Baseline Care Plan for Pain Not Implemented
Summary
The facility failed to implement the baseline care plan for one resident after admission. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including ankylosing spondylitis, dysphagia, and HTN, and the H&P stated the resident was able to make needs known but was unable to make medical decisions. The baseline care plan identified alteration in comfort/pain related to chronic lower back pain and opioid use, with interventions to administer pain medication as ordered or needed, notify the physician if pain medications were ineffective, monitor and assess for pain daily, and monitor for adverse reactions and side effects. The resident’s clinical admission record showed the resident arrived by ambulance with a family member and verbally reported pain while demonstrating protective body movements, but the pain level and pain notes sections were left blank. The Controlled Drug Record showed the resident received the first dose of hydrocodone-acetaminophen on 5/9/2026 at 12:00 p.m. The Controlled Drug Record for liquid morphine showed multiple administrations beginning on 5/9/2026 and continuing through 5/11/2026. During interview and record review, the DON stated the baseline care plan interventions for alteration in comfort related to chronic lower back pain and opioid use were not implemented because there was no documentation that staff monitored or assessed the resident’s pain daily from admission through the night shift on 5/11/2026. The DON stated the potential outcome of not monitoring or assessing pain is that staff would not know whether the resident is experiencing pain, which may prevent staff from providing the necessary care, and that not implementing the care plan interventions may result in ineffective pain management.
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