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:
A resident with insulin-dependent type 2 DM and mild cognitive impairment had a rapid BG drop after receiving sliding scale insulin. The resident reported fear of overnight hypoglycemia and requested BG checks every 2 hours, but the record did not show overnight monitoring, reassessment, or follow-up. Staff later stated the night nurse was notified, while the resident said BG was not checked again until breakfast.
Failure to provide ordered wound care and aspiration precautions: A resident returned from a dermatology procedure with biopsy-site dressings and the chart lacked documentation of assessment or wound care, while the dressings remained in place and undated during observations. The same resident also had dysphagia with a FEES showing silent penetration with straw sips and an order for no straws, yet was observed drinking water from a cup with a straw; the SLP and DON confirmed the no-straw precaution and expectation to follow physician orders.
Failure to Monitor Ordered Vital Signs: A resident with COPD, chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, and CHF had a provider order for daily vital signs, but the MAR showed an O2 sat of 87% with no follow-up vitals documented and another day with no vitals documented at all. Nursing notes did not show follow-up monitoring or documentation of the low O2 reading, and the CNO stated vitals were recorded on the night shift but not entered into the record or explained when the day-shift vitals were not completed as ordered.
Medication Administered Despite Hold Parameters: A resident with HTN and hyperlipidemia had an order for midodrine with BP hold parameters, but licensed nurses administered the medication multiple times even when the resident's BP met or exceeded the ordered limits. MAR review showed doses were given despite systolic and/or diastolic readings at or above the hold threshold, and the NHA acknowledged the medication was administered contrary to the physician's parameters.
Failure to assess and report abnormal blood glucose and document change in condition: The facility did not notify the MD of abnormal CBG results or assess for hypo/hyperglycemia for two residents with DM who had insulin orders and abnormal readings, including low and high values. The record also showed inaccurate documentation for another resident with a bruise of unknown origin that was monitored briefly and then no longer documented.
A facility failed to notify the provider about a resident’s weight changes per physician order. The resident had CAD, HF, HTN, and dementia, and the record showed weight fluctuations of 4 lbs and 5 lbs, but there was no evidence the provider was updated. The DON confirmed the provider was never notified and stated the provider should have been informed per the order.
Failure to Monitor Blood Glucose After Rapid Drop
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide the care and services needed to safely manage diabetes for one resident with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes and mild cognitive impairment. The resident’s care plan directed staff to monitor for signs and symptoms of high and low blood sugar, check blood glucose as ordered, administer scheduled and sliding scale insulin as ordered, encourage bedtime diabetic snacks, and provide ongoing diabetic foot care. On 7/15/26 at 12:25 a.m., the resident had a blood glucose of 330 before dinner and received 4 units of sliding scale insulin as ordered. The resident expressed concern about receiving the full insulin dose because of fear that blood sugar would drop during the night. About one hour later, the resident’s blood glucose decreased to 97. Staff gave 15 grams of carbohydrates and one glass of juice, and the blood glucose increased to 160. The resident then requested blood glucose checks every two hours during the night because of fear that blood sugar would fall below 50, and the nurse documented that the night nurse was notified. However, the medical record did not identify blood glucose monitoring, reassessment, or follow-up during the night. During interviews, the resident stated staff did not check blood sugar until breakfast the next morning and said, "They don't like checking it." Staff and the DON stated residents’ concerns should be documented and reassurance provided when blood sugar concerns were expressed.
Failure to Provide Ordered Wound Care and Aspiration Precautions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide timely post-procedure wound care for a resident who returned from a dermatology visit after a skin growth evaluation and treatment. The resident came back with dressings covering biopsy sites on the head and face, and the dermatology visit summary instructed staff to allow the pressure dressing to remain in place for 24 hours, then remove it, clean the wound daily with mild soap and water, pat dry, apply white petrolatum, and cover with a Band-Aid until healed. During observations on two consecutive days, the resident was still seen in bed with the dressings on the biopsy sites, and the dressings were not dated. The record contained no documentation that the biopsy sites were assessed upon return from the procedure and no documentation that wound care was performed on either day. The facility also failed to follow physician-ordered aspiration precautions for a resident with dysphagia. A FEES showed silent penetration with straw sips of thin liquids, and the resident was ordered an easy-to-chew diet with no straws. The care plan also directed staff not to provide beverages with a straw. Despite this, the resident was observed drinking water from a cup containing a straw. A CNA stated, "Well how else are we supposed to give him a water cup, we have to provide water." The SLP confirmed the FEES findings and the no-straw precaution, and the Medical Director stated he expected staff to follow physician orders and aspiration precautions for residents with dysphagia.
Failure to Monitor Ordered Vital Signs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to monitor vital signs as ordered by the physician for Resident #46, who was admitted with multiple diagnoses including COPD with acute exacerbation, chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, and congestive heart failure. The facility policy titled Vital Signs stated that vital signs are to be taken as ordered by the provider and documented immediately after measurement, and that abnormal or concerning vital signs must be reported to the licensed nurse for assessment and intervention. A physician order dated 5/19/26 directed that Resident #46's vital signs be taken once daily during the day shift. The June 2026 MAR documented an oxygen saturation of 87% on 6/5/26 with no follow-up vital signs documented, and no vital signs documented on 6/6/26. The resident's nursing progress notes did not document follow-up vital sign monitoring or that the oxygen saturation was below 88%. The CNO stated that there was no documentation of follow-up measures or monitoring related to the low oxygen reading on 6/5/26, and that on 6/6/26 the night shift recorded vitals but did not enter them into the medical record or document why the vitals were not taken during the day shift as ordered.
Medication Administered Despite Hold Parameters
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide nursing services consistent with professional standards of quality by not ensuring licensed nurses administered medications according to physician-ordered parameters for one resident. The resident had diagnoses including hypertension and hyperlipidemia. A physician order dated June 24, 2026, directed midodrine 10 mg by mouth three times daily, with instructions to hold the medication if systolic blood pressure was greater than or equal to 120 mmHg or if diastolic blood pressure was greater than or equal to 80 mmHg. Review of the medication administration record and documented blood pressure readings showed staff administered midodrine on multiple occasions even though the resident's blood pressure met or exceeded the ordered hold parameters. The medication was given when blood pressure readings included 125/72, 125/74, 122/80, 112/80, 126/66, 122/68, 126/68, and 126/68. During an interview, the Nursing Home Administrator acknowledged that staff administered the medication despite blood pressure readings that met the physician's ordered parameters requiring the medication to be withheld.
Failure to Assess and Report Abnormal Blood Glucose and Document Resident Change in Condition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the physician of increased and decreased capillary blood glucose (CBG) levels and failed to assess residents for hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, as well as changes in physical assessment, for three residents. Facility policy for hypoglycemia required timely initiation of emergency treatment using approved protocols, and the general documentation policy required accurate, timely documentation of resident status, interventions, and notification of appropriate parties. The facility did not have a specific hyperglycemia policy and relied on physician orders for parameters. Resident R3 had diagnoses including hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular accident, and dementia. Physician orders included Lantus 30 units at bedtime and Novolog 6 units with meals, along with sliding scale insulin. The eMAR showed CBG readings of 70 and 67, and the record indicated the resident was not assessed for hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, blood glucose was not monitored for effectiveness of treatment, care plan interventions were not followed, and the physician was not notified of the abnormal results. Resident R137 had diagnoses including hypertension, diabetes, muscle weakness, and cognitive communication deficit. Orders included checking blood sugars as needed for signs and symptoms of hypo- or hyperglycemia, rechecking blood sugars over 350 in 4 hours, fasting blood sugars every morning, post-prandial blood sugars, and Novolog 25 units with breakfast and lunch plus sliding scale coverage. The eMAR showed blood glucose values of LOW, 432, 45, and 0, and the record indicated the resident was not assessed for hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, blood glucose was not monitored for effectiveness of treatment, care plan interventions were not followed, and the physician was not notified. Resident R11’s record showed a bruise to the left eye/brow with unknown origin, continued monitoring notes, and then no further documentation about whether the bruise resolved; the Nursing Home Administrator confirmed the facility failed to document accurately for this resident.
Failure to Notify Provider of Significant Weight Changes
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to update the provider about resident R8’s weight changes per physician order. R8’s record showed diagnoses including coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, and dementia, and the annual MDS indicated R8 was mildly cognitively impaired. A physician order dated 7-9-26 directed daily weights and to report a change of 3 lbs overnight. The weight record showed a 4 lb decrease from 153.5 lbs to 149.5 lbs and a 5 lb increase from 148.5 lbs to 153.5 lbs, but the medical record lacked evidence that the provider was ever notified of these changes. The DON confirmed by email that the provider was never updated, and later stated the provider should have been notified per the order.
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.