F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
J

Failure to Prevent and Treat Pressure Injuries

Elroy Health ServicesElroy, Wisconsin Survey Completed on 03-03-2025

Summary

The facility failed to ensure that residents received care consistent with professional standards to prevent and treat pressure injuries. Two residents, identified as R35 and R44, were affected by these deficiencies. R35, who was at risk for pressure injury development, developed two stage 3 facility-acquired pressure injuries that deteriorated. Observations revealed multiple layers between R35 and the air mattress, and the facility did not provide education or discuss risks versus benefits when R35 declined repositioning. Additionally, staff failed to consistently document repositioning or incontinence care, which contributed to R35's pressure injuries. The prescribed treatment was not applied correctly, as the periwound was not protected during application. R35's care plan was not updated to reflect current wounds and locations, and the repositioning intervention was added 22 days after the development of the pressure injury. Despite the deterioration of R35's moisture-associated skin damage to a stage 3 pressure injury, the facility continued to document this injury on the non-pressure wound tracker. The facility also failed to document repositioning opportunities consistently, with 86 missed documentation instances. During wound care observations, it was noted that the Dakin solution was not properly applied, potentially causing harm to healthy skin. R44 was admitted with a pressure injury that was initially documented as stage 2 but had 50% slough, indicating it was at least stage 3. The facility failed to complete weekly pressure injury assessments per standards of practice, and R44's pressure injury deteriorated, evidenced by undermining and tunneling. Observations also revealed multiple layers between R44 and the air mattress. These failures led to a finding of immediate jeopardy, which was later removed, but the deficient practice continued at a scope/severity of G (actual harm/isolated).

Removal Plan

  • Both residents remain at the center and care plan regarding pressure injury reviewed and updated.
  • In-house residents with pressure injuries have the potential to be affected. Skin sweep completed.
  • Director of nursing or designee implemented re-education with nursing staff (CNAs and licensed nurses) on Pressure Injury and Non-Pressure Injury policy and Use of Support Surface policy.
  • Education included the need to ensure care plan is followed including managing moisture and incontinence including not using multiple layers with air mattresses.
  • If cares/treatments are refused to notify licensed nurse/DON/designee and education provided on risks and benefits to resident or responsible party, notify MD and update care plan.
  • Obtaining Periwound treatment in order from MDs.
  • Wound assessments including measurements and ensuring surface area adds up to 100% of assess.
  • Identified education will occur prior to start of next scheduled shift.
  • Facility reviewed their Pressure Injury and Non-Pressure Injury and Use of Support Surface policies. No changes were required to policies.
  • DON/designee also verified that residents with pressure injuries have accurate assessment of pressure injuries, including physician orders for treatment and dressing changes that are completed per MD order.
  • Interdisciplinary review completed of care plans for residents with pressure injuries and a visual audit was completed by Director of Nursing or designee to ensure care planned interventions for pressure injury healing and prevention are in place.
  • DON/designee to complete random observation (audit) of dressing changes per MD order with periwound treatment, if warranted, and cares/treatment to ensure dressing changes completed per MD order, interventions to promote healing including no multiple layers on air mattresses, and ensure proper documentation of refusal of skin care and treatment.
  • Audits will also include Pressure injury weekly documentation to ensure accurate and complete, and CNA task documentation on if cares accepted and documented per care plan.
  • Audits will be completed daily. These audits will then continue on varying shifts three times per week for additional weeks then 2 times per week for additional weeks.
  • Results of audits will be presented to facility QAPI committee for review and any recommendations.
  • Ad hoc QAPI meeting held to review this plan.

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 F0686 citations
Failure to Implement Timely Interventions to Prevent Facility-Acquired Pressure Ulcer
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident with diabetes, heart failure, muscle weakness, severe cognitive impairment, incontinence, and limited mobility was identified as at risk for pressure ulcers, with care plans calling for turning/repositioning, use of a pressure-reducing device, and extensive staff assistance for ADLs. Despite these documented risks and interventions, the resident, who preferred to remain in a recliner or wheelchair and became less mobile after a foot fracture requiring a walking boot, developed a facility-acquired Stage 2 pressure ulcer on the buttocks. Wound assessments showed the ulcer’s presence and progression over time, indicating that timely and effective preventive measures were not implemented in accordance with the facility’s wound assessment and prevention 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.
Failure to Follow Wound Care Orders and Delay in Implementing New Treatment
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident receiving palliative care with multiple comorbidities, including CHF and acute kidney disease, had physician orders for specific left heel wound care that were not followed when an RN omitted the ordered normal-saline–moistened gauze and instead applied only a clean dry dressing. The same resident’s wound vac was discontinued per provider order, and prior wound care orders were stopped, but no new wound treatment was implemented for several days, with the new left heel dressing regimen not started until four days later. The ADON reported difficulty communicating with the hospice agency to clarify wound care orders and acknowledged not seeking a temporary order from the facility’s medical director.

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 Provide Timely Pressure Ulcer Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility failed to provide timely and appropriate pressure ulcer assessment, treatment, and prevention for two residents. One resident was admitted with a stage 3 buttock ulcer, but the Braden assessment was left incomplete, no pressure-ulcer risk care plan was initiated on admission, and wound consultant recommendations (including Medi-honey and preventive measures) were not promptly entered as physician orders or care-planned; weekly wound measurements were also missing while the ulcer enlarged and was described as stalled. Another resident with a right humerus fracture and sling was initially assessed as not at risk for pressure injuries, with no documentation of limited mobility or sling use, no early orders for a sling or skin checks under it, and a care plan that did not specify monitoring skin under the sling. Skin checks were inconsistently documented, and only after the family raised concerns was a large open elbow pressure injury and additional ankle/heel pressure areas identified, without comprehensive initial wound measurements, repeat Braden scoring, or updated care plans to address the new pressure areas and device-related skin monitoring.

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 Individualized Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment for High-Risk Residents
G
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

Two residents at high risk for pressure ulcers did not receive consistent, individualized prevention and treatment measures, resulting in the development and worsening of multiple pressure injuries. One resident with severe cognitive impairment and high Braden risk, fully dependent on staff for mobility and hygiene, was repeatedly observed in bed with the head of bed elevated and sliding down, without documented q2h repositioning, individualized pressure-relief interventions, or consistent use of barrier cream, and CNAs and restorative staff were unaware of specific pressure-prevention measures for her. Another resident with multiple comorbidities, prior healed pressure ulcers, and a high Braden score developed recurrent stage II and III pressure ulcers to the coccyx and gluteal fold, a left heel DTI, and a left lateral leg stage II ulcer; ordered wound treatments were not documented as completed on at least one ordered date, he was not on a defined turning schedule despite being largely bedfast, and heel offloading and use of heel boots were inconsistently implemented and documented. In both cases, staff interviews and record review showed that facility practices did not consistently align with the facility’s own skin and pressure injury prevention policy requiring q2h repositioning, appropriate support surfaces, and systematic offloading for bedfast residents.

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 Accurately Assess, Care Plan, and Treat Pressure Ulcers for Multiple Residents
E
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility failed to provide pressure ulcer care consistent with professional standards for three residents. One resident with hemiplegia and vascular dementia had a sacral wound that was omitted from the care plan and repeatedly left off weekly skin assessments, while heel wounds were documented without consistent measurements or staging and ordered treatments were not always recorded as given. A second resident with multiple comorbidities developed a sacral wound that progressed from MASD to an unstageable and then Stage 4 pressure injury with surgical debridement, yet the care plan was not updated to reflect the active pressure ulcer and specific interventions, and weekly skin assessments often lacked complete staging and measurements. A third resident with dementia and incontinence had an unstageable sacral ulcer and MASD, but weekly skin assessments were inconsistent, some ordered wound treatments and topical medications were not documented on the TAR, and nursing notes did not show that care was provided on those dates. Staff interviews revealed that the treatment nurse handled nearly all weekly skin assessments and wound care documentation, relied on the DON or wound physician for staging and measurements, and that facility policies requiring complete wound assessment and documentation were not consistently followed.

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 Repositioning and Moisture Management for Stage 4 Pressure Injury
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident with a stage 4 sacrococcygeal PI, Parkinson’s disease, hypertension, moderate cognitive impairment, and high assistance needs was not provided care consistent with the facility’s pressure injury prevention policy. Although the care plan included daily wound treatment and use of a LAL mattress, it lacked an individualized repositioning schedule and did not document education or reminders about repositioning. Facility documentation showed only that the resident was assisted to roll each shift, with no evidence of q2h turning in bed or of how often incontinence briefs were checked and changed. After the resident refused Foley catheter reinsertion, the IDT did not identify incontinence as a risk factor or add new wound-protective or moisture-preventive interventions, and the subsequent care plan for non-compliance omitted such measures. The TXN and DON confirmed that repositioning and protection of the wound from incontinence were not clearly implemented or reflected in the care plan, despite policy requirements.

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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