F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
L

Widespread Administrative Failures Lead to Immediate Jeopardy and Harm

Springfield Health & RehabSpringfield, Vermont Survey Completed on 03-03-2025

Summary

The facility failed to administer operations in a manner that maintained the physical well-being of residents, as evidenced by multiple leadership changes, lack of consistent administration, and insufficient oversight. There were frequent changes in key positions, including the Administrator, Medical Director, and Director of Nursing, which contributed to instability and lapses in care. Interviews with the Medical Director and a resident's responsible party confirmed that these transitions led to issues with resident care and follow-through on concerns. Record review showed repeated changes in leadership within a single year. Deficient practices were identified during investigations of facility-reported incidents and complaints, resulting in numerous citations at Immediate Jeopardy and harm levels. The facility failed to ensure timely physician notification and consultation, leading to residents not being evaluated after physical assaults, not receiving treatment for pressure ulcers, and not receiving appropriate care during a COVID-19 outbreak, including a resident who died from COVID. There was also a failure to provide adequate supervision, resulting in incidents such as a resident falling down stairs and another being assaulted, with ineffective security systems observed. These failures were repeat deficiencies, with similar violations cited in previous surveys. Additional deficiencies included lack of physician supervision of medical care, failure to implement an effective infection prevention and control program, and not designating a qualified infection preventionist. These failures led to inadequate COVID-19 management, resulting in a resident death, and poor wound care practices, causing pressure ulcers to worsen. The facility also failed to protect residents from abuse and did not implement care plan interventions, resulting in harm and persistent fear among residents. These issues were directly linked to the lack of administrative oversight and failure to follow professional standards and regulatory requirements.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $253,692110 days payment denial
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.

Resources

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0835 citations
Leadership and Oversight Failures Affecting Resident Care
F
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

Facility leadership failed to oversee resident care and staff performance effectively. Staff reported a week-long shortage of insulin syringes, during which nurses borrowed insulin pens and vials from other residents and gave them to different residents, while one resident missed insulin and another had delayed blood sugar checks and insulin coverage. Interviews also described an LPN threatening a resident, delayed incontinence care, intimidation of staff who reported concerns, and other allegations of misconduct, while the DON and RN/ADON did not fully investigate several of the reported issues.

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 Supervise and Respond Appropriately to Elopement
D
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

The NHA and DON failed to effectively manage the facility to implement sufficient monitoring and supervision to prevent an elopement. Facility records and job descriptions showed the NHA was responsible for maintaining effective systems and overseeing staff, care, supplies, and facilities, while the DON was responsible for nursing management, resident care standards, policy implementation, and supervision of the nursing department. The report states the facility failed to properly supervise a resident and failed to respond appropriately to the elopement.

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.
Administrator Living in Facility and Alleged Alcohol Use Not Addressed
F
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

Administrator Living in Facility and Alleged Alcohol Use Not Addressed: The facility failed to follow its drug-free workplace policy and failed to address repeated concerns that the Administrator was drinking alcohol, appeared intoxicated, and smoked in non-designated areas. Staff reported seeing alcohol in the Administrator’s office, smelling alcohol on his breath, and observing behavior they believed was impaired, while the DON and other leaders learned he was living in a room at the facility. The Area Admin did not investigate the allegations and stated he considered the Administrator exempt from policy during evenings and weekends because he lived at the facility.

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 Plan for Facility Closure and Resident Discharge
L
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

Failure to Plan for Facility Closure and Resident Discharge: The facility received an eviction notice but did not have a closure plan for the 30 residents. The ADM said he was out of money, had no specific plan, could not pay for a DON or RN supervisor, and was relying on agency staff while delinquent on supplies and pharmaceuticals. Residents were distressed about being moved, and the ADM had not notified residents or RPs about the eviction.

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 Maintain Infection Control Program
F
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

The NHA and DON failed to maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment. The facility did not have working laundry equipment to ensure clean and sanitized linens and laundry, and this was identified as an Immediate Jeopardy for all 67 residents. The NHA and DON confirmed the failure during interview.

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 Supervise Resident Resulted in Elopement
D
F0835 F835: Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Short Summary

A resident eloped from the facility after staff failed to ensure proper supervision, and the event was identified as an IJ for all residents at risk for elopement. The NHA and DON were found to have failed to effectively manage the facility and to fulfill their job duties related to overseeing operations and nursing services.

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.
Citation search

Search every citation & Plan of Correction

Go to search
Citation watch

Track new serious citations across Vermont

Get a heads-up on the newest immediate-jeopardy (J–L) citations in Vermont — where surveyors are focused right now.

Free · about one email a month

Trusted data from CMS and state health departments

Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 29, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.

In your survey window? See what surveyors are citing.

The Survey-Prep Report maps your facility's risk from 12 months of CMS and state citation data — what's being cited around you and what to check first. $129 one-time.

Get the Survey-Prep Report
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙