F0684

G

Failure to Reassess and Monitor Resident After Aspiration Event

Upland, Indiana Survey Completed on 02-20-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to reassess and monitor a resident after a change in condition related to possible aspiration. The resident had diagnoses including pneumonia, other lung disorders, and dysphagia, and was on a mechanically altered, soft bite-sized diet with ground meat and thin liquids per Speech Therapy recommendations. Care plans identified chewing difficulties and risk for impaired gas exchange, with interventions to monitor chewing/eating difficulties and assess vital signs and lung sounds as needed, including oxygen saturation. On the day of the first aspiration event, staff in the dining room observed the resident coughing, gurgling, spitting out mucus and food, and having a wet-like cough. The resident’s oxygen saturation was reported in the 80s on 2 L O2, with low blood pressure, and the NP was notified via secure messaging. The NP ordered a stat chest x-ray and Q4H nebulizer breathing treatments.

A mobile chest x-ray was completed and showed patchy bilateral airspace disease, with pneumonia to be considered and follow-up recommended. A late-entry progress note documented that the NP was notified of the x-ray results. However, the clinical record lacked documentation that the resident was reassessed or that vital signs were obtained between the initial notification to the NP and the NP’s progress note the following day. The NP later documented that the resident had an episode of hypoxemia following a choking incident, that lung sounds were clear at the time of her assessment, and that she planned Q4H breathing treatments, close monitoring of oxygen saturation, periodic reassessment of respiratory status, and initiation of doxycycline for suspected pneumonia. The MAR showed that doxycycline doses were missed because the medication was not yet available, and there was no documentation that the antibiotic was administered once it arrived. Nursing staff interviews confirmed that on the day after the first aspiration, one LPN only listened to the resident’s lungs, did not obtain a full set of vitals or oxygen saturation, and did not document a full assessment, despite the resident having had recent respiratory issues.

Between the NP’s note and the resident’s subsequent decline, the record contained no documented nursing assessments or vital signs, despite the resident having experienced a significant change in condition and being started on an antibiotic for suspected pneumonia. On the day of the second aspiration event, staff again observed the resident coughing, drooling, having trouble chewing and swallowing, spitting out mucus and food, and sounding congested. The resident’s oxygen saturation was again in the 80s on 2 L O2, and an SBAR event report documented decreased oxygen saturation and increased congestion, leading to the decision to send the resident to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia and acute hypoxic respiratory failure. Multiple LPNs and the DON acknowledged that there were no progress notes, vital signs, or event documentation in the EMR between the two aspiration episodes, despite facility policy requiring documentation of nursing actions, physician contacts, and assessments for acute or life-threatening changes in condition, and job descriptions requiring daily documentation, hot charting, and daily event follow-up.

Facility leadership and corporate staff further indicated that a hot charting or infection control event should have been initiated and followed with ongoing documentation of assessments after the resident was started on an antibiotic. Interviews with nursing staff involved in the initial aspiration episode revealed that they did not document vital signs or progress notes related to the event, even though they recognized the resident had possible aspiration and respiratory changes. The DON confirmed that there should have been at least a progress note, SBAR, or documented event following the possible aspiration, and that the next shift’s nurse should have taken vital signs and documented an assessment. The absence of documented reassessments, vital signs, and follow-up monitoring after the resident’s change in condition and initiation of treatment formed the basis of the cited deficiency.