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
Incomplete Facility Assessment Missing Required Care Resources
D
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 accurately complete its Facility Assessment. The assessment did not reflect the skill sets needed for the resident population or list medical equipment in use, including an AED, tracheostomy care and management, a Life Vest, wound vac machines, and glucometer devices. The NHA confirmed the omission 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 Listed Former Administrator
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

The facility failed to keep the Facility Assessment accurate by leaving the former Administrator listed on the document even after it was reviewed with QAPI. The current Administrator stated he was not employed at the time of the review and acknowledged he mistakenly did not update the administrative staff. This affected 58 of 58 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 Unit-Based Nursing Staffing Details
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 Missing Unit-Based Nursing Staffing Details: The facility failed to complete a thorough facility-wide assessment of nursing staff resources needed for resident care during routine operations and emergencies. The assessment did not identify the specific RN, LPN/LVN, CMA, and CNA staffing levels needed for each unit based on acuity and census, and it lacked staffing levels for each shift and weekends. An Administrative Nurse and Administrative Staff member stated they were not certain the assessment broke down staffing by shift and unit, including weekends.

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.
Failure to Conduct and Document Facility Assessment
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

Failure to Conduct and Document Facility Assessment: The facility did not have evidence of a required Facility Assessment to determine the resources, staffing, and skill sets needed to care for residents during routine operations and emergencies. The NHA and an RN confirmed that no such assessment was available until after the surveyor requested it.

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 Required Staff and Resident Input
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 lacked required input from direct care staff and residents. Review of the assessment showed no indication that direct care staff, resident representatives, and/or family members were involved, and the DON confirmed that none were included in the process.

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.
Failure to Properly Screen Resident With Hemicraniectomy Before Admission
D
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

A resident with severe cognitive impairment, a feeding tube, and a recent ischemic MCA stroke s/p hemicraniectomy was admitted after referral review failed to identify the bone flap and helmet requirement. After the resident developed hypotension and was sent to the ER, the DON stated the resident could not return because of acuity and the facility did not accept residents with helmets for that purpose. The DON and Admissions Director stated the resident should not have been accepted because the referral review missed the clinical condition.

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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