Failure to Increase Temperature Monitoring During Extreme Heat Event
Summary
The facility failed to ensure staff increased monitoring of resident body temperatures during an extreme heat event that affected multiple residents. The report states that an Extreme Heat Warning was in effect for the local area from 6/29/26 through 7/1/26, and the State agency issued a Health Advisory to nursing facilities on 6/29/26. The facility had a total census of 181 residents, and building inspectors, HVAC technicians, and police officers were onsite because of a heat-related complaint. Facility temperatures were documented as elevated, including averages of 78F on the first floor, 81F on the second floor, and 80F on the third and fourth floors, with one 83F reading on the fourth floor. The DON stated the facility began increased measures on 6/30/26 after learning one compressor was not functional, and the facility used portable fans in hallways and resident rooms. The DON also stated that on the second floor, where tracheostomy and ventilator-dependent residents were located, staff were doing resident temperatures every shift, or every 8 hours, and as needed, but not more often than that. The DON confirmed these residents were highly vulnerable during extreme weather-related events, yet also stated that if residents did not exhibit symptoms, there was no reason to take vital signs or temperatures more frequently. The DON further confirmed she did not direct staff to increase monitoring of residents' vital signs or temperatures during the heat event. Record review showed that seven residents reviewed for quality of care had inconsistent temperature monitoring during the event. R1 had temperatures checked four times in four days and no temperature documented on the date of death. R2 had temperatures checked two times in three days and no temperature documented on the date of death. R3 had temperatures checked four times in three days. R5 had temperatures checked seven times in three days with no temperature documented on 7/2/26. R6 had temperatures checked seven times in four days. R7 had temperatures checked three times in four days with no temperature documented on 6/29/26. R9 had temperatures checked four times in four days. The submitted vitals summaries did not show compliance with the facility protocol of performing vital signs every shift, and there was no documentation of increased monitoring of body temperatures from 6/29/26 through 7/2/26. The facility policies referenced heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but the extreme weather policy addressed temperature monitoring for extreme cold rather than extreme heat.
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