Failure to Provide Foot Care for Diabetic Resident
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to provide appropriate foot care for a resident with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The resident was admitted with this diagnosis and, during observation, was found to have overgrown toenails and callused feet. The resident reported that staff had not offered to cut her toenails and that she had not seen a podiatrist since admission. Additionally, the resident stated she had lost a toenail, which was documented in a progress note, and was instructed to cleanse and dress the area until healed. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that the resident's toenails were long and had not been cut. Staff also acknowledged that the facility did not have a podiatrist available to provide foot care, and no referrals had been made for the resident to see a podiatrist until recently. Nursing staff indicated that residents' nails should be checked weekly, but this had not occurred for the resident in question.