F0580

J

Failure to Notify Physician and DON After Fall and Behavioral Change

Georgetown, Texas Survey Completed on 01-09-2026

Penalty

Fine: $73,260

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to immediately consult the resident’s physician and notify the DON and responsible party when a resident experienced a fall and subsequent significant changes in mental and psychosocial status. The resident was an older man with a history of right femur fracture, hemiplegia/hemiparesis following a stroke, type 2 diabetes, aphasia, dysphagia, gait abnormalities, and unsteadiness on his feet. His care plan identified him as at risk for falls and requiring assistance with ADLs and transfers, and his MDS assessments showed moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Despite these identified risks and functional limitations, there was no documentation of neurological checks or incident documentation for a fall that occurred on 12/07/2025, and no immediate notification to the physician, NP, DON, or family.

On the night of the initial fall, a CNA found the resident on the floor by his bed after he apparently attempted to transfer to his wheelchair. The CNA reported that the resident complained of pain and pointed to his chest, and LVN A assessed him, took vital signs, administered PRN tramadol, and assisted him back to bed. However, LVN A did not notify the NP, MD, DON, or family, did not initiate neurological checks for this unwitnessed fall, and did not complete timely documentation of the incident. A late entry note was not entered until 12/17/2025, and there were no updated fall interventions documented between 12/07/2025 and 12/13/2025. Staff interviews confirmed that facility protocol required immediate assessment, notification of provider, DON, responsible party, completion of an incident report, and initiation of neurological checks for unwitnessed falls, but these steps were not followed for this event.

In the days following the unreported fall, multiple staff observed changes in the resident’s behavior and function. The NP noted on 12/12/2025 that the resident had been more withdrawn over the past week, that he reported a fall approximately four days earlier that had not been reported, and that he had pain and bruising of the right arm with difficulty moving it. Radiology studies were ordered and completed on several areas of the right extremity, showing soft tissue swelling but no acute fracture. Staff, including CNAs and LVNs, reported that before the fall the resident was more independent with transfers, ambulation, and toileting, and that after the fall he required more assistance and became incontinent. Another unwitnessed fall occurred on 12/13/2025, for which the NP and responsible party were notified and neurological checks were initiated, but the interventions documented were limited to encouraging the resident to use the call light and obtaining a therapy evaluation several days later. Ultimately, further imaging on 12/17/2025 revealed a right shoulder dislocation and a nondisplaced fracture of the greater trochanter of the right proximal femur, and the resident underwent surgical repair of the hip. The surveyors determined that the facility failed to immediately consult the physician and appropriately respond to the initial fall and subsequent behavioral changes, leading to an Immediate Jeopardy finding related to notification of changes in condition.

Removal Plan

• Conduct in-service training for all licensed nursing staff (including PRN, agency, and new staff) on the facility's Notification of Physician Change in Condition policy, emphasizing mandatory immediate reporting of any resident falls or significant changes in condition to the physician and DON, including documentation requirements and timelines.
• Provide in-service training for the DON and Administrator on the Risk Management protocol by the Area Director of Operations and Regional Compliance Nurse.
• Implement a revised notification protocol requiring the nurse discovering or responding to a fall to conduct an immediate assessment of the resident and notify the DON and treating physician/NP.