F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
D

Facility Assessment Did Not Address Dialysis Care Needs

Knollwood Nursing CenterWorcester, Massachusetts Survey Completed on 12-15-2025

Summary

The facility failed to conduct and document a facility-wide assessment that accurately reflected the resident population and care needs for day-to-day operations and medical emergencies. The Facility Assessment Tool, updated 6/30/25, stated that the facility accepted residents with renal insufficiency, renal failure, and ESRD, that the DON would ensure nursing staff received appropriate education and supervision, and that policies would be reviewed and education provided as needed for new clinical procedures. However, the assessment did not identify residents who received dialysis care as part of the population served and did not include evidence of a competency or education plan for the dialysis population's needs. Resident #5 was admitted in May 2025 with diagnoses including acute kidney failure and fluid overload. The resident's care plan identified chronic renal failure and included interventions for outpatient dialysis care, education regarding dialysis treatments, and monitoring labs, vital signs, and weight. The MDS indicated the resident had ESRD and received dialysis. Physician orders directed dialysis at an outside facility on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and also directed monitoring of the left chest wall port site for signs and symptoms of infection, keeping the dressing clean, dry, and intact, and notifying the physician if infection signs were present. During observation, the resident was seen sitting in a wheelchair in the bedroom with a dialysis port on the left chest. No clamp or emergency equipment was observed in the room or drawers for potential dialysis access complications. Nurse #2 stated that no emergency equipment was required at the bedside and that none was present in the bedroom. The DON stated that nurses were not required to have competency or training in the care or monitoring of the dialysis port because the facility did not access the port or change the dressing, and that the resident would not require emergency supplies at the bedside. The Administrator stated that dialysis should have been included in the Facility Assessment and that there was no evidence nursing staff had received education or demonstrated competency to care for residents with ESRD or on dialysis.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0838 citations
Facility Assessment Did Not Address Overnight Staffing Needs
C
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment failed to identify the staffing resources needed from 11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. Review showed the assessment addressed staffing needs only from 7:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M., and the Administrator confirmed the overnight gap during interview. The issue was found during a complaint investigation and had the potential to affect all 64 residents.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Missing Staffing and Contingency Planning Details
F
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Missing Staffing and Contingency Planning Details: The facility failed to include specific staffing needs per unit and shift, a plan to support recruitment and retention of direct care staff, and a contingency plan for events that could affect resident care without activating the emergency plan. The Facility Assessment also lacked a total calculation of hours worked per shift and a list of personnel in house to meet resident needs, and the DON/Administrator confirmed these omissions during interview.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Did Not Reflect Locked Memory Care Unit or Resident Needs
E
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Did Not Reflect Locked Memory Care Unit or Resident Needs. The facility failed to update its Facility Assessment after opening a locked memory care unit on B-Wing for residents with dementia or wandering tendencies. The assessment did not identify the unit, the 34 residents living there, or the services, staffing, competencies, and resources needed to meet resident needs, including resident acuity, cognitive impairment, and behavioral or physical health needs. The NHA confirmed the assessment was incomplete.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Lacked Specific Staffing Determinations
F
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Lacked Specific Staffing Determinations: The facility failed to complete a comprehensive, facility-specific assessment identifying the staffing resources needed to care for residents based on census and acuity. The assessment listed a high-need resident population, including residents needing ADL help, maximal assistance, psychiatric/mood care, neurological care, anticoagulation monitoring, and Memory Care supervision, but only used general statements about staffing based on acuity and hours per patient day. It did not specify required numbers or ratios of CNAs, RNs/LPNs, management, or ancillary staff, nor did it document staffing needs by shift, unit, or changing resident needs.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Lacked Unit-Specific Staffing Needs
B
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

The facility failed to ensure its facility assessment identified specific staffing needs for each resident unit for a census of 72 residents. The assessment listed overall direct care staffing for day, evening, and night shifts, but it did not break down staffing needs by resident unit. An HR director confirmed that the assessment did not include unit-specific staffing.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Missing Resident Acuity and Staffing Details
F
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment was incomplete because it did not include resident acuity, diseases, conditions, physical or behavioral health needs, cognitive status, or special treatments and conditions. It also did not list the number of nurse aides needed for the day, evening, and night shifts. The Administrator stated the acuity information and CNA staffing numbers had been overlooked and that the assessment was meant to guide staffing based on resident need.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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