident care and staff performance effectively. Staff reported a week-long shortage of insulin syringes, during which nurses borrowed insulin pens and vials from other residents and gave them to different residents, while one resident missed insulin and another had delayed blood sugar checks and insulin coverage. Interviews also described an LPN threatening a resident, delayed incontinence care, intimidation of staff who reported concerns, and other allegations of misconduct, while the DON and RN/ADON did not fully investigate several of the reported issues.

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.
Failure to Supervise and Respond Appropriately to Elopement
D
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

The NHA and DON failed to effectively manage the facility to implement sufficient monitoring and supervision to prevent an elopement. Facility records and job descriptions showed the NHA was responsible for maintaining effective systems and overseeing staff, care, supplies, and facilities, while the DON was responsible for nursing management, resident care standards, policy implementation, and supervision of the nursing department. The report states the facility failed to properly supervise a resident and failed to respond appropriately to the elopement.

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.
Administrator Living in Facility and Alleged Alcohol Use Not Addressed
F
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

Administrator Living in Facility and Alleged Alcohol Use Not Addressed: The facility failed to follow its drug-free workplace policy and failed to address repeated concerns that the Administrator was drinking alcohol, appeared intoxicated, and smoked in non-designated areas. Staff reported seeing alcohol in the Administrator’s office, smelling alcohol on his breath, and observing behavior they believed was impaired, while the DON and other leaders learned he was living in a room at the facility. The Area Admin did not investigate the allegations and stated he considered the Administrator exempt from policy during evenings and weekends because he lived at the facility.

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 Plan for Facility Closure and Resident Discharge
L
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

Failure to Plan for Facility Closure and Resident Discharge: The facility received an eviction notice but did not have a closure plan for the 30 residents. The ADM said he was out of money, had no specific plan, could not pay for a DON or RN supervisor, and was relying on agency staff while delinquent on supplies and pharmaceuticals. Residents were distressed about being moved, and the ADM had not notified residents or RPs about the eviction.

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 Maintain Infection Control Program
F
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

The NHA and DON failed to maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment. The facility did not have working laundry equipment to ensure clean and sanitized linens and laundry, and this was identified as an Immediate Jeopardy for all 67 residents. The NHA and DON confirmed the failure during interview.

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 Supervise Resident Resulted in Elopement
D
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

A resident eloped from the facility after staff failed to ensure proper supervision, and the event was identified as an IJ for all residents at risk for elopement. The NHA and DON were found to have failed to effectively manage the facility and to fulfill their job duties related to overseeing operations and nursing services.

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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