Failure to Ensure Continuity of Diabetic Care and Emergency Response
Summary
A facility failed to provide appropriate treatment and care for a resident with a diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and a history of hypoglycemia, resulting in a series of critical lapses in care. Upon the resident's readmission from an acute hospital, the admitting RN did not review or verify all discharge orders, including those for blood sugar (BS) monitoring and insulin administration, with the attending physician or nurse practitioner. The licensed staff did not review the resident's medical history of DM and prior hypoglycemic episodes, nor did they ensure continuity of diabetic care by implementing necessary BS monitoring as previously ordered. As a result, the resident's care plan for DM was not implemented, and there was no monitoring for hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia for several days after readmission. Further, the facility failed to clarify or obtain necessary physician orders for BS monitoring and insulin administration upon readmission, despite the resident's recent hospitalization for hypoglycemia. An LVN entered an order for routine insulin injection without prior physician authorization, and another LVN administered insulin without checking the resident's BS beforehand, contrary to the care plan and facility policy. When the resident experienced a significant change in condition, including an altered level of consciousness and a critically low BS of 27, the nursing staff did not perform adequate assessment or promptly notify the physician or nurse practitioner. There was also a delay in calling 911 emergency services, despite clear indications of a medical emergency. These failures led to the resident experiencing severe hypoglycemia, altered mental status, and hypotension, necessitating emergency transfer to an acute hospital, where the resident was admitted to the ICU and subsequently died. The deficiency was identified as Immediate Jeopardy by the California Department of Public Health due to the facility's failure to ensure appropriate admission orders and continuity of care for diabetes management, resulting in actual harm to the resident.
Removal Plan
- The admitting licensed nurse was provided a one-to-one re-education and training by the vice president of education on receiving diabetic treatment and services, in accordance with professional standards of practice, have care plan, and physician orders for the management of hypoglycemia.
- Admitting licensed nurse will be provided re-education and training by the vice president of education on received diabetic treatment and services, in accordance with professional standards of practice, have care plan, and physician orders for the management of DM and hypoglycemia prior to her next scheduled work.
- The interim director of nursing was provided by the vice president of education with training on care plan for DM and review the resident's records to ensure the care plan is being followed, in accordance with the Director of Nursing's job description.
- The Interdisciplinary Team was also provided education and training by the vice president of education regarding reviewing the residents plan of care upon admission/readmission, change of condition and as needed.
- The Medical Director was informed by the administrator regarding the IJ findings for further corrective actions and recommendations.
- Diabetic residents had their care plan reviewed. Eighteen residents care plans were revised and 20 new care plans were initiated by the interim Director of Nursing or designees, to reflect blood glucose monitoring check order and current diabetic management protocol of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
- The interim Director of Nursing initiated education to licensed nursing staff on all shift on diabetic management with emphasis on the following: Ensure diabetic residents upon admission/re-admission have blood sugar monitoring as ordered.
- Ensure diabetic residents have parameters for low and high BS and has order to give when below/high BS parameters.
- Ensure physicians are notified when resident's blood sugar falls below the parameters as specified by Physician.
- Licensed Nurses that are newly hired, on vacation, on leave, part time, or on call and registry staff will be given inservice by the Interim DON or designee prior to the start of their shift or hired.
- The facility's policies and procedures regarding Diabetic Management of residents was reviewed.
- The Interim Director of Nursing or designee audited new admission and current residents with diagnosis of Diabetes for diabetic management and ensure appropriate interventions are in place and care planned. Facility created an audit tool for residents with diagnosis of Diabetes for diabetic management.
- New hires will receive education on Diabetic Management, and resident safety by the Interim Director of Nursing or designee.
- Registry staff will be provided with accelerated orientation that includes checking of blood glucose levels and care plan initiation on residents upon admission/re-admission and as needed.
- A Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Performance Improvement Project will be implemented to review and interpret all audit findings pertaining to the new admission and current residents with diabetes by the IDT during clinical meetings and RN Supervisor on weekends.
- The Interim DON and or designee will continue to review QAPI plan to address, monitor progress and address missed opportunities by conducting root cause analysis and continuous quality improvement with collaboration with attending physician's medical director, pharmacy consultant and company management clinical resource.
- New admissions/re-admissions will be reviewed during clinical meeting by the IDT headed by the Interim DON and RN Supervisor on weekends to ensure that all admitted resident with Diabetes diagnosis, treatment and services with accordance with professional standard of practice which include diabetic management protocol for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, monitoring of blood glucose as ordered and care plan.
- The RN Supervisor on weekends will review all admissions/re-admissions to ensure compliance with Diabetes treatment and services with accordance with professional standard of practice which include diabetic management protocol for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, monitoring of blood glucose as ordered and care plan.
- The RN Supervisor during the shift will be notified by the Charge Nurse for any change of condition for coordination of care.
Penalty
Resources
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