Failure to Provide Competent Tracheostomy Care and Maintain Required Airway Equipment
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide respiratory and tracheostomy care in accordance with its own policy and professional standards for two residents with artificial airways. For one resident with throat cancer, HIV, and a tracheostomy, the MDS documented the need for suctioning and tracheostomy care, and the care plan required an Ambu bag at the bedside. Surveyors observed an uncovered suction catheter, cloudy liquid in a suction canister, and undated tubing and water bottle connected to the trach collar. The resident repeatedly reported not receiving tracheostomy care or suctioning despite feeling the need, and stated that staff did not know how to perform the care and that there was limited access to staff able to suction. During observed tracheostomy care for this resident, the LPN/unit manager entered the room where the tracheostomy setup appeared untouched, with a deep suction catheter uncovered and resting on a half-full cloudy suction canister and a used urinal directly below. The LPN could not locate necessary tracheostomy supplies in the room, was unaware of where to obtain them, and asked the resident where supplies were kept; the resident wrote that they had not had correct supplies in months. The LPN described prior tracheostomy care as simply wiping the stoma opening, could not clearly describe complete tracheostomy care procedures, and acknowledged that they and most other nurses needed to refresh their tracheostomy skills. The LPN also stated the resident could perform their own tracheostomy care, while the resident stated they were not comfortable doing so. The Treatment Administration Record documented that tracheostomy care had been completed on a date when the resident reported it had not been done. Staff interviews, including with an RN and the Medical Director, confirmed that supplies should have been clean, covered, and dated, that tracheostomy care consists of more than cleaning the site, and that an Ambu bag should be at the bedside; however, an LPN was unable to identify an Ambu bag in the room, and the resident stated an Ambu bag had never been available at the bedside. For a second resident with cancer of the head/neck, an artificial laryngectomy tube, and cirrhosis, the care plan identified respiratory needs related to the artificial airway, including monitoring respiratory status, observing for signs of respiratory distress or changes in secretions, and providing suctioning as ordered. The resident’s health care proxy reported concerns about staff competency to manage the laryngectomy tube, including suctioning and airway care, and stated the resident could not independently manage their own care. The proxy was unable to recall whether emergency airway equipment, including an Ambu bag, was present at the bedside. Corporate nursing staff stated that acceptance of a resident with a tracheostomy or similar airway needs reflected the facility’s determination that it had the capacity and competency to provide the required level of care. The Medical Director reported that tracheostomy care was assumed to be provided by the facility, expressed concerns about the facility’s ability to provide such care, and stated that the lack of ability to provide appropriate tracheostomy care should have been thoroughly investigated. The DON stated the facility was able to provide tracheostomy care, but was unaware of the lack of an Ambu bag at the bedside and acknowledged that this should not have occurred.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Two residents receiving O2 had flow rates set above their physician orders, and one resident’s tubing remained dated beyond the weekly change interval. Staff, including an RN and the DON, confirmed the mismatched flow rates and noted that tubing should be changed weekly by the RT. The facility policy required O2 to be administered per physician order and tubing/cannula to be changed weekly.
Oxygen Concentrator Left in Room After Order Discontinued: A resident with morbid obesity with alveolar hypoventilation and diabetes was observed with an oxygen concentrator at bedside even though there was no current oxygen order. The resident stated he used oxygen only when needed, and the CNO confirmed the oxygen had been discontinued earlier and the concentrator should not have remained in the room.
Missing Order for CPAP Use and Maintenance: A resident with sleep apnea and stroke had a CPAP in the room, but there was no physician order or care plan documentation for its use or maintenance. Staff knew the resident had the CPAP, yet CNAs and an RN reported they did not routinely clean the mask or tubing, and the LPN Resident Care Manager confirmed no order existed for the CPAP or its care.
A resident with a continuous O2 order was found without oxygen in place, and an LPN later said the order had been misread. Two other residents with COPD had respiratory equipment that was dirty or outdated, including a gray concentrator filter, tubing and water bottles dated weeks earlier, and tubing lying on the floor with visible dust. Staff gave inconsistent accounts of who was responsible for changing or cleaning the equipment, and the DON acknowledged the dirty equipment and old mask placed residents at risk for respiratory infection or pneumonia.
A resident with acute respiratory failure with hypoxia and severe cognitive impairment was ordered oxygen via NC at 2 to 5 LPM to keep O2 saturation at or above 95%. During observation, the resident was lying in bed with the NC on the side of the face instead of in the nose while the concentrator was set at 2.5 LPM. RN and DON stated the NC should be in the nose to deliver oxygen as ordered.
A resident with COPD and chronic respiratory failure did not receive oxygen at the ordered flow rate. Staff found the oxygen concentrator set below the ordered amount on multiple observations, and the resident stated the oxygen was supposed to be set higher. The DON, LVNs, and ADON acknowledged the setting was incorrect and that the ordered flow should have been followed.
Incorrect Oxygen Flow Rates and Delayed Tubing Changes
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide respiratory care consistent with physician orders for two residents receiving oxygen therapy. Resident #5 had an order dated 1/7/2025 for oxygen at 2 liters via nasal cannula continuously for infiltrate of the left lung, but during observations on 7/7/2026, 7/8/2026, and 7/9/2026 the resident’s oxygen was running at 3 liters per minute. On 7/7/2026 and 7/8/2026, the oxygen tubing in Resident #5’s room was dated 6/26, and on 7/9/2026 Staff F, RN confirmed the tubing date and the 3-liter flow rate. Staff F stated the tubing should have been changed the prior week and that the resident was running at 3 liters despite an order for 2 liters. Resident #6 had a physician order dated 3/18/2026 for oxygen at 3 liters via nasal cannula continuously for chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, but during observations on 7/7/2026 at 10:10 AM and 12:12 PM, and again on 7/8/2026 at 8:02 AM, the resident’s oxygen was being administered at 4 liters per minute. On 7/9/2026 Staff F, RN entered the room and confirmed the oxygen was at 4 liters, stating it should not be at that rate because the order was for 3 liters. The DON stated nursing staff should check oxygen flow rate every shift and as needed, and that tubing should be changed weekly by the respiratory therapist. The facility policy also stated oxygen tubing and mask/cannula are to be changed weekly and as needed if soiled or contaminated.
Oxygen Concentrator Left in Room After Order Discontinued
Penalty
Summary
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed was not maintained when the facility failed to remove an oxygen concentrator from Resident #12's room after the physician discontinued the oxygen order. Resident #12 was admitted and later readmitted to the facility with diagnoses including morbid obesity with alveolar hypoventilation and diabetes. On 7/7/26, the resident was observed sitting in his power chair with an oxygen concentrator at his bedside. When asked about oxygen use, the resident stated he only used oxygen when he needed it. Review of the resident's physician orders showed no current oxygen order, and the CNO stated on 7/8/26 that the oxygen concentrator should not have been in the room because oxygen had been discontinued on 6/17/26.
Missing Order for CPAP Use and Maintenance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to obtain physician orders for the use and maintenance of a CPAP for Resident 76, who was admitted in 6/2026 with diagnoses including sleep apnea and stroke. There was no documentation in the admission MDS or care plan showing that the resident used a CPAP. Observations from 7/6/26 through 7/10/26 showed the CPAP in the resident’s room on the nightstand. The resident stated that a friend brought the CPAP to the facility a day after admission, but staff did not clean the mask or tubing daily and the mask did not fit well. Staff interviews showed the CNA staff were aware of the CPAP but did not clean the mask or hose, one CNA reported washing the mask one time, and an RN stated she filled the chamber with water a few times but did not clean the mask or tubing. The LPN Resident Care Manager confirmed the resident did not have an order for the CPAP or for cleaning and caring for the equipment.
Respiratory Equipment Not Maintained or Applied as Ordered
Penalty
Summary
Resident #12 had an order for oxygen at 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula continuously, with titration up to 4 liters to keep oxygen saturations above 90% every shift. The resident’s care plan also directed staff to apply oxygen at 2 liters via nasal cannula. During an observation, the resident was up in a chair with no oxygen in place. The resident stated she had been wearing oxygen but was not sure when or why staff stopped applying it. The nurse later stated she had misread the order as oxygen could be applied only if saturations fell below 90%, and she acknowledged the resident did not wear oxygen despite the active continuous order. Resident #27 had diagnoses including dementia, COPD, anxiety, and shortness of breath, and her MDS indicated she required oxygen therapy. Her care plan directed staff to change oxygen tubing as needed and nebulizer tubing every week. During multiple observations, the resident’s oxygen concentrator filter was gray and dirty, and the tubing and empty water bottle were dated 5/24/26. The resident stated staff usually changed the equipment, but it had not been changed that she could recall. Later, the tubing and water bottle remained dated 5/24/26, and the concentrator filter was still dirty. Staff interviews reflected uncertainty about who was responsible for changing the equipment, and the ADON stated the tubing and water bottle should have been changed by 07/02/26, while the DON stated the dirty filter and old nebulizer mask placed the resident at risk for respiratory infection or pneumonia. Resident #9 had COPD and an order for oxygen at 2 to 4 liters per nasal cannula to maintain PO2 greater than 90%. The resident’s oxygen tubing was observed lying on the floor and had a piece of tape dated 06/22/26, with brown dust visible in the wheel-mark pattern on the tubing. The resident was unable to state when the tubing was last changed or how often it was changed. Staff interviews showed differing practices about changing oxygen tubing, with some stating it should be changed weekly or when dirty, while the DON stated she had been advised not to date the tubing and to change it when visibly soiled. The facility policy stated cannula or mask needed to be changed if it malfunctions or becomes visibly contaminated.
Oxygen Not Properly Delivered via Nasal Cannula
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure oxygen was administered in accordance with the physician’s order and facility policy for one sampled resident. Resident 44 was admitted with diagnoses including acute respiratory failure with hypoxia and encephalopathy. The MDS dated 5/28/2026 indicated the resident had severe cognitive impairment, was on oxygen therapy, and was dependent for eating, oral care, toileting, personal hygiene, showering, dressing, and footwear. A physician’s order dated 6/4/2026 directed oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 to 5 LPM to maintain oxygen saturation at or above 95% every shift, and the care plan was revised to reflect humidified oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 to 5 LPM to maintain oxygen saturation at or above 95% every shift. During a concurrent observation on 6/29/2026 at 10:33 AM, Resident 44 was observed lying in bed with the nasal cannula on the left side of the face while the oxygen concentrator was set at 2.5 LPM. During interviews, RN 3 stated the nasal cannula should be placed correctly in the resident’s nose for the resident to receive oxygen, and the DON stated the nasal cannula should always be in the resident’s nose to help maintain oxygen saturation at 95% and above. The facility policy titled Oxygen Administration stated oxygen is administered to residents who need it, consistent with professional standards of practice and comprehensive person-centered care plans, and under physician orders.
Incorrect Oxygen Flow Settings
Penalty
Summary
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed was not ensured for a resident with COPD, chronic respiratory failure, and functional quadriplegia. The resident’s care plan directed that oxygen be administered at 2 L/min via nasal cannula continuously to maintain SPO2 above 90%, and the physician order summary reflected oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula continuously. However, during observation and interview on 06/30/2026, the resident’s oxygen concentration machine was set at 3 L/min, and the resident stated her oxygen was supposed to be set at 4 L/min. The LVN stated the resident was supposed to be on 4 L/min and adjusted the oxygen to 3.5 L/min, and the DON later stated the resident was to be getting 4 L/min and adjusted the setting to 4 L/min. A subsequent physician order dated 07/01/2026 directed oxygen at 4 L/min via nasal cannula to maintain SPO2 above 90%. During observation on 07/02/2026, the resident’s oxygen was again found set at 3.5 L/min. An LVN checking the setting stated it was at 3.5 L/min and that if physician orders were not followed, the resident could become short of breath and the orders would not be followed. The ADON stated the oxygen machine should be set with the ball meter at eye level, that if the order said 4 L/min it should be set on 4 L/min, and that 3.5 L/min was not good enough. The facility’s oxygen administration policy required verifying a physician order and adjusting the oxygen delivery device so the proper flow of oxygen was being administered.
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