Failure to Notify Responsible Party of Change in Resident Condition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to immediately notify a resident's responsible party (RP) of a significant change in the resident's condition when the resident was found with ants on his body while lying in bed. The resident, a 65-year-old man with diagnoses including hemiplegia, COPD, diabetes, sepsis, and dementia, was under hospice care and had moderate cognitive impairment. On the morning of the incident, an LVN observed ants on the resident's forehead and throat, with food present on his gown and bed. The LVN assessed the resident for bites, found none, and reported the incident to the DON, who stated he would handle it. Neither the LVN nor the DON documented the incident or notified the RP or hospice. The event was not recorded in the resident's progress notes, and the RP was not informed until the following day during a routine visit. Interviews confirmed that the DON performed an assessment but did not document it or notify the RP, and the ADM was only aware of ants in the room, not on the resident. The pest control logbook noted the presence of ants around the resident's bed, and pest control was scheduled. The resident's family member expressed concern about not being notified, especially given the resident's partial paralysis and inability to feel potential bites. The facility's policy on resident rights was requested but not provided.