Skin assessments and wound treatments were not documented or completed as ordered
Summary
The facility failed to ensure skin conditions were assessed, documented, and treated in accordance with physician orders and professional standards of practice for multiple residents. Resident #9 had a skin assessment documented as showing no open areas on the sacral area, yet during observation the resident’s brief had blood on the inside around the sacral area and the area stuck to the brief when removed. The CNA stated the area was not new and had been treated with cream. The RN believed Resident #9 had an open area, and the DON later verified an open area with slough and stated the wound was unstageable and not something that developed overnight. The DON also stated the skin assessment completed that day was not appropriate because it showed no open areas. Resident #1 had a skin assessment on the right buttock documenting a pressure area measuring 2.5 cm by 1.5 cm, but the record contained no physician notification note, no treatment orders, and no TAR entries for skin or wound care for three days until the resident was transferred to the hospital for an unrelated change in condition. An LPN stated that if the resident had anything open on the right buttock, there should have been orders, even for Calmoseptine cream. Another LPN stated the area was just a scab or discoloration and that the physician and family had been notified, but the record reviewed did not show treatment orders or progress notes related to the finding. Resident #8 had a dressing in place to the left knee, and the wound notification form identified a skin tear to the left knee with physician and family notification documented. However, the record contained no progress note related to skin assessment or physician notification on the following day, and the ePOS and TAR showed no wound treatment orders until later. The DON observed the foam dressing and xeroform under it and stated the resident should have had weekly skin assessments and wound care orders if there was a dated dressing, and that any open area should have been noted. Two additional residents had physician orders for skin treatments that were not documented as completed. Resident #6 had multiple sacral wound orders, including changes in treatment over time, but the TAR showed blank entries on several scheduled dates for the ordered treatments. During observation, an LPN stated the area had opened up and that the resident was to be treated with xeroform and bordered dressing, but the nurse was not sure why the ordered care had not been completed. Resident #7 had multiple wound orders for the right plantar foot, left posterior thigh, left hip, and other wounds, yet the TAR contained multiple blank entries for the ordered treatments. An LPN stated nurses were responsible for skin assessments, wound notification, physician notification, and same-day orders when new skin findings were identified, and the Administrator stated blank TAR entries meant treatment was not given as required.
Penalty
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