Failure to Provide Timely Podiatry Care for Foot Infection
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with type 2 diabetes mellitus, dementia, and depression was not seen by a podiatrist for a left big toe infection as ordered. The resident was admitted with multiple diagnoses that increase the risk of complications from foot infections. Medical documentation showed that a physician assistant ordered bacitracin ointment and a podiatry consult for toenail care due to a skin infection on the left big toe. The facility's policy required that ancillary services, including podiatry, be scheduled within 1-3 weeks of referral unless it was an emergency. Despite the order for a podiatry consult, the resident's appointment was not completed as scheduled. The social services staff reported that the resident was scheduled to see the podiatrist, but the appointment was missed due to the resident having COVID-19. The appointment was not rescheduled, and both the social services staff and the DON acknowledged that the resident should have been seen by podiatry as soon as possible after the initial referral. This lapse resulted in the resident not receiving timely podiatric care for the toe infection.