F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
K

Failure to Provide Consistent Pressure Ulcer Care and Assessments

Brush Country Nursing And RehabilitationAustin, Texas Survey Completed on 05-07-2025

Summary

A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to provide necessary treatment and services to promote wound healing and prevent new pressure ulcers for a resident with significant risk factors, including complete paraplegia, muscle weakness, and a history of sepsis related to a sacral wound. The resident was admitted with a stage IV pressure ulcer to the sacrum and an unstageable pressure area on the left heel. Despite physician orders for specific wound care treatments and the need for weekly skin assessments, the facility did not complete weekly skin assessments or consistently provide ordered treatments to the resident's wounds over a period of several weeks. Documentation revealed that the resident did not receive wound care treatments as ordered on multiple occasions for both the sacral wound and the left heel. The treatment administration records showed missed treatments, and there was a lack of weekly skin assessments following the initial admission assessment. The wound care doctor was not made aware of the pressure area on the left heel, and the wound care nurse had left the facility, leaving gaps in wound care oversight. The resident's wounds worsened during this period, with the sacral wound increasing in size and the left heel developing into a full-thickness open wound with necrotic tissue. Interviews with staff confirmed that weekly skin assessments were not performed, and treatments were not administered as ordered. The resident reported not receiving care to the left heel and was unaware of the wound due to paralysis. The nurse responsible for documenting treatments admitted to mistakenly signing off on treatments that were not performed. Observations confirmed the presence of an old, dated dressing on the left heel and significant deterioration of the wound. Facility policies required regular skin assessments and documentation, which were not followed, leading to the identification of an Immediate Jeopardy situation.

Removal Plan

  • Resident #1 received a head-to-toe assessment including skin by the DON, findings of a worsening left heel were relayed to Medical Director and new orders received to clean wound with normal saline, pat dry, apply alginate with silver and cover with non-adherent dressing daily.
  • Findings were relayed to the Medical Director.
  • Emotional Distress Assessment completed for Resident #1 by the Social Worker with no emotional distress observed.
  • Resident #1's Care Plan was updated by Corporate MDS Nurse regarding wound care and observations to be performed by staff. All nursing staff were in-serviced including PRN, agency staff and all newly hired staff prior to their shift.
  • Charge nurses on staff conducted a 100% skin audit on 78 residents overseen by the DON. Charge nurses were in-serviced on proper skin assessment by the DON prior to the conduction of assessments. No other residents were identified as having unidentified skin issues.
  • Administrator/DON initiated Staff in-service for ALL NURSING STAFF on Prevention of Pressure Ulcers, Pressure Ulcers/Skin Breakdown - Clinical Protocol & Abuse and Neglect. DON trained by VP of Clinical Services prior to start of in-service. If staff are unable to attend any of the in-services, they will be required to complete them before starting their assigned shift to include PRN staff, agency staff and any new hires.
  • The Medical Director has been involved in developing the Plan of Removal. These conversations are considered a part of the QA process.
  • A QAPI meeting was held with attendance of the Company President, Director of Nursing & VP of Clinical Services.
  • This plan will be monitored through completion by corporate staff.
  • Plan of Removal completion with continuation of oncoming staff and follow up.

Penalty

Fine: $150,920
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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 F0686 citations
Failure to Implement Timely Interventions to Prevent Facility-Acquired Pressure Ulcer
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident with diabetes, heart failure, muscle weakness, severe cognitive impairment, incontinence, and limited mobility was identified as at risk for pressure ulcers, with care plans calling for turning/repositioning, use of a pressure-reducing device, and extensive staff assistance for ADLs. Despite these documented risks and interventions, the resident, who preferred to remain in a recliner or wheelchair and became less mobile after a foot fracture requiring a walking boot, developed a facility-acquired Stage 2 pressure ulcer on the buttocks. Wound assessments showed the ulcer’s presence and progression over time, indicating that timely and effective preventive measures were not implemented in accordance with the facility’s wound assessment and prevention policy.

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 Follow Wound Care Orders and Delay in Implementing New Treatment
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident receiving palliative care with multiple comorbidities, including CHF and acute kidney disease, had physician orders for specific left heel wound care that were not followed when an RN omitted the ordered normal-saline–moistened gauze and instead applied only a clean dry dressing. The same resident’s wound vac was discontinued per provider order, and prior wound care orders were stopped, but no new wound treatment was implemented for several days, with the new left heel dressing regimen not started until four days later. The ADON reported difficulty communicating with the hospice agency to clarify wound care orders and acknowledged not seeking a temporary order from the facility’s medical director.

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 Provide Timely Pressure Ulcer Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility failed to provide timely and appropriate pressure ulcer assessment, treatment, and prevention for two residents. One resident was admitted with a stage 3 buttock ulcer, but the Braden assessment was left incomplete, no pressure-ulcer risk care plan was initiated on admission, and wound consultant recommendations (including Medi-honey and preventive measures) were not promptly entered as physician orders or care-planned; weekly wound measurements were also missing while the ulcer enlarged and was described as stalled. Another resident with a right humerus fracture and sling was initially assessed as not at risk for pressure injuries, with no documentation of limited mobility or sling use, no early orders for a sling or skin checks under it, and a care plan that did not specify monitoring skin under the sling. Skin checks were inconsistently documented, and only after the family raised concerns was a large open elbow pressure injury and additional ankle/heel pressure areas identified, without comprehensive initial wound measurements, repeat Braden scoring, or updated care plans to address the new pressure areas and device-related skin monitoring.

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 Individualized Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment for High-Risk Residents
G
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

Two residents at high risk for pressure ulcers did not receive consistent, individualized prevention and treatment measures, resulting in the development and worsening of multiple pressure injuries. One resident with severe cognitive impairment and high Braden risk, fully dependent on staff for mobility and hygiene, was repeatedly observed in bed with the head of bed elevated and sliding down, without documented q2h repositioning, individualized pressure-relief interventions, or consistent use of barrier cream, and CNAs and restorative staff were unaware of specific pressure-prevention measures for her. Another resident with multiple comorbidities, prior healed pressure ulcers, and a high Braden score developed recurrent stage II and III pressure ulcers to the coccyx and gluteal fold, a left heel DTI, and a left lateral leg stage II ulcer; ordered wound treatments were not documented as completed on at least one ordered date, he was not on a defined turning schedule despite being largely bedfast, and heel offloading and use of heel boots were inconsistently implemented and documented. In both cases, staff interviews and record review showed that facility practices did not consistently align with the facility’s own skin and pressure injury prevention policy requiring q2h repositioning, appropriate support surfaces, and systematic offloading for bedfast residents.

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 Accurately Assess, Care Plan, and Treat Pressure Ulcers for Multiple Residents
E
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility failed to provide pressure ulcer care consistent with professional standards for three residents. One resident with hemiplegia and vascular dementia had a sacral wound that was omitted from the care plan and repeatedly left off weekly skin assessments, while heel wounds were documented without consistent measurements or staging and ordered treatments were not always recorded as given. A second resident with multiple comorbidities developed a sacral wound that progressed from MASD to an unstageable and then Stage 4 pressure injury with surgical debridement, yet the care plan was not updated to reflect the active pressure ulcer and specific interventions, and weekly skin assessments often lacked complete staging and measurements. A third resident with dementia and incontinence had an unstageable sacral ulcer and MASD, but weekly skin assessments were inconsistent, some ordered wound treatments and topical medications were not documented on the TAR, and nursing notes did not show that care was provided on those dates. Staff interviews revealed that the treatment nurse handled nearly all weekly skin assessments and wound care documentation, relied on the DON or wound physician for staging and measurements, and that facility policies requiring complete wound assessment and documentation were not consistently followed.

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 Repositioning and Moisture Management for Stage 4 Pressure Injury
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident with a stage 4 sacrococcygeal PI, Parkinson’s disease, hypertension, moderate cognitive impairment, and high assistance needs was not provided care consistent with the facility’s pressure injury prevention policy. Although the care plan included daily wound treatment and use of a LAL mattress, it lacked an individualized repositioning schedule and did not document education or reminders about repositioning. Facility documentation showed only that the resident was assisted to roll each shift, with no evidence of q2h turning in bed or of how often incontinence briefs were checked and changed. After the resident refused Foley catheter reinsertion, the IDT did not identify incontinence as a risk factor or add new wound-protective or moisture-preventive interventions, and the subsequent care plan for non-compliance omitted such measures. The TXN and DON confirmed that repositioning and protection of the wound from incontinence were not clearly implemented or reflected in the care plan, despite policy requirements.

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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