Failure to Provide Proper Foot and Nail Care
Penalty
Summary
A resident with a history of impaired mobility, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral vascular disease was observed sitting barefoot with dry feet and long, discolored, thick toenails. The resident reported that their toenails had not been trimmed in a long time and that they had not seen a podiatrist. The care plan indicated a need for podiatry consults and assistance with personal hygiene, but the last documented podiatry consult was over a year prior. Facility policy requires daily cleaning and regular trimming of nails to prevent infection. Interviews with staff confirmed that the resident's toenails were long and should be trimmed, and it was noted that there was no podiatrist available, with nail care being performed by the provider, who reported being able to address only urgent needs due to workload.