F0685

D

Failure to Ensure Timely Ophthalmology Follow-Up for Vision Care

Washington, District Of Columbia Survey Completed on 02-13-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Facility staff failed to ensure a resident received treatment and care in accordance with professional standards of practice for vision services by not completing a recommended ophthalmology follow-up visit. The resident, admitted on 08/25/2017 with diagnoses including anemia, polyneuropathy, atherosclerotic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, HIV, presbyopia, and dry eye syndrome of the bilateral lacrimal glands, had an ophthalmologist report dated 12/31/2021 that directed a follow-up visit in one year. Record review of nursing progress notes and ophthalmology consult notes showed no documentation that this one-year follow-up visit occurred, and the resident had not been seen by an ophthalmologist in four years. During the survey, the resident told the surveyor, "I want to see the Ophthalmologist," and the DON was made aware that the resident had missed the one-year follow-up and had not seen the ophthalmologist for four years.

The evidence in the record, including the last ophthalmologist visit dated 12/31/2021 and the absence of subsequent documentation, demonstrated that the facility did not arrange or document the required annual ophthalmology follow-up for this resident’s vision care.