F0949 F949: Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.
E

Missing Behavioral Health Training for Key Staff

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

Summary

The facility failed to develop, implement, and maintain an effective behavioral health training program for all new and existing staff for 3 of 16 staff reviewed: the DON, the DM, and NA G. Record review showed the DON had a hire date of 7/1/2025, the DM had a hire date of 10/20/2025, and NA G had a hire date of 11/6/2025, and none of their personnel records contained evidence of behavioral health training upon hire or while working at the facility. The deficiency was identified during interview and record review, and the facility’s records did not show that these employees had completed the required training. During interviews, the ADMN stated new hires were given orientation through a hyperlink and annual training was completed through monthly in-services. The AIT stated each department head was responsible for ensuring training was completed, and that the ADMN and office manager monitored completion; she also stated the training was not done due to an oversight by the ADMN. The ADMN later stated he was responsible for ensuring training was completed for all employees and acknowledged that not receiving required training could lead to poor quality of care to residents. Facility policy stated newly hired personnel must attend a 10-hour orientation program within their first five days of employment, but the personnel policies and staff development policy reviewed did not include required behavioral health training at orientation or annually.

Penalty

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.

Resources

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0949 citations
Missing Behavioral Health Training for Multiple Staff
F
F0949 F949: Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.
Short Summary

Behavioral health training was not found for 8 of 8 staff reviewed, including an LPN, a housekeeper, a cook, and multiple CNAs. Records showed they had completed other required training, but surveyors could not locate behavioral health training for any of them. Facility leaders said training was assigned through the training system and monthly in-services, and the NHA stated the facility did not have a training policy.

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 Provide Behavioral Training to Direct Care Staff
D
F0949 F949: Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.
Short Summary

An LPN’s training record did not include behavioral training during the past year of employment, and the Infection Preventionist confirmed the facility failed to provide behavioral training to one of five direct care staff reviewed.

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 Required Dementia Care Training for Multiple Staff
E
F0949 F949: Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.
Short Summary

The facility failed to ensure that multiple staff members received required annual behavioral health training related to dementia care. A Dietary Server, a PTA, and a Speech Therapist had transcripts that did not show the required dementia-related training, and one staff member’s transcript also lacked other required orientation topics such as abuse, infection control, EJA, resident rights, and emergency preparedness. Interviews with the DON and HRD confirmed that these trainings were expected for staff, including therapy and dietary personnel, and the facility policy required training on resident rights, abuse, neglect and exploitation, dementia management, and infection control.

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 Provide Behavioral Health Training
D
F0949 F949: Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.
Short Summary

Failure to Provide Behavioral Health Training: Behavioral Health training was not provided for two NAs as required by facility policy and the facility assessment. Personnel records did not show the required annual training for either NA, and HR confirmed the missing training 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.
Missing Required Alzheimer’s and Dementia Training for DON and NA-C
D
F0949 F949: Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.
Short Summary

Missing Required Alzheimer’s and Dementia Training for DON and NA-C: The facility failed to ensure the DON and an NA-C completed required initial or annual Alzheimer’s/dementia training. Record review showed both staff lacked training on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, ADL assistance, problem solving with challenging behaviors, and communication skills. The administrator acknowledged the missing training, while facility orientation materials and the facility assessment identified dementia care topics as part of staff training.

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 Verify Required Behavioral Health Training for Agency CNA
F
F0949 F949: Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.
Short Summary

The facility failed to ensure an agency CNA had completed required behavioral health training. Record review showed no documentation of the training, and Administrative Staff B stated the facility expected the agency to provide required training and in-services before scheduling staff. The facility also could not provide a policy related to required staff in-services.

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.
Citation search

Search every citation & Plan of Correction

Go to search
Citation watch

Track new serious citations across Texas

Get a heads-up on the newest immediate-jeopardy (J–L) citations in Texas — where surveyors are focused right now.

Free · about one email a month

Trusted data from CMS and state health departments

Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release August 26, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.

In your survey window? See what surveyors are citing.

The Survey-Prep Report maps your facility's risk from 12 months of CMS and state citation data — what's being cited around you and what to check first. $129 one-time.

Get the Survey-Prep Report
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙

Connection lost — reconnecting… We couldn't reconnect automatically. Please reload the page to continue.