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

Failure to Seek Emergency Care for Resident with Critically High Blood Sugar

Axiom Healthcare Of Mount VernonMount Vernon, Illinois Survey Completed on 03-25-2025

Summary

A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to seek emergency care for a resident with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus who was experiencing blood sugar levels too high to be measured by the facility's glucose monitoring device. The resident, who had a complex medical history including cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, chronic kidney disease, and a history of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), exhibited a significant change in condition with persistently elevated blood glucose readings that exceeded the glucometer's measurable range. Despite repeated 'HI' readings on the glucometer, which indicated blood glucose levels above 600 mg/dL, and observable changes in the resident's behavior and responsiveness, emergency medical intervention was not initiated in a timely manner. Throughout the day, certified nurse assistants (CNAs) reported to the agency LPN that the resident was not acting normally and recommended hospital transfer, but the LPN chose to administer insulin and wait for a physician's response instead. The LPN was unfamiliar with the facility's policies, the glucometer's limits, and had not received training on change in condition or emergency protocols. The DON was consulted and advised the LPN to use her judgment or wait for physician orders, but did not direct immediate transfer. Communication with the on-call physician was attempted, but there was no documented response or follow-up, and the facility's communication system was not effectively utilized. The resident's condition continued to deteriorate, with ongoing 'HI' blood sugar readings and increasing unresponsiveness. Later, the oncoming agency RN also observed the resident's critical state, continued to attempt to reach the physician, and administered additional insulin per verbal orders, but did not document the physician's name or the new orders properly. The resident's blood sugar eventually decreased to 488 mg/dL, but his condition worsened, culminating in respiratory distress, unresponsiveness, and ultimately death. Documentation and communication lapses were evident, including incomplete MAR entries and lack of proper notification or escalation. The cause of death was listed as probable diabetic ketoacidosis.

Removal Plan

  • Facility administrator was in-serviced by Regional Reimbursement Consultant on ensuring that glucometer values out of normal range are communicated to the attending physician or authorized designee in a timely, efficient and effective manner.
  • Facility administrator was in-serviced by Regional Reimbursement Consultant on ensuring that licensed nursing personnel will inform the physician or authorized designee with any change in condition of the resident in an effective, timely and efficient manner.
  • Facility administrator was in-serviced by Regional Reimbursement Consultant on medications being administered in accordance with the good nursing principles and practices and only by persons legally authorized to do so and only after they have been properly oriented to the facility's medication distribution system.
  • Facility's administrator in-serviced by Regional Reimbursement Consultant on using nursing judgement to seek emergency treatment when appropriate.
  • Facility Administrator initiated in-servicing for nursing staff on using nursing judgement to seek emergency treatment when appropriate.
  • Facility Administrator initiated in-servicing for all nursing staff on ensuring glucometer values out of normal range are communicated to the attending physician or authorized designee in a timely, efficient and effective manner to be completed before the start of their next shift.
  • Facility Administrator initiated in-servicing for all nursing staff on medications being administered in accordance with the good nursing principles and practices and only by legally authorized to do so and only after they have been properly oriented to the facility's medication distribution system, to be completed before the start of their next shift.
  • Facility policy for physician notification has been reviewed by Regional Director of Operations and has been found to be in compliance.
  • Facility completed an audit of all diabetic residents to ensure that their blood sugars are within therapeutic range and a weekly audit will be performed by the DON or designee weekly for four weeks.
  • Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) plan has been revised to include that the facility will ensure residents experiencing an acute critical situation receive timely emergency care and lacks a process for physician notification and receiving orders in an acute situation. QAPI revisions will be discussed at the next QAPI meeting.
  • Monitoring will be ongoing in the morning Quality Assurance (QA) meeting by the QA team (Administrator, Director of Nursing (DON), Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), Minimum Data Set (MDS)), the QA team will review the 24-hour report and follow up on any changes in condition to ensure that proper care was received and proper procedures were followed.

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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