F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
F

QAPI Failure to Carry Out Prior Corrective Actions

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

Summary

The facility’s QAPI committee failed to implement the corrective actions outlined in the Plan of Correction for previously cited deficiencies involving respiratory care, resident bed entrapment assessment, and staff training. The report states that the facility had been cited at F695 for respiratory/tracheostomy care and suctioning because oxygen-in-use signs were not posted outside resident rooms where oxygen was being administered. During observations, residents were seen in their rooms wearing nasal cannulas and receiving oxygen, and no oxygen-in-use signs were posted on the doorways to those rooms. The facility was also cited at F909 for resident bed safety because it failed to assess beds with bed rails for entrapment risk. Record review showed that Bed Rail Appropriateness Checklists for several residents had no evidence of being completed since 7/16/2025. The report further states that the facility had previously planned monthly review of entrapment risks and reporting at QAPI meetings, but the record review showed the assessments were not current for the identified residents. In addition, the facility was cited at F941, F944, and F949 for failing to train staff on communication, QAPI, and behavioral health. Personnel records reviewed for the DON, DM, RN C, LVN E, and NA G showed no evidence of required communication training, and records for the DON, DM, RN C, LVN E, and NA G also showed no evidence of QAPI training. For behavioral health training, records for the DON, DM, and NA G showed no evidence of training. During interview, the ADMN stated he was involved in QAPI meetings, knew the facility had these deficient practices, and said poor oversight led to the failure of the Plan of Correction being carried through. He stated he was not certain when these items were last discussed in QAPI and did not explain why QAPI had not discussed them since that time.

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 F0867 citations
QAPI Committee Failed to Correct Repeat Deficiencies
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

The facility QAPI committee failed to correct repeated quality deficiencies and did not ensure that plans to improve care and services effectively addressed them. A prior survey had cited the facility and included QAPI-related plans of correction, but the current survey found multiple repeat deficiencies, including F604, F609, F628, F700, F880, F883, and PA1020. The NHA confirmed the facility had multiple repeat deficiencies and had not corrected the quality issues.

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.
QAPI PIP for Pressure Ulcers Lacked Documented Interventions and Analysis
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

QAPI minutes showed an ongoing PIP for pressure ulcers, but the facility did not document clear interventions, data analysis, or a plan showing how it would reach its stated goals. The minutes contained inconsistent pressure ulcer entries, blank or incomplete PIP sections, and separate short-stay and long-stay references without explanation. The DON confirmed the facility had no documented analysis of the PIP and no laid-out plan for how the project would be carried out.

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.
QAPI Failed to Resolve Repeated Medication, Food Service, and Kitchen Compliance Deficiencies
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

The facility’s QAPI committee failed to resolve repeated deficiencies involving medication storage and labeling, food served at improper temperatures and not palatable, and staff not wearing hair coverings in the kitchen. Prior POCs called for audits and reporting to QAPI, but surveyors again cited the same issues under F761, F804, and F812 on the current survey.

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.
QAPI Committee Failed to Correct Repeated Deficiencies
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

A facility’s QAPI committee failed to correct recurring deficiencies involving a clean, homelike environment, pressure ulcer prevention, drug regimen reviews, safe food storage/preparation/service, and infection control. Prior plans of correction relied on audits and reporting to QAPI, but the same deficient practices were again cited in the current survey under F584, F686, F756, F812, and F880.

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 Address Ongoing Rodent Infestation in QAPI
F
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

Failure to Address Ongoing Rodent Infestation in QAPI: The facility did not use its QAPI process to address a known rodent problem. Rodent feces and traps were observed in resident rooms, dining and food areas, clean dish and linen areas, and other parts of the building. Interviews confirmed the infestation was ongoing, recommended structural repairs had not been made, the issue was not discussed in the QAPI meeting, and no education had been provided to residents or staff.

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.
QAPI Committee Failed to Track and Monitor Shower Room Deficiency
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

QAPI failed to track and monitor a black debris issue in the 300-hall shower room. An observation found black debris in the shower’s inner bottom corners, and records showed the QAPI plan only listed environmental rounds monitored by the Administrator and Maintenance without further comments. The Maintenance Supervisor said he knew about the issue, had cleaned it, but did not document weekly rounds or findings, and the Administrator also said he did not document the weekly monitoring.

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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