F0842 F842: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
D

Inconsistent code status documentation in resident record

Merkel Nursing CenterMerkel, Texas Survey Completed on 12-04-2025

Summary

The facility failed to maintain complete and accurate medical records for one resident by not ensuring the physician order, face sheet, care plan, and code status binder were consistent with the resident’s documented DNR status. Resident #7’s electronic face sheet listed her as Full Code, while her care plan identified her as DNR and stated that CPR was not to be started if respirations and heart ceased to beat. The resident’s clinical record also contained an OOHDNR dated [DATE]. Resident #7 was an [AGE]-year-old female admitted and later readmitted to the facility with diagnoses including dementia. Her annual MDS reflected a BIMS score of 03, indicating severe cognitive impairment, and did not indicate a disease with a life expectancy of less than six months. During observation, she was lying in bed watching television. An attempted interview with her representative was unsuccessful because the representative did not answer the telephone. During interviews, the ADON stated she was responsible for updating care plans and verifying that physician orders matched the resident’s current code status, and later stated the care plan was correct but the electronic physician orders and code binder did not match it. LVN staff stated code status should be consistent across the physician orders, care plan, face sheet, and code binder, and that conflicting information could cause confusion in an emergency. The AIT stated physician orders should be updated immediately and entered into the electronic medical record within 24 hours of receipt, and that the nurses were responsible for collecting OOHDNR orders for scanning into the chart. Facility policies stated records must be accurate and complete and that the care plan must be consistent with the resident’s documented treatment preferences and advance directive.

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 F0842 citations
Incomplete Clinical Records and Missing Diagnoses
E
F0842 F842: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Short Summary

The facility failed to keep complete and accurately documented clinical records for two residents. One resident had conflicting MD/NP notification orders for elevated blood glucose, with one order to notify for BS >250 and another sliding-scale insulin order directing a call if BS was >400. Another resident’s facesheet omitted insomnia and anxiety diagnoses even though the care plan and psych services note documented those conditions; the DON confirmed outside-provider diagnoses should have been included in the record and facesheet.

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.
Missing Documentation for Scheduled Therapy Sessions
D
F0842 F842: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Short Summary

A resident receiving PT had multiple scheduled therapy sessions with no documentation in the service log matrix. The resident said therapy had been inconsistent, and the DON of Therapy acknowledged missed sessions without recorded reasons, stating the therapist should have documented why the sessions were not completed. The resident later said he had missed therapy when he was not feeling well and that the therapist had been sick once.

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 Document Ordered Skin Treatments
D
F0842 F842: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Short Summary

Failure to Document Ordered Skin Treatments: The facility failed to accurately document ordered skin treatments for a resident with a great toe condition. The MAR and TAR did not show the ordered Epsom salt soaks or triple antibiotic ointment, even though the DON, an LPN, the wound care nurse, and the resident stated the treatments were provided. Facility policy required all medications administered to be documented on the MAR immediately after administration.

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.
Inaccurate Face Sheet Diagnosis Documentation
D
F0842 F842: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Short Summary

Inaccurate Face Sheet Diagnosis Documentation: A resident’s face sheet failed to list pain as a diagnosis even though the H&P, care plan, and physician orders all reflected ongoing pain management, including scheduled morphine. The resident reported chronic pain from an old military back injury, and the MDS nurse acknowledged the diagnosis had not been entered on the face sheet and that diagnoses had not yet been audited against the H&P.

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.
Incomplete influenza vaccination records
D
F0842 F842: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Short Summary

Incomplete influenza vaccination records were found for two residents. The EMR had no evidence that either resident was offered, received, or declined the 2025 influenza vaccine. Interviews showed an RN who had been assigned resident vaccination responsibilities destroyed the vaccine consents/records, and the HIM confirmed the influenza information was not entered into the EMR.

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.
Incomplete Documentation of Elevated Heart Rate and Medication Administration
D
F0842 F842: Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Short Summary

Incomplete documentation of elevated heart rate and medication administration. A resident with cerebral infarction, HTN, atherosclerotic heart disease, and inappropriate sinus tachycardia had a documented HR of 122 bpm, but the record did not show a reassessment or any documentation of symptoms later that day. The MAR also showed evening meds as not given because the resident had died, while an RN stated the meds were actually given earlier and the DON confirmed the record did not match the nurse’s statement.

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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