Call Light Not Accessible to Resident with Quadriplegia
Penalty
Fine: $8,410
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
A deficiency was identified when a call light was not placed within reach of a resident with quadriplegia and post-traumatic disorder, who was observed seated in a Geri-chair approximately two feet away from their bed, with the call light left on top of a pillow at the head of the bed. The resident stated they could only use the call light if it was clipped to their shirt and positioned under their chin, allowing them to activate it with their chin. Facility policy requires call lights to be within easy reach of residents when in bed or confined to a chair, and staff interviews confirmed this expectation. Despite this, the call light was not accessible to the resident at the time of observation.