F0684

E

Failure to Complete and Document Post-Fall Neurological Assessments

Springfield, Missouri Survey Completed on 02-04-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide and document complete neurological assessments after falls with potential for head injury, contrary to its own Fall Management and Neurological Evaluation policies. Those policies required a licensed nurse to perform a structured neuro evaluation for 72 hours after a potential head injury or unwitnessed fall, with checks every 15 minutes for one hour, every 30 minutes for one hour, every hour for two hours, every two hours for eight hours, every four hours for 12 hours, and then every shift for 48 hours. Staff interviews confirmed that nurses and aides understood that neuro checks were required after unwitnessed falls or when a resident hit their head, and that checks were to be completed in full and documented on a neurological evaluation form. Despite this, surveyors found multiple instances where neuro checks were either not initiated as described, not carried out for the full required duration, or not documented as required.

For one resident with a history of stroke, hemiplegia, impaired mobility, and a care plan identifying fall risk, staff documented that the resident slipped on melting snow, hit the back of the head and bottom, and that neuro checks were initiated. The neurological evaluation log showed checks were completed through the 15‑minute, 30‑minute, and hourly phases, but there were no documented checks every two hours for eight hours, missing entries in the four‑hour phase, and no documentation of shift‑based checks for 48 hours. Staff interviews reflected confusion and inconsistency: one LPN believed the resident was near the end of neuro checks and completed only one set, another did not believe neuro checks had been initiated, and another reported starting the checks but later could not find the sheet and was told by another nurse they were unaware the resident was on neuro checks. The NP stated the resident should have received neuro checks for 72 hours, while the ADON was unaware of the circumstances of the fall and unsure if neuro checks were done.

For a second resident with COPD, diabetes, morbid obesity, gait problems, muscle weakness, and a care plan noting fall risk and history of falls, surveyors identified several falls with incomplete or inconsistent neurological monitoring. After a fall over oxygen cords, staff documented that neuro checks were started, but the log showed missing entries in the two‑hour phase, no four‑hour checks, and incomplete shift‑based checks, followed by another fall with new neuro checks initiated. On another date, staff documented a fall with neuro checks within normal limits and stated that neuro checks were restarted and leadership notified, but there were no further progress notes or fall follow‑up/neuro assessments that day. A subsequent neuro log showed a full 72‑hour sequence starting the next evening, yet there was no progress note documenting a fall on that date, and another fall the following day had neuro checks ordered in the progress note but no corresponding neuro documentation. Additional falls later in the month showed neuro logs with missing entries in the 15‑minute, two‑hour, four‑hour, and shift‑based phases, and another fall with bleeding from the foot where neuro checks were said to be initiated but no documentation of restarted neuro assessments was found.

For a third resident with malignant neoplasm of the head/face/neck, anxiety, depression, esophageal obstruction, chronic kidney disease, and a care plan noting fall risk, history of falls, and delayed reporting of unwitnessed falls, staff documented that the resident reported having fallen twice and complained of right hip pain. Neuro checks were initiated, but the log showed completion of the 15‑minute and 30‑minute checks only, with no documented hourly or two‑hour checks, and only sporadic four‑hour entries and no shift‑based checks for 48 hours. Later, the resident reported another fall that had occurred on a prior night, with staff documentation of hip pain and the resident’s written report of being given morphine and helped back to bed, but there was no progress note documenting a fall on those dates. A new neuro log was started, but the 15‑minute checks were not documented, and subsequent phases were only partially completed. Interviews with CNAs, CMTs, LPNs, the NP, DON, ADON, UM, and Administrator showed that while staff generally described a consistent fall and neuro‑check protocol, there were discrepancies in understanding of duration (two days vs. three days vs. 72 hours), who completed checks, and where forms were kept and filed, and some staff were unaware that certain residents were on neuro checks at the time of survey.

Across these three residents, the surveyors determined that the facility did not ensure neurological assessments were consistently initiated, completed, and documented according to its policies and professional standards after falls with potential for head injury or unwitnessed falls. The medical records and neuro logs contained multiple gaps and missing entries in the required time intervals, and in some instances, falls were referenced by residents or in late entries without corresponding timely fall documentation or neuro‑check records. Leadership interviews confirmed expectations that neuro checks be completed in full for the required duration, that CNAs could obtain vitals but nurses must perform the neurological assessment, and that completed forms should be turned in to nursing leadership or medical records, yet the documentation reviewed did not reflect that these expectations were met for the residents involved.