K0291 K291: Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
F

Failure to Document Required Emergency Lighting Tests

North Woods Nursing CenterFarwell, Michigan Survey Completed on 03-06-2025

Summary

The facility failed to provide documentation that all battery-powered emergency lighting was tested annually for 90 minutes and function tested monthly for 30 seconds, as required by NFPA 101, 7.9.3.1.1. During a record review, no activity reports or documentation of these tests were available for surveyor review. These findings were confirmed through an interview with the Director of Facilities at the time of the record review. No information regarding specific patients, their medical history, or their condition at the time of the deficiency was provided in the report.

Plan Of Correction

K291 Emergency Lighting Element 1: Action taken to identify residents: No residents were identified. Element 2: Identification of other residents: All occupants could be affected in the event of an electrical power failure. Element 3: (1) Measures Taken: The Administrator or designee will conduct and document the needed annual 90-minute testing of the facility's battery-operated emergency lighting. Element 3: (2) Measures Taken: The Administrator or designee will conduct and document the needed monthly 30-second testing of the facility's battery-operated emergency lighting. Element 4: Monitoring: The Administrator or designee will compile a report of the battery-operated emergency lighting test for review and recommendations by the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Committee monthly, three times, and periodically thereafter. The Administrator will assume responsibility for attained compliance.

Penalty

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.
See other K0291 citations
Failure to Document Required Annual 90‑Minute Emergency Lighting Test
F
K0291 K291: Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility did not have documentation showing completion of the required annual 90‑minute test of emergency lighting. During record review and interview, the Director of Facilities confirmed that records of this annual test, required under NFPA 101 sections 19.2.9.1 and 7.9, were not available. This deficiency was cited as affecting all occupants in the event of a fire or other emergency.

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 Perform and Document Annual 90‑Minute Emergency Battery Lighting Test
F
K0291 K291: Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility did not perform and/or could not document the required annual 90‑minute test of battery-powered emergency lighting as required by NFPA 101 (2012 and 2021). During a record review with the Maintenance Director, no records were available to show that the annual 90‑minute emergency lighting test had been completed, and the Maintenance Director acknowledged the absence of this documentation, resulting in a cited deficiency affecting all occupants of the building.

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 and Document Required Emergency Battery Backup Lighting Tests
F
K0291 K291: Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility failed to maintain and document required testing of emergency battery backup lighting in accordance with NFPA 101. During record review with the Maintenance Director, no documentation was available for the monthly 30-second tests or the annual 90-minute tests for all sampled battery backup emergency lights. The Maintenance Director acknowledged the absence of these records, and the deficiency was determined to affect all residents and staff.

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 Perform and Document Required Emergency and Exit Lighting Tests
F
K0291 K291: Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility did not perform and/or document required monthly and annual inspections of battery back-up emergency and exit lighting in accordance with NFPA 101 standards. During record review, no evidence was available to show that emergency lights throughout the building had been tested for the required 90-minute annual duration, despite multiple requests for documentation. The Maintenance Director confirmed that the documentation could not be produced, and this deficiency potentially affected all residents in 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.
Lack of Documentation for Emergency Lighting Testing
C
K0291 K291: Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Short Summary

The facility did not provide documentation to verify that required monthly and annual tests of battery-powered emergency lighting were performed, as confirmed by both document review and interviews with the DON and Director of Maintenance.

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 Document Annual Emergency Lighting Test
C
K0291 K291: Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Short Summary

Surveyors determined that the facility did not conduct or document the required annual 90-minute test of battery backup emergency lighting. This was confirmed by facility leadership during the survey process.

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.
Citation search

Search every citation & Plan of Correction

Go to search
Citation watch

Track new serious citations across Michigan

Get a heads-up on the newest immediate-jeopardy (J–L) citations in Michigan — where surveyors are focused right now.

Free · about one email a month

Trusted data from CMS and state health departments

Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 29, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.

In your survey window? See what surveyors are citing.

The Survey-Prep Report maps your facility's risk from 12 months of CMS and state citation data — what's being cited around you and what to check first. $129 one-time.

Get the Survey-Prep Report
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙