F0686

G

Failure to Perform Weekly Skin Assessments and Timely Wound Treatment Resulting in Stage 4 Pressure Ulcer

Troy, Michigan Survey Completed on 03-18-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to timely assess and treat a resident at risk for pressure ulcers, resulting in the development of a facility-acquired stage 4 pressure ulcer that required hospitalization, surgery, and caused pain. The resident, who had diagnoses including a right buttock pressure ulcer (stage 4), type II diabetes, and schizophrenia, was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 13/15 and had Braden scores indicating mild risk for pressure ulcers. Hospital discharge records from an earlier admission documented a sacral shallow partial thickness wound and a shallow partial thickness left gluteal wound, with specific instructions to cleanse the buttocks and sacrum and apply Triad ointment twice daily and as needed, along with continued use of a pressure mattress. However, on admission back to the facility, the wound nurse reported observing no open areas and no treatment orders were initiated based on the hospital’s discharge instructions.

Subsequent documentation showed inconsistencies and gaps in skin assessments and treatment. A nursing comprehensive skin evaluation on 11/18/25 documented "no risk" and noted a left trochanter open area and left buttocks areas not open, while a skin/wound progress note on 11/19/25 stated there were no active wounds. The MDS completed on 11/23/25 indicated the resident was at risk for developing pressure ulcers but did not identify any existing pressure ulcers over bony prominences. Review of the MAR/TAR and treatment orders for November 2025, December 2025, and January 2026 showed no evidence that any wound or prophylactic skin treatments were provided during that period, despite the resident’s identified risk and prior hospital instructions. The facility’s wound nurse later confirmed that, although facility policy required weekly skin checks by licensed nurses, the resident had only four documented skin checks since initial admission.

On 2/12/26, the wound nurse documented a new, in-house acquired wound in the right gluteal fold, with measurements of 5.11 cm by 4.25 cm and sanguineous drainage, and identified it as acquired in the facility. The wound nurse stated that, based on the wound’s appearance, it was not newly acquired on that date and that the lack of weekly skin checks prevented determination of the actual onset. Treatment orders to cleanse the right gluteal fold wound, apply Triad paste, and cover with dressing were not entered until 2/14/26, two days after the wound was first documented. On 2/17/26, a wound NP evaluated the resident for the first time, describing the right gluteal fold wound as an unstageable pressure injury measuring 4 x 4 x 5.9 cm with 100% slough, a small draining hole, malodor, and purulent drainage, and arranged for transfer to the hospital. Hospital records from 2/17/26 to 2/24/26 documented a right ischial stage 4 pressure injury status post debridement, with an 8 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm wound, soft tissue infection with abscess, and cultures growing S. aureus and ESBL E. coli. The resident later reported that the wound on their bottom hurt, that they did not receive treatment before going to the hospital, and that some staff were rude and did not always provide help. The DON, who was not employed at the time of the events, confirmed that under facility protocol the resident should have received timely and at least weekly skin assessments.

The facility’s skin management policy required identification of residents at risk for skin compromise, weekly skin checks by licensed nurses with documentation of findings, prompt reporting of new skin impairments by CNAs to licensed nurses, and monthly IDT "Resident at Risk" meetings to evaluate skin changes and interventions. Interviews revealed that the wound nurse relied on nursing staff and CNAs to report skin issues, but one nurse identified by first name denied reporting skin concerns to the wound nurse, and another nurse did not respond to the surveyor’s call. The wound nurse acknowledged that no treatments were initiated from the hospital’s discharge orders because they believed there were no open areas on admission, and that the right buttock wound was facility-acquired. The combination of failure to continue ordered prophylactic treatments, failure to perform and document weekly skin assessments, delay in initiating treatment after the wound was identified, and lack of timely escalation to wound specialist care led to the resident’s in-house acquired pressure injury progressing to a stage 4 wound requiring surgical debridement and causing pain.