Failure to Provide Restorative Ambulation Services After PT Discharge
Penalty
Summary
A resident with diagnoses including muscle weakness, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and gait abnormalities was admitted to the facility and required assistance to maintain or improve mobility. The resident's care plan indicated a need to improve functional mobility and reduce fall risk, with interventions to address limited physical mobility. After the resident completed physical therapy, facility staff failed to continue restorative nursing assistance (RNA) exercises for ambulation, despite the care plan and recommendations from the rehab staff that the resident should have been placed on an RNA program for walking. Observations and interviews revealed that the resident remained in bed and only received RNA for the upper body, with no ambulation exercises provided. The CNA and LVN confirmed the resident stayed in her room and had not been observed walking, while the restorative nursing assistant stated that only upper body RNA was performed. The facility administrator acknowledged that there was no continuation of therapy for RNA after physical therapy ended, and the resident was not placed on the RNA program for ambulation as required by facility policy.