Improper PICC Line Dressing Prevents Site Assessment
Penalty
Fine: $51,660
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.
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper dressing of a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) line for one resident. On observation, the resident's PICC line was covered with a clear tegaderm dressing and a 2 by 2 split gauze placed directly over the catheter and insertion site, which prevented assessment of the skin around the insertion site. The dressing was dated and initialed, but the facility's own procedure guide specifies that the insertion site should not be covered by anything other than the transparent dressing, and the site must remain visible for assessment. The improper application of the split gauze under the transparent dressing directly contradicted facility policy and prevented visual inspection of the insertion site.