Failure to Provide Daily Range of Motion and Splint Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary care and services to maintain range of motion (ROM) for two residents with significant mobility limitations. One resident, who had a history of stroke, hemiplegia, and a right hand contracture, was observed lying in bed with a washcloth in their right palm. The care plan required daily hand/splint care, including washing and placing a rolled washcloth in the hand for at least 15 minutes each day. However, documentation showed that this care was only provided every other day, and there were no current orders or care plan in place for daily restorative services for the resident's hand contractures. Another resident with right-side hemiplegia was observed with a soft splint on their right hand and reported that staff no longer washed their hand or removed the splint, resulting in a musty odor. There was no care plan or orders for the right-hand splint, and the last documented care was several days prior to the observation. Interviews with staff revealed confusion about who was responsible for providing the required care, with restorative aides and CNAs each believing the other was responsible. The DON confirmed that care plans and daily care for splints and palm protectors were expected but not provided as required.