Failure to Prevent Elopement Due to Non-Functioning WanderGuard System and Inadequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
A cognitively impaired, aphasic resident with a history of dementia, multiple sclerosis, and other significant medical conditions was identified as being at risk for elopement and was equipped with a WanderGuard device. Despite these precautions, the resident was able to exit the facility without staff knowledge and was found by police 0.6 miles away, confused and in a ditch, after a passerby called 911. The resident was unable to provide identification or details due to cognitive and communication impairments and was subsequently transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment of hypotension. The facility's WanderGuard system, intended to prevent such incidents, was found to be non-functional during the investigation. It was discovered that an unknown individual had been entering a master override code into the system, which disarmed the WanderGuard alarms and allowed residents at risk for elopement to exit undetected. Multiple staff interviews confirmed that no alarms sounded at the time of the incident, and staff were unaware the resident was missing until notified by police. Observations and testing of the system during the survey confirmed that the alarms did not activate when the WanderGuard device was present and the override code was used. Documentation review revealed that the resident's care plan identified elopement risk and included interventions such as the use of a WanderGuard and monitoring for wandering behaviors. However, the care plan had not been updated or revised in response to changes in the resident's condition or after the incident. Staff statements indicated inconsistent awareness of the resident's whereabouts, and the facility's own self-reported incident investigation did not initially identify the root cause of the elopement. The deficiency was cited as the facility failed to provide adequate supervision and maintain a safe environment free from accident hazards, resulting in Immediate Jeopardy.
Removal Plan
- Regional Director of Clinical Services (RDCS) completed an elopement assessment on Resident #16 and reviewed the resident's elopement risk care plan.
- Pain assessment, skin assessment, neurological checks were initiated and charted in the resident record for Resident #16.
- ADON and SSD reviewed elopement assessments on all 32 residents to ensure all current residents had elopement assessments.
- One new resident identified at risk for elopement and WanderGuard placed; resident added to elopement binder.
- Ad Hoc Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) meeting held to discuss the elopement incident, interventions initiated, and plan of care.
- Administrator and Maintenance Director completed an elopement drill.
- Ohio Department of Health surveyor and Maintenance Director identified the WanderGuard system was not functioning as designed; staff placed for door supervision.
- Secure Care company notified to inspect the WanderGuard system.
- Secure Care company determined a universal code was being entered by unidentified staff that was overriding the system and causing the WanderGuard system to not alarm.
- All facility door codes were changed, including a change of the master override code by Administrator; master override code privy only to Administrator and Maintenance Director.
- Facility staff completed a headcount to ensure all 32 residents were accounted for.
- 42 of 43 staff were educated on the new facility door code, the elopement policy, and the abuse/neglect policy; remaining staff to be educated upon return to work.
- Agency staff provided with education; all agency staff to receive education prior to working in the facility.
- All new hires to be educated by the Maintenance Director during orientation process.
- Repeat door audit completed by the Administrator to ensure all doors and alarms were functioning.
- ADON completed a WanderGuard audit on all residents with WanderGuards.
- ADON and DON reviewed all residents' elopement risk scores for accuracy.
- Facility interdisciplinary team completed an elopement drill.
- SSD completed review of the elopement book to ensure all residents at risk were in binder.
- Ad Hoc QAPI meeting held via phone with leadership to review steps taken for the facility removal plan.
- DON/Designee to complete audits on all residents with WanderGuards to ensure proper placement and functioning.
- Maintenance Director/Designee to complete door alarm audit with emphasis on secure care alarms.
- One-to-one staff monitoring of the doors to be implemented if alarms are identified as not working.
- Audits to be conducted to ensure no behaviors related to wandering or elopement have occurred; findings to be addressed if indicated.
- Elopement drills to be conducted on each shift by the Administrator, Maintenance Director, or designee.
- Results of facility audits to be forwarded to the QAPI committee for review and recommendations.