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

Delayed Physician Notification and ER Transfer After Unwitnessed Fall

The BuckinghamHouston, Texas Survey Completed on 03-29-2025

Summary

A facility failed to ensure that a resident received timely treatment and care in accordance with professional standards, the resident's care plan, and the resident's preferences following an unwitnessed fall. The resident, who had a history of Alzheimer’s disease, frequent falls, abnormal gait, seizures, atrial fibrillation, and insomnia, was found on the floor by nursing staff during midnight rounds. The resident was confused, holding his head, and unable to clearly explain what had happened. Initial assessments showed no visible injuries and stable vital signs, and the resident was assisted back to bed and monitored throughout the night. Despite the resident’s confusion and the unwitnessed nature of the fall, the RN on duty notified the nurse practitioner (NP) by text message rather than by phone, as required by facility policy. The NP did not see the text message until several hours later, as she was asleep, and instructed that the resident be sent to the emergency room (ER) for evaluation. The RN did not attempt further notification after not receiving a response, relying on her judgment that the resident was stable. This resulted in a delay of approximately six hours before the resident was transported to the hospital. Upon arrival at the hospital, the resident was found to have a subarachnoid hemorrhage and was admitted to the intensive care unit. Interviews with facility staff, including the RN, NP, DON, and administrator, confirmed that the RN did not follow the required notification procedures, which included making a phone call for urgent changes in condition and, if necessary, escalating the notification up the chain of command. Facility policies required immediate phone notification of the physician for significant changes in condition, especially after unwitnessed falls with possible head injury and confusion.

Removal Plan

  • All facility residents were assessed for any Change in Condition.
  • 1:1 education was provided to RN A by the Director of Nursing and Administrator.
  • Education was provided to all licensed nursing staff and CNAs.
  • Direct care staff (PRNs, new hires, from vacation) will not be allowed to render care until in-service is completed.
  • Test questions were given and taken by all registered and licensed nurses to ensure understanding of the policies and procedures.
  • Education included Policy & Procedure on Notification - Physician Notification, Policy & Procedure on Quality of Care - Change in a Resident's Condition, and use of the Interact SBAR Communication Form.
  • Physician and Nurse Practitioner Notification Call Tree was completed and posted in all Nurses stations.
  • All direct care staff were educated on the location and use of the Call Tree during in-service.
  • Audit tools/checklists were developed to monitor provider notification and change-in-condition documentation.
  • Registered and licensed nurses were educated on these audit tools.
  • A Notification Report audit on Change in Condition for residents was reviewed and completed.
  • These tools will be reviewed for compliance.
  • The Administrator notified the Medical Director of the Immediate Jeopardy.
  • A QAPI meeting was held to review policies/protocols for Change in Condition and Physician Notification.
  • The Director of Nursing and the ADON were in-serviced by the Medical Director on Change in Condition and Physician Notification.
  • Staff in-services for all registered nurses, licensed clinical staff, and CNAs on Physician Notification and Changes in Condition were started and will continue until all clinical staff have been trained.
  • Staff will not be allowed to start on the floor or give care until this training has been completed.
  • All new clinical staff will receive the in-services as part of the onboarding orientation process prior to being assigned and providing care to residents.
  • Post tests were conducted and completed to ensure understanding and competency.
  • All current residents were assessed to determine if there is any change in status and/or condition, and the physician will be made aware of any noted changes from the resident's normal baseline.
  • After completion of the residents' audits, no other residents were found to be at risk of having a change in condition and at their normal baseline.

Penalty

Fine: $21,645
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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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