Failure to Ensure Timely Physician Visits
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with multiple complex medical conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, dementia, anemia, and peripheral vascular disease, did not receive required physician visits. The resident, who was severely cognitively impaired and dependent on staff for all activities of daily living, was last seen by a physician on 9/6/2024, as confirmed by a review of the admission record and physician visit documentation. Interviews with facility staff, including the QA nurse and the DON, confirmed that the resident had not been seen by a physician within the required timeframe, with the DON stating that the last visit occurred in September 2024. The facility's policy requires physician visits at least every 30 days for the first 90 days after admission and at least every 60 days thereafter, in accordance with state and federal regulations. This lapse in physician visits was directly observed through record review and staff interviews.