Failure to Ensure Physician Coverage and Response to Critical Labs and Hyperglycemia
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure that another physician supervised the medical care of a resident when the attending physician was unavailable, and to appropriately act on critical clinical information and worsening condition. The resident was admitted from an acute hospital with diagnoses including coronary artery disease, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, gangrene, and a recent left below-knee amputation. The care plan identified diabetes management, infection related to gangrene, and significant pain management needs, with instructions to monitor and report changes in mental status, behavior, appetite, and pain, as well as signs and symptoms of infection and adverse reactions to analgesics. The resident had been complaining of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea over several days, and the attending physician ordered a KUB, abdominal ultrasound, and labs, including amylase and lipase. Radiology reports for the KUB and abdominal ultrasound showed no acute process and no bowel obstruction or ileus, and these results were reported to the physician and NP. However, critical lab values, including an elevated WBC indicating possible sepsis, were received on a prior date and remained pending review in the electronic record, meaning they were not reported to the attending physician or NP. The attending physician later stated that if he had known about these lab results, he would have sent the resident to the hospital, and that the critical WBC and rising blood glucose indicated the resident was acutely ill and going into full sepsis. The resident continued to complain of abdominal pain and had poor appetite, and the physician documented follow-up visits and ordered medications such as Bentyl and Zofran PRN, but there is no documentation that the critical lab values were communicated to him or that he was notified of ongoing ineffective pain control or persistent abdominal symptoms over the days in question. On the day of the acute event, the resident’s family checked the resident’s blood glucose with their own glucometer and obtained a reading of approximately 470–495 mg/dL. The LVN notified the RN weekend supervisor and the attending physician, who ordered initiation of a moderate sliding scale insulin regimen, blood glucose checks AC and HS, and 10 units of Lantus. After 10 units of Lispro were given, a recheck about 45 minutes later showed the blood glucose had increased to 517 mg/dL. The LVN reported this to the physician, who then ordered discontinuation of the moderate sliding scale, initiation of a high sliding scale, administration of 14 units of Lispro STAT, and 10 units of Lantus STAT. The LVN did not document the exact times of the blood glucose checks or insulin administrations, although he acknowledged being trained to do so. The facility did not have Lantus in the insulin E-kit, and the RN supervisor borrowed a vial from another resident. Later that afternoon, the resident’s blood glucose was rechecked and found to be 563 mg/dL. The LVN reported that the resident became clammy, increasingly lethargic, and then unresponsive, with a heart rate of 194 and fixed pupils. Multiple attempts were made by the LVN and weekend supervisor to contact the attending physician and NP by phone and group text, but they reported receiving no response. The DON confirmed that the attending physician, who was also the medical director, was out of town on vacation and that the NP assigned to the facility did not answer calls or texts. The DON instructed the nurse to call 911 and send the resident to the ER due to the change in condition. EMS was activated, and the resident was transported to the hospital, where she arrived unresponsive with a blood glucose of 561 mg/dL, hypotension, hypoxia, and required CPR and intubation. Despite resuscitation efforts, the resident expired in the ED. The attending physician later denied receiving calls or texts on the day of the event and stated that he and his NPs were always available and that he did not see a need for an alternate physician when he was out of town. The facility was unable to provide a policy and procedure on physician services to the surveyor prior to exit. The surveyor concluded that the facility failed to ensure another physician was available to supervise the medical care of the resident when the attending physician was unavailable and failed to ensure that critical lab values and ongoing changes in condition were reported and acted upon. This failure occurred for one resident reviewed for physician services and was associated with the resident’s continued worsening condition, severe hyperglycemia, unresponsiveness, transfer to the hospital, and subsequent death. The report states that this failure could place residents at risk of delayed treatment or intervention, decline in health, and/or death.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Failure to provide physician reassessment after a significant change in condition: a resident with a large, foul-smelling scalp lesion was found to have maggots in the wound. Staff notified the MD, who gave wound care instructions by phone, but did not come to assess the resident or document a reassessment before the resident’s outpatient surgery visit.
A resident with sleep apnea, chest pain, and abnormal EKG had cardiology-ordered diagnostic tests entered into the chart, including a nocturnal desaturation study, Lexiscan MIBI stress test, and echocardiogram. Staff stated the attending physician had to sign off on the cardiologist’s recommendations before the appointments could be scheduled, but the orders were not signed in a timely manner and the signed fax was sent to the wrong number, leaving no record of scheduled appointments or results.
Delayed Physician Response for Resident With UTI Symptoms: A resident with a UTI diagnosis and severe cognitive impairment reported burning and pain with urination, but the physician did not respond promptly to repeated nursing calls. Staff waited for orders, urine testing was delayed and required recollection, and an initial antibiotic order was later stopped when the resident’s PCN allergy was identified. The first dose of the alternate antibiotic was given nearly three days after symptoms were first reported, and the DON stated the Medical Director should have been contacted after unanswered attempts.
A facility failed to ensure physician orders were in place for residents admitted to the Alzheimer's secure care unit, and one resident also lacked a qualifying dementia diagnosis for that placement. Records showed several residents in the secure unit without the required order, while staff interviews confirmed the admission nurses, nurse managers, ADON, and DON were responsible for obtaining and monitoring those orders. The DON stated the orders had not been properly entered into the system, and the MD said residents admitted to secure units should have physician orders and a medical diagnosis of dementia before placement.
Failure to Obtain Physician Orders for Weight Monitoring: A resident with chronic respiratory failure, ventilator dependence, heart failure, and obesity had a major unplanned weight gain over several months, but the chart showed no physician notification, no orders for daily/weekly/monthly weights, and no documented follow-through on weight monitoring. CNA, LPN, and RD interviews confirmed the resident was not on a weight-monitoring list and no physician orders were present in the record.
A resident developed a Stage 3 sacral pressure ulcer that was documented by nursing and the wound NP, but the resident’s primary MD and facility NP repeatedly failed to identify or assess the wound during multiple visits. The facility policy required the attending physician to evaluate and document wound healing, and the DON confirmed the concern. The NP stated she did not include the wound in her notes because the wound team was following it.
Failure to Provide Physician Reassessment After Maggot-Infested Scalp Wound
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure physician supervision and ongoing clinical oversight after being notified of a significant change in condition for one resident with a large scalp lesion. During observation, the resident had multiple black-colored lesions on the scalp, including a large central lesion about the size of a tennis ball that was partially covered with brown material and had yellowish, foul-smelling drainage. Staff reported that the resident was admitted with the lesion, that it intermittently drained, and that on 6/12/26 a staff member found maggots in the wound. After the maggot infestation was reported, a staff member assessed the resident and called the physician, who instructed staff to clean the area with soap and water, apply petroleum jelly, and cover the wound. The resident received a shower and the lesion was dressed per orders, but the physician did not come to the facility to assess the resident after notification. The physician later stated he did not evaluate or reassess the resident because an outpatient general surgery appointment was already scheduled. Record review showed no physician progress note documenting reassessment of the resident’s condition between the report of maggots and the outpatient surgical evaluation.
Physician Orders for Diagnostic Tests Were Not Timely Signed
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure necessary physician services were provided for one resident when cardiology-ordered diagnostic tests were not promptly signed by the attending physician for scheduling. The resident was admitted and readmitted to the facility, had capacity to understand and make decisions, and had a cardiology appointment that resulted in new orders for a nocturnal desaturation study, a Lexiscan MIBI stress test, and an echocardiogram for sleep apnea, chest pain, abnormal EKG, and chest pain. The resident’s nursing progress note stated the orders were noted and carried out, and the order summary showed the three diagnostic tests were entered. However, the medical record did not show scheduled appointments or results for the tests. During interview and record review, RN staff stated the facility needed the attending physician to sign off on the cardiologist’s recommendations before appointments could be scheduled, and that multiple attempts were made to contact the physician. The resident’s orders were not signed until later by another attending physician, and the physician office staff stated the signed orders had been faxed to the wrong fax number and were not accurately received by the facility.
Delayed Physician Response for Resident With UTI Symptoms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a physician responded to staff phone calls or that the Medical Director was contacted when a resident reported pain and burning with urination. The resident had a diagnosis of UTI and severe cognitive impairment, and the MDS indicated the resident was not assessed for toileting hygiene due to medical conditions or safety concerns. The resident’s SBAR documented the urinary symptoms, and the physician was notified later that evening. Alert charting showed the resident was still waiting for orders the next day, and the physician’s order to collect urine for UA/C&S was not entered until later that afternoon. The urine specimen required recollection because of incomplete labeling, and a new UA/C&S was collected after that. The physician then ordered Cephalexin for UTI symptoms, but nursing staff later identified that the resident was allergic to penicillin and notified the physician, who discontinued the medication and ordered Macrobid instead. The resident received the first dose of Macrobid nearly three days after the urinary symptoms were first reported. During interviews, an LVN stated she called the physician in the evening and again the next morning but did not know to call the Medical Director when there was no response. An RN stated she made multiple attempts to reach the physician before receiving orders. The DON stated staff should have contacted the Medical Director after one to three unanswered attempts within an hour, and the facility policy required contacting the Medical Director if a timely or appropriate response was not received.
Missing physician orders and qualifying diagnosis for secure unit placement
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure physician orders were in place for residents admitted to the Alzheimer's certified secure care unit and failed to ensure one resident had a qualifying diagnosis for placement in that unit. Resident #7 had diagnoses including Parkinsonism, dementia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease with late onset, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, but the physician orders reviewed did not include an order to admit her to the secure care unit. Resident #9 had diagnoses including major depressive disorder, dementia, and anxiety, but likewise had no physician order to admit her to the secure care unit. Resident #44 had dementia and no physician order to admit her to the secure care unit was found in the record. Resident #24 was observed in the 400 hall Alzheimer's secure care unit even though her diagnoses did not include Alzheimer's disease or another related dementia. Her admission MDS showed moderate cognitive impairment, but Section I of the MDS did not indicate Alzheimer's disease or non-Alzheimer's dementia. Her physician orders also did not include an order to admit her to the secure care unit, and her care plan did not address secure unit placement. The report states the DON later obtained a diagnosis for Resident #24 on the day of the interview, but that diagnosis and order had not been obtained before she was placed in the secure unit. Observations showed Resident #7 and Resident #9 in the 100 hall Alzheimer's secure care unit and Resident #24 and Resident #44 in the 400 hall Alzheimer's secure care unit. Interviews with the LVN, ADON, DON, RCN, ADMN, and MD confirmed that residents on the secure units should have physician orders and qualifying diagnoses, and that the admission nurses, nurse managers, ADON, and DON were responsible for obtaining and monitoring those orders. The DON stated the orders for Resident #7, Resident #9, Resident #24, and Resident #44 had not been properly entered into the system, and that Resident #24's qualifying diagnosis and order should have been obtained before admission to the secure unit.
Failure to Obtain Physician Orders for Weight Monitoring
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure Resident #18’s care was adequately supervised by a physician by not obtaining, initiating, or implementing physician orders for weight monitoring despite significant documented changes in nutritional status and body weight. Resident #18 was admitted with chronic respiratory failure, ventilator dependence, and heart failure, and her care plan identified her as having a high BMI related to obesity with interventions to observe, monitor, and report changes, follow physician orders, and monitor weights. Her weight increased from 398.9 lbs to 557.8 lbs over about five months, but there was no documentation of physician notification or orders for daily, weekly, or monthly weights, and no comprehensive assessment or monitoring was documented in response to the change. The record also showed that nutrition assessments dated 10/31/25 and 01/23/26 were identical and did not reflect updated recommendations despite the resident’s ongoing nutritional risks and marked weight gain. A progress note documented a weight of 573 lbs after hospitalization, yet no physician notification or follow-up orders were documented. A later nutrition review noted a BMI of 90 and stated the weight gain required confirmation with daily weights, but there were still no corresponding physician orders, attempts to obtain orders, or weight-monitoring follow-through. CNA #570, LPN #513, and RD #630 confirmed the resident was not on a weight-monitoring list, had no orders for daily, weekly, or monthly weights, and the RD verified no physician orders were present in the medical record.
Failure to Assess and Document a Resident’s Pressure Ulcer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident’s primary care provider(s) assessed and monitored a Stage 3 sacral pressure ulcer after it was identified by nursing staff and the wound NP. The resident’s medical record showed a new sacral pressure ulcer documented by nursing assessment and a Stage 3 pressure ulcer documented by the wound NP. The resident was then seen multiple times by the primary care MD and the facility NP over the following months, but their progress notes did not identify or assess the pressure ulcer in the physical examination, assessment and plan, or diagnoses sections. The facility policy stated that the attending physician and nursing staff would assess and document significant risk factors for pressure sores and that the physician would evaluate and document wound healing during resident visits, especially for complicated, extensive, or non-healing wounds. During interview, the DON acknowledged that the resident’s primary care provider was responsible for overall care and confirmed the concern that both the MD and NP failed to identify or assess the pressure ulcer during their visits. The NP stated she saw everyone, was one of the resident’s primary care providers, and admitted she had not included the wound in her notes because the wound team was following it.
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