Delayed reporting of CHF weight gain and symptoms
Summary
The facility failed to timely report daily weight changes related to CHF to the physician for a cognitively intact resident who had an active care plan requiring daily weight monitoring and notification of the physician for weight fluctuations as ordered. The resident’s record showed a standing order for daily weights before breakfast and to report a gain of 3 pounds in 24 hours or 5 pounds in one week related to CHF. The resident’s weights remained at 355 pounds on 11/1, 11/2, and 11/8, then increased to 394.6 pounds and 393.5 pounds, reflecting a 39.6-pound gain. There was no documentation that a provider was notified of the weight gain until 11/11/25, and there was no documentation that the resident was assessed or monitored for CHF symptoms such as edema after 11/9/25, other than routine vital signs and pulse oximetry. On 11/11/25, the resident was documented as lethargic, pale, and sleeping on and off throughout the shift, with edema to both arms and the left leg and low hemoglobin contributing to lethargy. These findings were reported to the nurse practitioner, who gave orders for an additional one-time dose of Torsemide 40 mg, hourly vital signs for four hours, and CPAP while resting in bed. Later that day, the nurse practitioner was updated again and ordered transfer to the hospital. The resident’s ICU history and physical documented progressive shortness of breath and more than 35 pounds of weight gain over several days, hypoxia requiring bilevel PAP, pulmonary vascular congestion on chest x-ray, IV furosemide in the emergency room, and admission to the ICU for acute on chronic hypercapnic, hypoxemic respiratory failure and acute heart failure exacerbation. The DON stated the provider was thought to have been notified before 11/11/25 because of the significant weight gain, but the only documentation located was a fax letter dated 11/10/25 that did not show receipt or confirmation that it was reviewed by the nurse practitioner. The DON also stated the facility’s CHF symptom monitoring would be documented on the MAR/TAR and SpO2 monitoring, and confirmed this did not include monitoring for edema. The nurse practitioner stated no one notified her of the weight gain until 11/11/25 and that staff should have been following the daily weight CHF protocol and notifying her sooner; she also stated the resident was hospitalized for fluid retention and required IV diuretics, and that the hospitalization could have been prevented if staff had reported the weight gain sooner.
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