Failure to Timely Assess and Escalate Care for Persistent Upper Extremity Pain and Swelling
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to timely and adequately address a resident’s ongoing left upper extremity pain and swelling despite multiple reports and observable changes in condition. The resident was admitted with dementia, severe cognitive impairment (BIMS score of 6), muscle weakness, and chronic kidney disease. On 1/7/2026, nursing documented that the resident was yelling that her hand hurt, and an ARNP was notified, who ordered an X‑ray of the hand/wrist and PRN Tylenol. The X‑ray on 1/7/2026 showed no fracture, anatomic alignment, and no soft tissue swelling. The resident’s RR was informed that the X‑ray was clear. A change in condition report was completed that same day for hand pain, but no further documented nursing assessment of the left upper extremity followed after this initial workup. On 1/9/2026, a PTA performing a quarterly therapy screen noted that the resident complained of left wrist pain and resisted giving her hand when positioned on her side. The PTA reported these concerns to the unit nurse and documented them on a communication form, but the medical record contained no subsequent nursing assessment by an LPN in response to this report. Pain Management evaluated the resident starting 1/17/2026 for left wrist pain and swelling and ordered routine Tylenol and a topical gel. The Pain Management provider later stated he did not perform range of motion because the resident was in too much pain when her wrist was moved and that he relied on nursing to report further pain, which they did not. The ARNP saw the resident again on 2/3/2026 for a routine visit and acknowledged being aware of prior pain and discomfort in the left hand and wrist, but her progress note contained no documented range of motion or focused assessment of the left hand, wrist, or shoulder; she later stated she did not know why she failed to document her assessment. During this period, the resident’s RR observed progressive changes. After being told the initial X‑ray was clear, he visited about a week later and noticed swelling of the arm and an abnormal hanging position of the hand. When he lightly touched the arm above the wrist, the resident screamed in pain. He reported this to nursing and made multiple phone calls requesting to speak with the DON about the plan of care but did not receive a return call. Eventually, he went to the facility, located the DON, and showed her the resident’s arm; when the DON and physician touched the arm, the resident again screamed in pain. The RR insisted on hospital transfer, while the DON initially suggested trying other in‑house measures. A nursing note dated 2/10/2026 documented that the RR requested emergency room evaluation for left hand/wrist edema and pain and a provider change. The Medical Director examined the resident that day, noting left arm swelling and pain present for over four weeks, the resident’s refusal to allow range of motion, and the inability to fully examine the axilla. He agreed with the RR to send the resident to the emergency room for immediate imaging. At the hospital, the resident was found to have a left shoulder dislocation that could not be reduced, and the hospital physician documented that the shoulder appeared to have been dislocated for a long time. The facility’s change‑in‑condition policy required prompt notification and documentation of changes in condition, but the facility was unable to provide an assessment change‑in‑condition policy beyond the general notification policy, and the record lacked timely, thorough nursing assessments in response to repeated reports of pain and swelling. Additional staff interviews corroborated that the resident repeatedly voiced pain without corresponding documented follow‑up assessments. A CNA recalled hearing the resident yelling in pain while passing meal trays and reported this to the nurse, after which she only heard that an X‑ray had been done. An LPN stated that about a month before the hospital transfer, a CNA reported the resident’s hand pain; she observed some swelling, notified the ARNP, and obtained the initial X‑ray and PRN Tylenol, but she did not describe any further systematic reassessment after the negative X‑ray. The DON stated that her expectation was that when another discipline reported a change in condition, the nurse should notify the physician and family and complete a change‑in‑condition note, with follow‑up documentation that the physician and family were made aware. She also stated that 2/10/2026 was the first time she personally assessed the resident and observed that the resident was in pain and unable to move her arm. The combination of repeated complaints of pain, observed swelling and abnormal arm positioning, lack of documented follow‑up assessments after therapy and Pain Management reports, and delayed escalation to hospital evaluation led to the discovery of a longstanding left shoulder dislocation. The facility’s own documentation and staff statements show that, despite multiple indicators of a persistent and worsening problem with the resident’s left upper extremity, there was no timely, comprehensive reassessment or escalation of diagnostic evaluation beyond the initial negative hand/wrist X‑ray and symptomatic treatment with Tylenol and topical gel. The ARNP’s lack of documented assessment of the left upper extremity during the 2/3/2026 visit, the absence of nursing assessments following therapy’s 1/9/2026 report of continued wrist pain, and the failure of the DON to respond to multiple calls from the RR about the resident’s condition all contributed to the delay in identifying the true source of the resident’s pain. Ultimately, the resident’s RR’s insistence on hospital transfer prompted the emergency room evaluation that revealed the left shoulder dislocation, which the hospital physician believed had been present for at least a month.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Failure to Follow Care Plan for Protective Sleeve: A resident with severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and PVD had a care plan directing staff to keep protective sleeves on the left elbow at all times due to skin tear risk. During repeated dining room observations, the resident was not wearing the sleeve. A NA said she did not apply it because the resident would remove it and chew on it, and an RN said he was unaware the sleeve was not being worn.
Failure to follow wound care orders and dressing documentation requirements was cited for multiple residents. A resident had a skin tear dressed without a physician order, another resident had a knee dressing with no date or initials, and a third resident had a dated dressing and pain patch that did not reflect the ordered treatment schedule. The DON and wound care RN acknowledged that dressings and treatments should be completed as ordered and that dressings are expected to be dated and initialed.
Failure to Follow Ordered Treatments and Weight Monitoring: The facility did not ensure ordered care was carried out for several residents. One resident with Parkinson’s disease and anxiety sustained a skin tear to the hand during an agitated episode, but there was no physician order for the wound treatment that was provided. Two residents had ordered weekly weights that were not obtained as scheduled, and the records did not explain why. Another resident with HTN, depression, and DM had body blisters, but the wound company’s recommendation for skin prep was not entered as an order, and there was no documented evidence that the practitioner was contacted about the missed recommendation.
Failure to Follow Insulin Orders: Two residents with diabetes received insulin contrary to physician orders. One resident was given insulin aspart at times when blood glucose was below the ordered hold parameter, and a second resident received scheduled insulin without documented meal intake despite orders to hold if blood sugar was low or if less than 50% of the meal was eaten. The DON confirmed the medication administration did not follow the orders.
Failure to follow bowel management protocol: three residents had extended periods without a BM and no documented nursing interventions despite the facility’s protocol requiring specific measures after 2, 3, 4, and 5 days without a BM. The residents had significant diagnoses including schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, TBI, and Alzheimer’s disease, and the RNC confirmed the missing BM-related interventions in the chart.
A resident with dementia, severe cognitive impairment, limited ROM in both LEs, and dependence on staff for wheelchair locomotion was observed sitting in her wheelchair with her feet hovering above the footrests. CNAs confirmed her feet did not reach the footrests, and an administrative nurse stated the footrest needed to be adjusted to better fit and support her feet.
Failure to Follow Care Plan for Protective Sleeve
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a sleeve protector was provided in accordance with the comprehensive care plan for a resident with severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and peripheral vascular disease. The resident’s admission MDS identified the resident as needing partial/moderate assistance with upper body dressing and footwear and as being at risk for pressure ulcer/injury without existing pressure ulcers. The Pressure Ulcer/Injury CAA identified the resident as at risk for pressure ulcers and in need of a pressure relieving device for the bed and chair. The resident’s care plan, revised 7/28/26, identified a skin tear/potential for skin tear of the left anterior shin and left posterior calf related to falling and hitting self on the wheelchair, and directed staff to keep protective sleeves on the left elbow at all times. During multiple observations in the dining room, the resident was seated in a tilt-in-space wheelchair and was not wearing the protective sleeve to the left elbow. A NA stated she had been assigned to the resident all week and did not put the sleeve on because the resident would take it off and chew on it. An RN stated he was unaware the resident was not wearing the sleeve but said the resident should wear it if it was care planned. The DON stated the sleeve protector should be assessed and removed from the care plan if inappropriate, but staff were expected to follow the care plan to ensure the resident received the needed care.
Failure to Follow Wound Care Orders and Dressing Documentation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure physician orders and facility policy were followed for wound care for 3 of 10 residents reviewed for wounds. Resident #28 was observed with a gauze dressing to the right wrist dated 08/06/2026, and the nursing note documented that a CNA noticed a new skin tear to the right wrist that was bleeding, was assessed by the nurse, cleaned, and dressed. However, review of the physician orders showed no wound care order for the right wrist. The wound care RN stated the resident did not have any wounds to her knowledge and explained that when a resident gets a skin tear, the nurse should cleanse it, recover the skin, dress it, notify the physician and family, and enter new orders. The DON stated the resident did not have orders for wound care to the right wrist and that the LPN should have notified the provider and obtained orders. Resident #21 was observed with an island dressing on the right knee that had no date or initials. The DON stated dressings are expected to be dated, and the wound care RN stated it is her practice to date and initial every dressing change, with weekend and PRN dressing changes done by the nurse on the cart. The TAR directed daily cleansing and application of a long island dressing to the right knee surgical site, and the facility policy for clean/dry dressings required tape/labels with date and initials. Resident #113 was observed with a dressing dated 8/6 and a white pain patch on the left arm dated 8/6/2026. The physician order required cleansing the left arm skin tear and applying xeroform, honey gel, and border gauze every day shift, and another order directed Aspercreme Lidocaine Patch 4% to the left shoulder in the morning and night and to the left hip with removal at bedtime. The wound care RN stated she was not familiar with the resident's skin tear dressing orders and that wound care should be done as ordered, while the DON stated dressings and treatments should be done as ordered and a check mark in the treatment record means completed.
Failure to Follow Ordered Treatments and Weight Monitoring
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate treatment and care in accordance with orders and professional standards for four residents. Facility policy stated that weights were to be obtained routinely to monitor nutritional health, including weekly for the first four weeks after admission or readmission and more often if risk was identified or as ordered. For one resident with diagnoses including high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, and anxiety, a nursing note documented that the resident sustained a skin tear to the right hand during an episode of agitation and attempted physical aggression toward staff while being assisted out of bed. The wound nurse confirmed there was no physician order for treatment of the right hand skin tear, although steri-strips had been applied and the wound nurse stated steri-strips are the preferred treatment for skin tears. For two residents, physician orders required weekly weights, but the clinical record did not show that the ordered weights were obtained as directed. One resident had weights not obtained on two scheduled dates, and the record lacked additional documentation explaining why the weights could not be obtained. Another resident had one missed weekly weight, and the record also lacked additional documentation explaining why the weight was not obtained. The DON confirmed that the facility failed to make certain these residents were provided appropriate treatment and care. For another resident with diagnoses including hypertension, depression, and diabetes, the record showed the resident was admitted with marks and blisters on the body and no treatment was ordered. A contracted wound company later recommended skin prep to the blisters, but physician orders did not include skin prep. A wound nurse stated there was no order for skin prep and confirmed the facility did not follow the wound company’s recommendations. An RN stated the recommendations were not followed, but the facility had no documented evidence of speaking with the practitioner about treatment for the blisters or the reason the recommendations were not followed.
Failure to Follow Insulin Orders
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow physician orders for two residents receiving insulin. One resident was cognitively intact, required maximum assistance with daily care needs, had diabetes, and was ordered to receive 6 units of insulin aspart at 8:00 a.m. with instructions to hold the medication if blood sugar was less than 110 mg/dL. Review of the MAR showed the resident received the insulin on multiple occasions when blood sugar readings were below that threshold, including readings of 92, 106, 105, 104, 94, and 75 mg/dL. The DON confirmed that the insulin had been administered on those dates and should have been held per the physician's order. A second resident was cognitively impaired, dependent on staff for daily care needs, and had insulin-dependent diabetes. The physician ordered 6 units/mL of insulin aspart twice daily with lunch and supper, with instructions to hold the dose if blood sugar was less than 150 mg/dL or if the resident ate less than 50 percent of the meal. The MAR showed no documented meal intake for several lunch and dinner meals on specified dates, yet the insulin was still administered. The DON confirmed that staff should have obtained the resident's meal intake before giving the insulin on those occasions.
Failure to Follow Bowel Management Protocol
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow its Bowel Management - Clinical Protocol for residents who did not have a bowel movement within the required time frame. The protocol dated April 2026 directed staff to assess, monitor, and manage bowel and bladder function according to individualized needs and physician/provider orders, with specific interventions beginning on Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5 without a BM. For Resident #31, the record documented no BM from 7/27/26 at 2146 to 7/31/26 at 2130, with no documented nursing interventions during that period. Resident #31 had diagnoses including schizophrenia and alcohol abuse. Resident #4’s record documented no BM from 7/9/26 to 7/12/26 with no documented nursing interventions related to the lack of BM during that time. Resident #4 had diagnoses including Parkinson’s Disease and major depressive disorder. Resident #56’s record documented no BM from 7/21/26 to 7/28/26 and again from 7/29/26 to 8/2/26, with no documented nursing interventions during those periods. Resident #56 had diagnoses including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer’s disease. On 8/5/26, the RNC stated that Residents #4, #31, and #56 had no documented BM-related interventions for July and the first part of August 2026 and should have.
Wheelchair Footrest Not Adjusted for Resident With Limited LE ROM
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure appropriate wheelchair positioning for R11. R11 had a diagnosis of dementia, severe cognitive impairment on MDS assessments, limited ROM in both lower extremities, and was dependent on staff for locomotion in her wheelchair. Her care plan, revised 07/02/2026, instructed staff that she was dependent on staff for locomotion in her wheelchair. During observations on 08/03/2026 and 08/04/2026, R11 was seen sitting in her wheelchair at the dining room table with her feet hovering several inches above the wheelchair footrest. CNA M confirmed on 08/04/2026 that R11's feet did not reach the footrests, and CNA N stated the footrest needed to be adjusted to fit R11 better. On 08/05/2026, Administrative Nurse D also stated the footrest needed to be adjusted to better fit the resident and support her feet. The facility policy for Use of Assistive Devices stated that assistive device use would be based on the resident's needs, as indicated.
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