Failure to Implement Care Plan Interventions for Assisted Dining
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when facility staff failed to implement care plan interventions for a resident with a history of cerebral infarction, dementia, and dysphagia, who was dependent on staff for feeding and required supervision during meals. Despite clear documentation in the care plan and recommendations from the speech language pathologist for close supervision and assistance with eating, the resident was left unsupervised with a meal tray in her room. Staff did not check the care plan prior to providing the meal, and the resident consumed food without the required assistance or supervision. The resident, who had moderate cognitive impairment and was on a mechanically altered diet, was found unresponsive after eating unsupervised. Interviews and medical record reviews confirmed that the resident had a history of difficulty swallowing, required a mechanically soft diet, and was dependent on staff for eating. The care plan specifically indicated the need for one staff member to assist with eating and for supervision due to the resident's cognitive deficits and swallowing risks. However, staff members, including CNAs and LPNs, did not follow these interventions, and some were unaware of the resident's needs, relying instead on verbal shift reports or assumptions about the resident's abilities. As a result of these failures, the resident was discovered unresponsive with food present, required emergency interventions including the Heimlich maneuver and CPR, and was subsequently transported to the hospital, where she expired. The investigation revealed that staff did not consistently review or implement care plan interventions, and the resident was not provided the necessary supervision and assistance during meals as required by her care plan and physician orders.
Removal Plan
- Resident #2 discharged to the hospital and has not returned to the facility.
- An audit was completed of care plans for current residents related to necessary dietary interventions to ensure that residents requiring assistance receive appropriate care during mealtimes as per the resident care plan and CNA documentation system. The audits for meal tray accuracy and appropriate level of assistance were initiated and is currently ongoing. There are currently 50 audits at this time. The tray line audit reviewing adequate consistency and items matching meal tickets was initiated and is ongoing, there are currently 118 audits at this time.
- The DON and NHA received directed education by the Regional Nurse Consultant on ensuring that resident care plans are implemented during meal times and ensuring that staff have knowledge of the resident care plan/CNA documentation system interventions.
- A total of 90 out of 90 Licensed nursing staff and Certified Nursing Assistants were provided education by the DON or designee on ensuring that resident care plans are implemented during meal times and ensuring that staff have knowledge of the resident care plan/CNA documentation system interventions. This education was 100% completed.
- An ad hoc Quality Assurance Meeting was held with the MD regarding removal plan activities.