F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
F

Facility Assessment Lacked Required Input, Acuity Detail, and Competency Evaluation

Nortonville Health Care CenterNortonville, Kansas Survey Completed on 01-14-2026

Summary

The facility failed to conduct an effective facility-wide assessment to determine the resources necessary to care for residents competently during day-to-day operations. Review of the facility’s assessment tool showed 45 licensed beds and an average of 32 occupied beds in the last quarter, but the assessment was completed by the administrator, DON, social services director, medical director, and physical therapy without evidence of input from other required members of the community, including direct care staff, residents, resident representatives, and family members. The assessment also lacked a plan to maximize recruitment and retention of direct care staff. The acuity section of the assessment did not include a number or range of residents who required extensive services, special care high services, special care low services, clinically complex care, behavioral symptoms and cognitive performance, or reduced physical function. The facility’s description of staff training and competencies was limited to general statements such as annual competencies, monthly in-services, and education as needed, without describing how competency or effectiveness would be evaluated. The assessment listed CPR, life enrichment directors, culture change/person-centered care, infection control stewardship, CNA training, dementia management, disaster planning, medication administration, resident assessments, measurements for vital signs, urine, I&O, glucose, catheter care, care for residents with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and mental illness, specialized care, and unit care including nonpharmacological interventions, but provided no further detail on competency evaluation. The facility also failed to provide evidence of any staff competencies performed since the last annual survey. In the infection control section, the assessment identified common diagnoses such as skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory infections, tuberculosis, UTIs, MDROs, septicemia, viral hepatitis, C. difficile, influenza, and scabies, and noted an average of one to three residents in isolation or quarantine with active infection. Although the assessment included a section for evaluating the infection prevention and control program, it lacked any evaluation, review, or development of that program.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $171,35049 days payment denial
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0838 citations
Facility Assessment Did Not Address Overnight Staffing Needs
C
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment failed to identify the staffing resources needed from 11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. Review showed the assessment addressed staffing needs only from 7:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M., and the Administrator confirmed the overnight gap during interview. The issue was found during a complaint investigation and had the potential to affect all 64 residents.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Missing Staffing and Contingency Planning Details
F
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Missing Staffing and Contingency Planning Details: The facility failed to include specific staffing needs per unit and shift, a plan to support recruitment and retention of direct care staff, and a contingency plan for events that could affect resident care without activating the emergency plan. The Facility Assessment also lacked a total calculation of hours worked per shift and a list of personnel in house to meet resident needs, and the DON/Administrator confirmed these omissions during interview.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Did Not Reflect Locked Memory Care Unit or Resident Needs
E
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Did Not Reflect Locked Memory Care Unit or Resident Needs. The facility failed to update its Facility Assessment after opening a locked memory care unit on B-Wing for residents with dementia or wandering tendencies. The assessment did not identify the unit, the 34 residents living there, or the services, staffing, competencies, and resources needed to meet resident needs, including resident acuity, cognitive impairment, and behavioral or physical health needs. The NHA confirmed the assessment was incomplete.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Lacked Specific Staffing Determinations
F
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Lacked Specific Staffing Determinations: The facility failed to complete a comprehensive, facility-specific assessment identifying the staffing resources needed to care for residents based on census and acuity. The assessment listed a high-need resident population, including residents needing ADL help, maximal assistance, psychiatric/mood care, neurological care, anticoagulation monitoring, and Memory Care supervision, but only used general statements about staffing based on acuity and hours per patient day. It did not specify required numbers or ratios of CNAs, RNs/LPNs, management, or ancillary staff, nor did it document staffing needs by shift, unit, or changing resident needs.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Lacked Unit-Specific Staffing Needs
B
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

The facility failed to ensure its facility assessment identified specific staffing needs for each resident unit for a census of 72 residents. The assessment listed overall direct care staffing for day, evening, and night shifts, but it did not break down staffing needs by resident unit. An HR director confirmed that the assessment did not include unit-specific staffing.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Facility Assessment Missing Resident Acuity and Staffing Details
F
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment was incomplete because it did not include resident acuity, diseases, conditions, physical or behavioral health needs, cognitive status, or special treatments and conditions. It also did not list the number of nurse aides needed for the day, evening, and night shifts. The Administrator stated the acuity information and CNA staffing numbers had been overlooked and that the assessment was meant to guide staffing based on resident need.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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