F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
J

Failure to Ensure Continuity of Diabetic Care and Emergency Response

Rio Hondo Subacute & Nursing CenterMontebello, California Survey Completed on 03-28-2025

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

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 F0684 citations
Failure to Follow Physician Orders for Insulin, Weight Monitoring, and Lab Tests
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that staff did not follow multiple physician orders for three residents. A resident with diabetes received ordered insulin even when blood glucose readings were below the ordered hold parameter. Another resident with cerebral palsy, DM, and heart failure had repeated significant overnight weight gains without evidence that the physician was notified as ordered. A third resident with anemia and CKD had ordered CBC and CMP lab tests that were not documented as completed. The DON confirmed there was no documentation that these physician orders were carried out.

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 Ordered Bowel Protocol for Constipation Management
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with multiple medical conditions, including respiratory disorders and diabetes, had physician orders for scheduled laxatives and a three-step PRN bowel protocol to be used when no bowel movement occurred within specified timeframes. Over a four-day period without a documented BM, the MAR showed that none of the ordered bowel protocol steps were administered, and there was no documentation of bowel care on one of those days. Facility records also lacked any notes of medication refusal or staff education regarding bowel care, and leadership confirmed the absence of documentation and implementation of the ordered bowel protocol.

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 Reevaluate Blood Glucose After Treatment for Hyperglycemia
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with Alzheimer's disease and type II DM, who required extensive assistance with ADLs and was receiving scheduled Lantus and sliding-scale Humalog, experienced a severely elevated blood glucose level. The on-call provider was notified and ordered an additional dose of lispro insulin with a directive to recheck the blood glucose after administration. Nursing staff administered the extra insulin but did not document any follow-up blood glucose check, and the DON confirmed that this reevaluation was required by the facility's abnormal blood glucose policy and was not completed or documented.

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 Assess and Notify Providers for Abnormal Blood Glucose Levels
K
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

The facility failed to follow professional standards and physician orders for multiple diabetic residents by not consistently assessing and responding to abnormal capillary blood glucose (CBG) results. Several residents with diabetes and comorbid conditions such as CKD, CHF, CAD, COPD, dementia, ESRD, and heart failure had repeated CBG readings in both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic ranges, including values below 70 mg/dl and above 400 mg/dl, without documented provider notification, rechecks, or clinical assessment. Some insulin and CBG monitoring orders lacked clear parameters for provider notification, and in at least one case a resident left on a leave of absence after a markedly elevated CBG without reevaluation. Although LPNs described appropriate protocols for managing low and high blood sugars during interviews, the documentation in the medical records did not show that these steps were consistently implemented or recorded, leading to an immediate jeopardy finding related to quality of care.

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 Assess and Respond to Post‑Fall Hip Pain and Mobility Decline
G
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with dementia, osteoporosis, and prior femur fracture experienced an unwitnessed fall and subsequently developed severe hip pain and decreased ability to ambulate and transfer. Nursing staff failed to document the fall on the day it occurred, did not complete comprehensive lower‑extremity or mobility assessments, and repeatedly charted pain scores of 0 despite the resident’s complaints and nurse aide reports of significant pain with movement and increased assistance needs. An NP evaluated the resident for hip pain but was not informed of the fall, did not assess the hips or legs, and treated the pain as baseline neuropathic discomfort. Over several days, PRN acetaminophen was given intermittently without consistent pain scoring, multiple shifts lacked progress notes or assessments, and aides assumed nurses were aware of the resident’s worsening pain and functional decline. Bilateral hip x‑rays were eventually ordered after internal communication about hip pain, and the report later showed an acute displaced femoral neck fracture, after which the resident was sent to the hospital and underwent a left hip hemiarthroplasty.

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 Assess, Notify, and Monitor Resident After Facial Trauma
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis reported being punched in the face by another resident, resulting in facial bruising. The resident’s MDS showed intact cognition, and a change in condition evaluation documented the assault; however, the MD was not notified until more than a day later. The care plan directed licensed nurses to assess the resident’s body, and staff observed a purplish bruise on the right lower eyelid/orbital area, but this was not documented in the progress notes. Required every-shift monitoring for 72 hours after the change in condition was not documented on multiple day shifts. The DON confirmed lack of awareness of the bruise and acknowledged missing documentation and monitoring, despite facility policies requiring immediate provider notification and complete, accurate charting of changes in condition.

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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