F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
D

Failure to Assess and Monitor New Skin Tears and Bruising

Little Falls Care CenterLittle Falls, Minnesota Survey Completed on 05-21-2026

Summary

The facility failed to ensure bruising and non-pressure wounds were adequately assessed and monitored for 2 residents reviewed for injuries of unknown origin. One resident had moderate cognitive impairment, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension, and his medical record lacked documentation of a skin tear on his right outer wrist. He was observed with a bandage on the wrist, and when the dressing was removed the wound measured 1 cm by 0.5 cm with scant serosanguinous drainage and no signs of infection. The resident stated he had gotten the skin tear from running into a door frame, but was unsure when it occurred, and a nurse had placed a dressing on it weeks earlier. RN-A stated she was not aware of the skin tear until the state agency identified it and could not determine who applied the dressing or when it was placed. The second resident had severe cognitive impairment, hemiplegia, hemiparesis following a stroke, vascular dementia, and epilepsy. His skin issue form documented a bruise on his lower back, but the medical record lacked further documentation or monitoring of the bruise. RN-B stated the bruise was caused by a lift sheet bunched under the resident's back, but he forgot to place monitoring and forgot to complete a full assessment in the medical record. RN-A stated staff were expected to measure and document new skin issues, complete a risk management note and progress note, place monitoring orders, and update the provider, while the DON and administrator stated staff should have followed the skin policy and obtained monitoring and provider orders for new skin tears or bruising.

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

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0684 citations
Medication Dose Error and Midline IV Care Failure
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

An LPN administered only one tablet of methotrexate instead of the ordered six-tablet dose for a resident with RA. The facility also failed to maintain ordered midline IV care for another resident receiving IV abx, with observations showing a soiled dressing, site discoloration, and later no midline or IV pump present despite orders for ongoing site monitoring, dressing changes, and line removal after tx completion.

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 Follow Oxygen Orders for Resident with COPD
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with dementia and COPD had an order for continuous O2 via NC, with SpO2 to be maintained between 88% and 92% and not exceed 92%. The record showed SpO2 readings below 88% on room air and multiple readings above 92% while on supplemental O2, with no nursing interventions documented; the DON stated the resident’s SpO2 should have been better monitored and the physician’s O2 order more closely followed.

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 Monitor Loose Stools and Bleeding During Anticoagulant Therapy
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with a stage 4 pressure injury and sepsis had ongoing loose stools, but the MAR showed no documented PRN loperamide use and the record showed no provider notification despite repeated large loose stools. The same resident was also receiving daily anticoagulant injections and was observed with dark red urine in an indwelling catheter, yet there was no documented bleeding/bruising monitoring, no progress note about the blood in the urine, and no alert charting.

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 Follow Up on GI Symptoms, Stool Testing, Specialty Referral, and Diagnostic Order
G
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with chronic GI symptoms, malnutrition, diabetes, depression, and PTSD had persistent watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea, but the facility did not adequately track stool testing, confirm lab results, or complete the ordered GI referral. The resident reported frequent diarrhea, fatigue, reduced intake, and soreness, while staff documentation showed conflicting entries about specimen refusal versus sleeping, and the lab later had no record of the specimen that was charted as sent. The record also lacked evidence that the GI specialist appointment was scheduled or completed, and a separate resident’s ordered ECHO for pericardial effusion was not documented as scheduled or completed.

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.
Delayed Dermatology Appointment for Facial Lesion
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with a growing facial lesion had a dermatology consult delayed for about 3 months. The resident’s chart included provider orders for dermatology follow-up, but the appointment remained pending while the lesion increased in size. Notes from the NP and unit manager documented ongoing waiting for the consult, and the DON stated the health plan should have scheduled it and that consults need to be scheduled in a timely manner.

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 Follow Hold Parameters for Metoprolol
D
F0684 F684: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Short Summary

A resident with HTN and HF had an order for metoprolol succinate to be held if the pulse was below 55 bpm, but MAR and pulse record review showed missing pulse documentation on multiple occasions, pulse checks done after the med was given, and doses administered when the pulse was less than 55 bpm. Staff stated the pulse should have been checked before administration, and the DNS confirmed the expectation was to follow the order and hold the med when indicated.

Inspection fine: $17,665
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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