Repeated Failure to Ensure Physician Orders Are Signed and Dated
Penalty
Summary
The facility's Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) committee failed to correct a recurring deficiency related to physician orders. Despite having a policy in place for systematic analysis and sustained improvement, and a previous plan of correction that included quality assurance systems and audits, the facility did not ensure that physicians consistently signed and dated all orders during their visits. This deficiency was previously identified in a complaint survey and was cited again in the current survey, indicating that the QAPI committee did not effectively implement or monitor their corrective actions. During the current survey, it was found that the QAPI committee did not maintain compliance with regulations requiring physician orders to be reviewed, signed, and dated by the physician as mandated. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that the committee failed to ensure ongoing compliance with these requirements, resulting in a repeated citation under F711 and relevant state codes. No specific patient details or medical histories were provided in the report.