F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
F

Failure to Implement Effective, Data‑Driven QAPI Program

Mount Ascension Transitional Care Of CascadiaHelena, Montana Survey Completed on 03-24-2026

Summary

The facility failed to develop and implement an effective, comprehensive, data‑driven QAPI program. Interviews revealed that department managers used a shared PowerPoint to present departmental updates and Performance Improvement Projects (PIPs) at quarterly QAPI meetings, and that each department had multiple PIPs in the past year. However, one staff member reported that QAPI meetings were primarily informational, focused on reviewing departmental activities rather than problem‑solving or process improvement, and did not consistently include follow‑up on previously identified concerns. Another staff member stated that the QAPI committee "definitely needs to be more than it has been" and that meetings should occur more frequently to address ongoing system failures and monitor progress of PIPs. Review of quarterly QAPI meeting documentation for 2025 showed that multiple quality concerns were identified, including infection control practices, housekeeping/environmental issues, care plans, pain management, and skin and wound issues, but the records lacked evidence of root cause analysis, clearly defined action plans, or monitoring for effectiveness and sustained improvement. Review of PIP documentation for 2025 showed that multiple projects were initiated without measurable goals, timelines for completion, or evidence of ongoing evaluation of interventions, and several issues were repeatedly identified across multiple meetings without documented resolution or progress. These practices did not align with the facility’s written QAPI policy, which required at least monthly meetings to identify performance improvement opportunities, establish goals and performance indicators, systematically analyze underlying causes, prioritize and develop action plans, implement process improvement strategies, and evaluate effectiveness and sustained results.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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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 F0867 citations
QAPI Committee Failed to Correct Repeat Deficiencies
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

The facility QAPI committee failed to correct repeated quality deficiencies and did not ensure that plans to improve care and services effectively addressed them. A prior survey had cited the facility and included QAPI-related plans of correction, but the current survey found multiple repeat deficiencies, including F604, F609, F628, F700, F880, F883, and PA1020. The NHA confirmed the facility had multiple repeat deficiencies and had not corrected the quality issues.

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.
QAPI PIP for Pressure Ulcers Lacked Documented Interventions and Analysis
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

QAPI minutes showed an ongoing PIP for pressure ulcers, but the facility did not document clear interventions, data analysis, or a plan showing how it would reach its stated goals. The minutes contained inconsistent pressure ulcer entries, blank or incomplete PIP sections, and separate short-stay and long-stay references without explanation. The DON confirmed the facility had no documented analysis of the PIP and no laid-out plan for how the project would be carried out.

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.
QAPI Failed to Resolve Repeated Medication, Food Service, and Kitchen Compliance Deficiencies
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

The facility’s QAPI committee failed to resolve repeated deficiencies involving medication storage and labeling, food served at improper temperatures and not palatable, and staff not wearing hair coverings in the kitchen. Prior POCs called for audits and reporting to QAPI, but surveyors again cited the same issues under F761, F804, and F812 on the current survey.

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.
QAPI Committee Failed to Correct Repeated Deficiencies
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

A facility’s QAPI committee failed to correct recurring deficiencies involving a clean, homelike environment, pressure ulcer prevention, drug regimen reviews, safe food storage/preparation/service, and infection control. Prior plans of correction relied on audits and reporting to QAPI, but the same deficient practices were again cited in the current survey under F584, F686, F756, F812, and F880.

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.
Failure to Address Ongoing Rodent Infestation in QAPI
F
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

Failure to Address Ongoing Rodent Infestation in QAPI: The facility did not use its QAPI process to address a known rodent problem. Rodent feces and traps were observed in resident rooms, dining and food areas, clean dish and linen areas, and other parts of the building. Interviews confirmed the infestation was ongoing, recommended structural repairs had not been made, the issue was not discussed in the QAPI meeting, and no education had been provided to residents or staff.

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.
QAPI Committee Failed to Track and Monitor Shower Room Deficiency
D
F0867 F867: Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Short Summary

QAPI failed to track and monitor a black debris issue in the 300-hall shower room. An observation found black debris in the shower’s inner bottom corners, and records showed the QAPI plan only listed environmental rounds monitored by the Administrator and Maintenance without further comments. The Maintenance Supervisor said he knew about the issue, had cleaned it, but did not document weekly rounds or findings, and the Administrator also said he did not document the weekly monitoring.

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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