Non‑measurable, non–person‑centered care plans for multiple residents
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s failure to develop and implement comprehensive, person-centered care plans with measurable objectives and timeframes for all six residents reviewed. The facility’s own policy, dated 03/2022, required comprehensive person-centered care plans that include measurable objectives and timetables to meet residents’ physical, psychosocial, and functional needs. However, record review showed that the care plans contained generic, non–person-centered objectives that could not be evaluated, quantified, or verified. The MDS Coordinator, Social Worker, and Administrator each acknowledged during interviews that the objectives in the care plans were not person-centered or measurable, and that the MDS Coordinator and IDT were responsible for ensuring that care plan objectives met these standards. For one resident with hypothyroidism, dementia, psychosis, migraines, metabolic encephalopathy, HTN, and asthma, the admission MDS showed intact cognition, yet the care plan objectives were broad and non-measurable across multiple identified problem areas. These included decreased functional abilities related to impaired cognition and mobility, resistance to care related to adjustment to the facility, impaired decision-making and rejection of necessary care related to dementia and encephalopathy, a wish to remain in the facility, risk for cardiac complications related to HLD, ASHD, and HTN, risk of adverse drug effects from psychotropic use and polypharmacy, risk for weight changes related to depression and new admission, risk for psychosocial decline related to new SNF placement, frequent pain related to migraines and impaired mobility, decreased visual acuity, and risk for respiratory distress related to asthma. Objectives such as "maintain current level of function," "cooperate with care," "maintain stable weight," and "remain free from complications" lacked specific, measurable criteria or timeframes. For another resident with COPD, polyneuropathy, recurrent UTI, AFib, nicotine dependence, MDD, quadriplegia, HTN, and generalized anxiety, the quarterly MDS showed intact cognition, but the care plan again used non-measurable objectives. These covered high fall risk related to quadriplegia and impaired mobility, GERD requiring management, increased infection risk related to chronic UTI and neuromuscular bladder, AFib and HTN requiring monitoring, total assistance needs for mobility and ADLs, long-term care needs due to complex conditions, COPD and respiratory failure with PRN oxygen, bladder/BPH with chronic UTIs, depression, anxiety, mood disorder, insomnia, ADL self-care deficits, verbal aggression and poor coping, a history of false accusations, and multiple medication-related risks (antidepressants, anticoagulants, anti-anxiety meds, diuretics, anticonvulsants, oxygen therapy, and SOB related to COPD). Objectives such as remaining free from falls, infection, or adverse drug reactions, maintaining stable cardiovascular status, and demonstrating effective coping skills were not individualized or measurable. A third resident with post-traumatic seizures, schizoaffective disorder, generalized anxiety, and schizophrenia had an admission MDS indicating inability to complete the BIMS interview, yet the care plan still lacked measurable, person-centered objectives. Problem areas included ADL self-care deficits related to mobility impairment, behavior problems and self-harm (yelling, refusing care, hitting self on objects, cursing, hitting hand on walls/doors/windows, attempting to pull a fire extinguisher), impaired thought processes related to schizophrenia, psychosis, and IDD, HTN, a prior fall with no injury related to poor communication/comprehension, antidepressant use for insomnia, anticonvulsant use for schizophrenia and psychosis, potential nutritional problems related to cognitive impairment, and potential psychosocial well-being problems related to recent admission. Objectives such as maintaining current ADL function, having fewer episodes of yelling or self-harm, being able to communicate basic needs daily, remaining free of HTN complications, and complying with diet were not defined in measurable terms. For a fourth resident with combined systolic and diastolic heart failure, MDD, acute respiratory failure, dementia, generalized anxiety, and GERD, the quarterly MDS showed moderate cognitive impairment, and the care plan had not been updated since a review several months earlier. The care plan listed difficulty making self-understood related to dementia, no plans to discharge, history of major depression and anxiety, risk for nutritional decline related to depression, DM, dysphagia, diuretic use, and GERD, impaired abilities related to weakness and impaired cognition, bowel and bladder incontinence related to impaired mobility and cognition, risk for pain related to diabetic neuropathy and chronic pain, potential adverse reactions to sulfa and tramadol, use of Lexapro for depression, and dietary needs. Objectives such as maintaining ability to make needs known, having care needs met daily and PRN, being free from signs of increased depression or anxiety, maintaining stable weight, maintaining or improving functional abilities, being clean and dry, functioning with minimal interference from pain, having no allergic reactions, being free from antidepressant side effects, and complying with diet were not written in measurable, person-centered terms. For a fifth resident with lung cancer, HTN, secondary malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes, and chronic systolic heart failure, the admission MDS showed intact cognition, but the care plan again used generic, non-measurable objectives. Identified issues included the need for staff supervision when using tobacco, HTN, wound management and a documented pressure ulcer, decreased functional abilities related to terminal lung and lymph cancer, CHF, anemia, risk for weight changes and aspiration related to terminal condition and dysphagia, chronic pain related to cancer, terminal prognosis, and risk for bowel and bladder incontinence related to terminal condition. Objectives such as following the tobacco policy without injury, maintaining blood pressure within normal limits, showing wound improvement, managing the pressure ulcer, maintaining current function, having clear lung sounds and normal heart rate/rhythm, remaining free of anemia complications, maintaining stable weight and being free from aspiration signs, avoiding discomfort from analgesia side effects, maintaining comfort, and remaining continent were not measurable or individualized. For a sixth resident admitted with a displaced fracture of the right femur lesser trochanter, the admission MDS did not include a completed cognitive section, and no BIMS score was determined. The care plan for this resident included wound management, but the objective "wound will show signs of improvement" was not defined in measurable terms. Across all six residents, the facility’s care plans did not include specific, quantifiable goals or clear timeframes, despite the facility’s policy requiring comprehensive, person-centered care plans with measurable objectives and timetables.
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