Lake Hamilton Health And Rehab
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
- Location
- 120 Pittman Road, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913
- CMS Provider Number
- 045445
- Inspections on file
- 18
- Latest survey
- May 21, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 0
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Lake Hamilton Health And Rehab during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Staff failed to ensure privacy for two residents during personal care and medication administration. In one case, an LPN left a resident exposed while placing them on a bedpan with the door open and no privacy curtain. In another, the ADON administered medication via PEG tube with the door and blinds open, exposing the resident to view from the hallway and dining area. Both incidents were acknowledged by staff as privacy issues.
Surveyors found that the facility failed to maintain sanitary conditions in food service, including mold in the ice machine, expired food items left in storage, improper food covering, and refrigeration temperatures above recommended levels. Dietary staff did not consistently follow hand hygiene or glove use protocols, handling food and food contact surfaces with contaminated hands or gloves, contrary to facility policy.
Surveyors found that staff failed to follow Enhanced Barrier Precautions, proper hand hygiene, and PPE use for three residents requiring infection control measures. An LPN provided care to a resident with a VRE infection using only gloves, a CNA performed incontinence care without changing gloves and contaminated multiple surfaces, and a treatment nurse conducted wound care without a gown or proper hand hygiene. Facility leadership confirmed the expectations for infection control, but there was no specific EBP policy in place.
A resident with severe bilateral hand contractures did not consistently have prescribed finger separators and a palmar grasp splint applied as ordered, with multiple observations showing the resident without these devices and no documentation of refusal or notification to medical staff. Staff interviews revealed confusion about responsibility for device application and documentation, and the care plan was not updated to reflect any refusal.
The facility failed to ensure food items in the freezer were covered, sealed, and dated, and dietary staff did not follow proper hand hygiene protocols. Multiple opened boxes of food items were found uncovered and undated, and a dietary employee was observed handling clean equipment without washing hands after touching dirty objects. These practices had the potential to affect 73 residents.
The facility failed to develop care plans for three residents receiving antibiotics, anticoagulants, and insulin, leading to a lack of appropriate coordination of care. The MDS Coordinator and Nurse confirmed the omissions and emphasized the importance of documenting these treatments in care plans.
The facility failed to ensure accurate documentation and counting of stock narcotics, leading to discrepancies in the narcotic book. An LPN confirmed that Ativan oral syringes and an injectable vial were not properly recorded, and the facility lacked a medication storage policy.
The facility failed to maintain a medication error rate below 5%, as an LPN administered incorrect dosages to two residents. The errors were confirmed by the LPN and the DON, highlighting the need to follow physician orders for resident safety.
The facility failed to ensure medications were not stored at the bedside for residents without self-administration rights, left a resident unattended during a nebulizer treatment, and did not store refrigerated narcotics in a permanently affixed storage box. These deficiencies were observed with a resident who had an albuterol inhaler at the bedside, was left alone during a nebulizer treatment, and the emergency narcotic box was not permanently affixed in the refrigerator.
The facility failed to serve meals at acceptable temperatures, potentially affecting residents' nutritional intake. Observations showed that breakfast trays delivered to various halls had food items with temperatures below acceptable levels, impacting meal palatability.
The facility failed to ensure staff were sitting face to face with a resident during meal service to promote dignity. A CNA was observed standing while feeding a resident due to a missing table and chairs, despite an empty chair being available nearby. The facility's documentation and staff interviews confirmed that staff should sit at eye level with residents during feeding, but the facility lacks a policy on feeding assistance.
The facility failed to protect a resident's privacy by leaving medication cards with identifiable information visible on an unattended medication cart in the hallway. An LPN and the DON confirmed this as a HIPAA violation and against facility policy. The resident rights documentation did not adequately address privacy concerns.
The facility failed to ensure an unlocked public bathroom near a common resident area was equipped with a pull cord on the call light, essential for resident safety and fall prevention. An LPN confirmed that residents use this bathroom and would not be able to reach the call button if they fell. The DON and Nurse Consultant were unaware of the absence of the pull cord and admitted to miscalculating the distance from the floor to the call light button.
A facility failed to ensure that only licensed nursing staff provided oxygen as ordered by the physician for a resident. A CNA was observed adjusting the resident's oxygen flow without involving licensed personnel, contrary to the facility's policy. Interviews confirmed that CNAs should not administer oxygen, and the facility's policy did not specify which staff members are licensed to do so.
Failure to Provide Privacy During Personal Care and Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that staff failed to provide adequate privacy during personal care for two residents. In the first instance, a resident with severely impaired cognition and limited mobility was observed having their covers and underwear removed and being placed on a bedpan by an LPN, while the door to the room was open and the privacy curtain was not drawn. This left the resident exposed and visible to people passing by in the hallway. The LPN confirmed during an interview that the door was open during care, acknowledging the privacy issue. In the second instance, a resident with moderately impaired cognition and a feeding tube was observed receiving medication via a PEG tube from the ADON. During this procedure, the resident's shirt was raised, the door was open, the privacy curtain was not drawn, and the blinds were raised, making the resident visible to staff and other residents outside the room and in the dining area. The ADON confirmed she did not close the door or blinds. The DON stated that staff are expected to close doors, pull curtains, and close blinds to protect resident privacy, and that failure to do so is a dignity issue. Facility policy also states that residents have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
Multiple Food Service Sanitation and Safe Handling Deficiencies Identified
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified multiple deficiencies in the facility's food service operations, including unsanitary conditions and improper food handling practices. The ice machine, used for residents' drinks and ice chests, was found to have grayish and black residues identified as mold, indicating it was not maintained in a sanitary condition. Expired food items, such as seasonings and French dressing, were observed on storage shelves and had not been promptly removed or discarded. Additionally, loose tea bags were left uncovered, and food stored in the freezer was not properly covered. Refrigeration issues were also noted, with the 2-door glass refrigerator registering a temperature of 44 degrees Fahrenheit, above the recommended 41 degrees or below. Dairy products such as buttermilk and half and half were found at even higher temperatures after being left out for meal preparation. These conditions suggest a failure to maintain proper cold storage for perishable items, as required by professional standards. Dietary staff were observed repeatedly failing to follow safe food handling practices, including not washing hands or changing gloves between tasks, handling food with contaminated gloves, and touching food contact surfaces after touching potentially dirty objects. Staff also touched the rims of glasses and food items with bare or contaminated hands before serving them to residents. Facility policies reviewed by surveyors required regular cleaning of the ice machine and strict hand hygiene, but these were not consistently followed.
Failure to Implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions and Proper Infection Control Practices
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to implement and follow Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP), proper hand hygiene, and appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for residents requiring infection control measures. One resident with severely impaired cognition and an unstageable sacral pressure injury, who also had a confirmed Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) infection and was on strict contact isolation, received care from an LPN who only wore gloves and did not don a gown as required. The LPN acknowledged during interview that a gown should have been worn in addition to gloves. Another resident with moderately impaired cognition and total incontinence of bowel and bladder was observed receiving incontinence care from a CNA who failed to change gloves during the care process. The CNA touched multiple surfaces in the resident's environment, including the bed rail, nightstand, sheets, trash bag, and pillow, with contaminated gloves, resulting in cross-contamination. The CNA admitted to not changing gloves and recognized that this practice led to contamination of the environment. A third resident with a sacral pressure ulcer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and benign prostatic hyperplasia received wound care from a treatment nurse who entered the room with gloves already on, did not wear a gown, and failed to perform hand hygiene between glove changes. The nurse's body brushed against the resident's bed during the procedure, and she later acknowledged that hand hygiene and gown use were required due to the resident being on EBP. Facility leadership confirmed expectations for PPE use and hand hygiene, but the facility did not have a specific policy on EBP, instead referencing CDC guidelines.
Failure to Consistently Apply Contracture Prevention Devices
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that a resident with severe bilateral hand contractures consistently had prescribed devices in place to prevent further contracture and skin breakdown. The resident's care plan and physician orders required continuous use of finger separators on both hands and a palmar grasp splint on the right hand, with staff instructed to monitor and document device placement every shift. Multiple observations over several days revealed that the resident was frequently without any hand devices, both in common areas and in bed, despite the presence of the devices on the bedside table or nightstand. Documentation did not indicate that the resident refused the devices, and there was no evidence that the medical provider was notified of any non-compliance or refusal. Interviews with CNAs, the ADON, and the DON revealed confusion regarding responsibility for device application and documentation. Staff reported that only the treatment nurse or restorative aides applied the devices, and that refusals or skin issues should be documented and reported, but there was no documentation of refusals or notification to nursing or medical staff. The DON confirmed that the lack of device use rendered the intervention ineffective and that the care plan had not been updated to reflect any refusal. The facility's policy required provision of rehabilitative nursing care as ordered, but this was not consistently implemented for the resident in question.
Food Storage and Hand Hygiene Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure food items stored in the freezer were covered, sealed, and dated, which could minimize the potential for foodborne illness. Observations on 04/10/2024 revealed multiple opened boxes of food items, such as biscuits, cheese omelets, chocolate chip cookies, bread sticks, chicken and cheese tortillas filling, breaded beef, bean burritos, hamburger patties, beef steak, and beef fritters, that were not covered, sealed, or dated. Additionally, an opened gallon of soy sauce was found on a rack in the kitchen without being refrigerated as per the manufacturer's specifications. Dietary staff also failed to follow proper hand hygiene protocols. On 04/10/2024, a dietary employee was observed handling tray cards and plates without washing his hands after touching dirty objects. Later the same day, the same employee was seen pulling up his pants and then handling clean equipment, such as a scoop for ice, without washing his hands, thereby contaminating the glove and the ice. These practices had the potential to affect 73 residents who received meals from the kitchen.
Failure to Develop Comprehensive Care Plans for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop care plans to address specific medical treatments for three residents, leading to a lack of appropriate coordination of care. Resident #34, diagnosed with Non-Alzheimer's dementia and a urinary tract infection, was receiving antibiotics for the prevention of recurring urinary tract infections. However, the care plan did not include this information, which was confirmed by the MDS Coordinator upon review. Similarly, Resident #22, who had Non-Alzheimer's dementia and was receiving anticoagulant medication for orthopedic aftercare, did not have this treatment documented in their care plan. The MDS Coordinator acknowledged the omission and its importance for monitoring potential side effects and ensuring staff awareness of the resident's baseline condition. Additionally, Resident #68, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, was receiving long-acting insulin but this was not reflected in their care plan. The MDS Nurse confirmed the absence of this critical information and emphasized the importance of documenting insulin use and diabetes management in the care plan. The Assistant Administrator noted that there was no specific policy on care plans, and the facility referred to the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) manual for guidance. These deficiencies in care planning had the potential to affect multiple residents receiving similar treatments, highlighting a significant gap in the facility's care coordination processes.
Failure to Accurately Document and Count Stock Narcotics
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that stock narcotics were accurately counted and documented when received from the pharmacy. This deficiency was identified during an observation where an LPN confirmed discrepancies in the narcotic book. Specifically, the concentration of Ativan oral syringes on hand did not match the documentation, and an Ativan injectable vial was not recorded in the narcotic book upon receipt. The LPN acknowledged that the procedure for documenting narcotics was not followed, and the delivery sheet was not signed by the receiving nurse, leading to an inaccurate count of medications on hand. Further investigation revealed that the Ativan injectable was delivered on 04/04/2024 but was not documented until 04/10/2024, after the surveyor's inquiry. The Director of Nursing and the Nurse Consultant confirmed the importance of timely and accurate documentation to prevent diversion and ensure proper medication counts. However, it was noted that the facility lacked a medication storage policy, contributing to the oversight in narcotic documentation and counting procedures.
Medication Error Rate Exceeds 5%
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the medication error rate was less than 5%, as evidenced by the administration of incorrect dosages of medications to two residents. Resident #229 was prescribed Calcium plus Vitamin D3 500-15 mg-mcg, but was administered Calcium with Vitamin D 600 mg 10 mcg. Resident #67 was prescribed Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Suspension 50 mcg/act, one spray in each nostril twice a day, but was administered two sprays in each nostril. These errors were observed during medication administration by LPN #1, who confirmed the incorrect dosages and acknowledged that a new physician order should have been obtained since the correct dosages were not available. The Director of Nursing also confirmed the medication errors and emphasized the importance of following physician orders for resident safety.
Medication Storage and Administration Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure medications were not stored at the bedside for residents without self-administration rights approved by the Interdisciplinary team. This was observed with Resident #226, who had an albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol on the bedside table. The resident was unsure if the inhaler was from home or provided by the facility and had been using it since admission. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #3 confirmed finding the inhaler and removing it, noting that it was unknown if the resident had self-administration rights. The nurse explained that medications should not be left at the bedside due to the risk of forgetfulness and potential double dosing by residents. The Nurse Consultant confirmed that medications should not be left at the bedside without self-administration rights and acknowledged that families occasionally bring in medications without staff knowledge. The facility did not have a specific medication storage policy to address this issue. Additionally, the facility's policy on administering updrafts was not followed, as observed with Resident #226, who was left unattended during a nebulizer treatment. The resident complained about the inhaler being on too long, and the fluid chamber was empty. LPN #3 stated that the nurse administering the updraft should stay in the resident's room until the treatment is completed and the equipment should be cleaned and stored to prevent infection. The Nurse Consultant confirmed this procedure but noted that it was not followed in this instance. Furthermore, the facility failed to ensure refrigerated narcotics were stored in a permanently affixed storage box. LPN #2 showed the Surveyor a purple case containing the emergency narcotic box, which was easily removable and not permanently affixed in the refrigerator. The Nurse Consultant and Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that narcotics should be behind two locks but did not address the requirement for the emergency kit to be permanently affixed. The Surveyor found that the facility did not have a policy addressing the storage of refrigerated narcotics in a permanently affixed compartment. The Nurse Consultant provided a policy on self-administration of medications and a general guideline on controlled substances, but neither addressed the specific issue of refrigerated narcotics storage. The facility also lacked a relevant in-service documentation on medication storage, relying more on one-on-one interventions than formal in-services.
Failure to Serve Meals at Acceptable Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure meals were served at acceptable temperatures to residents, which could affect their nutritional intake and meal palatability. During an observation on 04/11/2024, unheated food carts containing breakfast trays were delivered to various halls. The temperature of the food items on these trays was measured immediately after the last resident was served. On the 200 Hall, the temperatures of ground sausage with gravy, scrambled eggs, and sausage were 116°F, 109°F, and 105.7°F, respectively. On the 400 Hall, scrambled eggs and sausage were measured at 113°F and 109°F, respectively. On the 100 Hall, scrambled eggs and sausage were 105.6°F and 108°F, respectively. On the 300 Hall, scrambled eggs and sausage were 111°F and 108.2°F, respectively. These temperatures were below acceptable levels, indicating that the meals were not served in a manner that maintained their appearance and temperature, potentially affecting the residents' willingness to eat and their overall nutritional intake. The deficiency was observed across multiple halls, affecting a significant number of residents who received meal trays in their rooms. The observations were made by the Dietary Supervisor and involved multiple Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) delivering the trays.
Failure to Maintain Dignity During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure staff were sitting face to face with residents during meal service to promote dignity for one resident requiring feeding assistance. On 04/09/2024, a CNA was observed standing above a resident while feeding them mixed vegetables, and remained standing throughout the meal service. The CNA explained that the absence of a table and chairs led to this situation, although an empty chair was observed nearby. The facility's documentation and staff interviews confirmed that the expected procedure is for staff to sit at eye level with residents during feeding to maintain dignity. The facility does not have a policy on feeding assistance.
HIPAA Violation Due to Unattended Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident's privacy by leaving medication cards with identifiable information visible on an unattended medication cart in the hallway. The surveyor observed the medication cart with the resident's name, room number, and medication details clearly readable. An LPN confirmed that the medication cards should not be left visible and acknowledged this as a HIPAA violation. The Director of Nursing also confirmed that leaving patient information visible is inappropriate and against the facility's policy. The resident rights documentation provided by the facility did not address privacy concerns adequately.
Failure to Equip Bathroom with Pull Cord on Call Light
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that an unlocked public bathroom near a common resident area was equipped with a pull cord on the call light, which is essential for resident safety and to prevent falls. This deficiency was observed by the Surveyor on 04/11/2024 at 09:48 AM. The call light in the bathroom did not have a pull cord, and the bathroom was located in a hallway between the nurse's station area. The area across the hall was identified as a space used for various activities, including rehab dining, group therapy, and family visits. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #1 confirmed that residents use this bathroom and acknowledged that if a resident fell, they would not be able to reach the call button located above the grab bar to the right of the toilet, as there was no pull cord present. Further investigation revealed that the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Nurse Consultant were unaware of the absence of the pull cord. The Nurse Consultant initially claimed that the bathrooms were designed to regulation and code, and the distance from the floor to the call light button was appropriate. However, upon further questioning, the Nurse Consultant admitted to miscalculating the distance and confirmed that there was no call light policy available. This failed practice had the potential to affect nine residents who ambulated and/or self-propelled in the facility, as they would not be able to call for help if they fell in the bathroom.
Unlicensed Staff Administering Oxygen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that only licensed nursing staff provided oxygen as ordered by the physician for Resident #45. On 04/10/2024, a CNA was observed removing the resident's nasal cannula and connecting the resident to a portable oxygen tank, adjusting the oxygen flow to 2 liters per minute. The CNA confirmed that she determined the oxygen flow rate by checking the concentrator and then adjusted the portable tank accordingly. This action was performed without the involvement of licensed nursing staff, contrary to the facility's policy that oxygen is considered a medication and should only be administered by licensed personnel. Further interviews revealed that the LPN and the Nurse Consultant were aware of the protocol that CNAs should not administer oxygen. The Nurse Consultant confirmed that CNAs are required to get a nurse to assist with oxygen administration. The facility's policy on portable oxygen and oxygen safety did not address oxygen as a medication or specify which staff members are licensed to administer it. The Order Summary for Resident #45 indicated that the resident required 2-3 liters of oxygen per minute via nasal cannula as needed, highlighting the importance of proper administration by licensed staff to prevent respiratory complications.
Latest citations in Arkansas
Two residents with moderate cognitive impairment and independent mobility were repeatedly seeking each other’s attention and were found by a CNA on the floor with their pants down, appearing to be engaged in consensual sexual activity. Staff separated them and returned them to secure units, and an LPN reported there was no plan for a consensual sexual relationship or private time, despite awareness of prior similar behavior. Both residents described themselves as being in a loving relationship, but the facility completed no assessments related to sexual activity, made no related care plan revisions, and obtained no orders for contraception, STD testing, or specialty consults. Conversations held by leadership with the residents about privacy and protection were not documented, and there was no facility policy addressing resident sexual relations, despite a general resident rights policy referencing self-determination and support in exercising rights.
The facility failed to develop and implement comprehensive care plans addressing sexual health and a consensual sexual relationship for two cognitively impaired, independently mobile residents with psychiatric and neurological diagnoses. Both residents were known to seek each other’s attention and had a prior relationship, yet their care plans only directed staff to separate and redirect them, without any individualized interventions for sexual health, privacy, or safe sex. A CNA later found the two residents on the floor with their pants down, appearing to engage in consensual sexual activity, and they were separated by staff. Subsequent staff interviews confirmed there was no documented assessment, no care plan revisions for sexual health or the relationship, no safe sex education, no established access to contraception, and no facility policy on resident sexual relations.
A resident with hemiplegia, hemiparesis, a below-knee amputation, moderate cognitive impairment, and wheelchair dependence was transported in a facility van by a CNA who had previously been in-serviced and skills-checked on van safety. During the trip, the CNA secured only three of the four required wheelchair floor locks, and a hold-down device had been removed from the van and not replaced. As the CNA drove over a road irregularity and braked, the incompletely secured wheelchair tilted backward, causing the resident to fall onto the van floor and report head pain with a nodule at the base of the skull. Facility policy required an environment free from accident hazards and staff competency in preventing avoidable accidents, but the missing tie-down and failure to fully secure the wheelchair led to this transport-related fall.
Surveyors found that the facility failed to follow physician orders for PICC line dressing changes, wound care, and catheter care for two residents. One resident with osteomyelitis, pressure ulcers, and an indwelling catheter had multiple missing entries on the TAR for ordered PICC line dressing changes, daily pressure ulcer treatments to the heel and coccyx, and catheter care every shift, with the DON confirming that blank TAR blocks indicated treatments were not completed. Another resident with a PICC line for antibiotic therapy had an order for weekly dressing changes, but the dressing was not changed as scheduled, the PICC site was left uncovered for several minutes during medication administration, and an LPN admitted initialing the TAR to indicate a dressing change that she had not performed, while the TN and APN confirmed the order required adherence to the weekly schedule.
A resident with MRSA colonization and a PICC line for IV antibiotics experienced multiple breaches in infection control by nursing staff. An LPN repeatedly double-gloved, handled room surfaces, trash can lids, and the medication cart, then donned new gloves without performing hand hygiene before preparing and administering oral and IV medications. During PICC access, the LPN wiped the access port for only a few seconds, allowed IV tubing to touch bedding, let the access port fall onto the resident’s arm, and then re-accessed the line without hand hygiene or glove changes. At another time, the PICC site was left uncovered while a treatment nurse prepared for a dressing change, and the LPN entered without prior hand hygiene, disconnected IV tubing, and flushed the line after only a brief alcohol wipe. Staff interviews showed uncertainty and inconsistency regarding required scrub times, glove use, and dressing change schedules, which conflicted with facility policies and stated expectations for aseptic PICC care and hand hygiene.
A resident with dementia, anxiety, depression, and on hospice had a Durable Power of Attorney, Living Will, and signed DNR order all specifying no CPR, and the face sheet reflected no CPR; however, physician orders, a MD progress note, and the MAR repeatedly listed the resident as full code from admission onward. Nursing staff and leadership (including a RN, LPN, ADON, DON, and the Administrator) acknowledged that while the advance directives and resuscitate/DNR form showed DNR status, the active orders and MAR still indicated full code, even though staff commonly rely on these documents to determine code status, contrary to facility policy requiring alignment of the care plan and physician orders with the resident’s documented treatment preferences.
A resident with depression, insomnia, and non-Alzheimer’s dementia experienced a documented decline from moderate to severe cognitive impairment on successive MDS assessments, but the care plan was not revised and continued to include an active "Sexual Expression" problem allowing engagement in sexual behavior with other consenting residents. This care plan had been initiated after an incident where two residents were found in bed together partially undressed and engaging in intimate behavior. The resident’s responsible party stated the resident was not capable of consenting to sexual activity, an LPN reported the resident could not express needs or make decisions about sexual relationships, and another LPN stated the care plan no longer reflected the resident’s needs due to steady decline. The Social Services Director had previously completed sexual consent questionnaires only at the time of the incident, and the Medical Director indicated that a sexual activity care plan was not appropriate for a resident with a very low BIMS score, while the Administrator acknowledged care plans were expected to be updated when MDS changes occurred.
A resident with traumatic brain injury, stroke history, and altered mental status was placed on a secured unit for elopement risk but had only general care plan interventions that were not updated when new wandering, exit‑seeking, and aggressive behaviors emerged. Over time, staff documented that the resident walked the halls at night, entered other residents’ rooms, voiced not living there, stated plans to leave through a window, followed staff through locked doors, and sought ways to get out after a home visit. Despite an elopement assessment and multiple behavior notes, no individualized elopement‑prevention interventions were added to the care plan. Eventually, during a night shift when a CNA reported dozing off and not re‑checking the room, the resident broke a bedroom window with furniture, left the building, and was later found off‑site by police after nearly being hit by a car, confirming that the care plan had not been effectively revised or implemented to address the resident’s exit‑seeking behaviors.
A resident with traumatic brain injury, altered mental status, and a history of wandering was housed on a locked unit with a care plan identifying elopement risk but focused mainly on therapeutic activities and medication monitoring. After returning from a home visit, the resident exhibited escalating behaviors over several days, including being up all night walking halls, entering other residents’ rooms, standing at locked exits, following staff out locked doors, voicing a desire to leave, and stating a plan to escape through a window. On the night of the incident, camera footage showed the resident moving between the room, day room, and bathroom until entering the room and not re-emerging, while the CNA on duty did not perform checks, reported that staff did not usually re-check the resident once in the room, and admitted to dozing off. The resident broke the bedroom window with furniture, left the building unnoticed, and was later found by police nearly two miles away after a citizen reported almost hitting the resident with a car, demonstrating that the facility failed to provide adequate supervision and monitoring during a period of increased exit-seeking.
Two residents with significant cognitive and neuromuscular/orthopedic conditions experienced falls when staff did not follow care-planned assistance and supervision requirements. One resident, care-planned for two-person assist with bed mobility, transfers, and personal hygiene, was found on the floor after a CNA attempted incontinent care alone. Another resident, care-planned for staff assistance with dressing and two-person assist for transfers with a slide board, was left seated at the edge of the bed and told to dress themself; the resident fell while unattended and was later found on the floor wearing a C-collar. CNAs reported relying on the electronic care plan/Kardex for instructions, but one CNA described unclear and brief initial training on accessing the system, while leadership stated CNAs were expected to verify care needs in the electronic care plan before each care episode.
Failure to Support and Assess Consensual Sexual Relationship Between Residents
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to support residents’ rights to engage in a consensual sexual relationship between two cognitively impaired residents. Both residents had documented moderate cognitive impairment on their MDS assessments (BIMS scores of 11 and 12) and were independent with mobility. Their care plans identified "inappropriate seeking of other individual's attention" with interventions limited to separating and redirecting them. There was no documented assessment of their capacity for sexual decision-making or sexual activity either before or after an incident in which they were found with their pants down on the floor together. On the date of the incident, a CNA discovered the two residents in a room with their pants down, appearing to be having sex, and reported that it looked like they were consenting and that she had been told they had a history together. The CNA notified an LPN, and the residents were separated and returned to their secure units. The LPN confirmed there was no plan in place to allow a consensual sexual relationship or to provide private time for the residents, despite being aware that similar behavior had occurred previously. Interviews with the residents indicated that they viewed themselves as being in a relationship, that they loved each other, and that they did not intend harm. Record review showed no orders for birth control, sexually transmitted disease testing, or referrals to specialized clinics or physicians for either resident. There was no documentation in progress notes of education or conversations with staff regarding the incident, and no assessments related to sexual activity were completed before or after the event. The MDS nurse and Administrator acknowledged speaking with the residents about the incident and the possibility of providing privacy and protection, but the MDS nurse stated that none of these discussions or interventions were documented and nothing was added to the care plans. The Administrator also stated the facility did not have a policy on resident sexual relations, despite a resident rights policy referencing residents’ rights to self-determination and to be supported in exercising their rights.
Failure to Care Plan for Residents’ Sexual Health and Consensual Relationship
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to develop and implement comprehensive, measurable care plans addressing sexual health and consensual sexual relationships for two cognitively impaired residents. Resident #3, admitted with traumatic brain injury, bipolar disorder, mood disorder, and an unspecified mental disorder, had a BIMS score of 11 indicating moderate cognitive impairment and was independent with mobility. Resident #4, admitted with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, dementia, and psychosis, had a BIMS score of 12, also indicating moderate cognitive impairment, and was independent with mobility. Both residents’ care plans, updated on 03/11/2026, identified “inappropriate seeking of other individuals’ attention,” but the only interventions listed were to separate and redirect, with no individualized care plan addressing their sexual health, their ongoing relationship, or parameters for consensual sexual activity. On 03/11/2026, a CNA discovered Resident #3 and Resident #4 on the floor with their pants down, appearing to be engaged in consensual sexual activity. The CNA notified an LPN, and staff separated the residents and returned them to their secure units. Staff interviews revealed that there was no existing plan for a consensual sexual relationship, no plan for private time, and no documented assessment or care plan interventions related to sexual health, safe sex education, or contraception for these residents, despite knowledge of a prior relationship and the residents’ expressed desire and intent to engage in sexual activity. The MDS nurse and the Administrator acknowledged that no care plan revisions were made to address sexual health or the relationship, no documentation of related discussions or interventions was completed, and the facility had no policy on resident sexual relations and no established interventions for birth control.
Failure to Properly Secure Wheelchair During Van Transport Resulting in Resident Fall
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure that a resident’s wheelchair was fully and properly secured with all required safety straps before transport in the facility van, resulting in the resident falling backwards in the van. The resident had physician orders for LTC admission and diagnoses including hemiplegia and hemiparesis affecting the right dominant side, as well as an acquired absence of the left leg below the knee. The resident’s MDS showed moderate cognitive impairment, functional limitations in lower extremity range of motion bilaterally, and use of a wheelchair for mobility. The care plan documented a self-care performance deficit requiring limited assistance by one staff for transfers and noted an actual fall earlier in the month, with an intervention for staff education on proper van transport. On the date of the incident, the resident was being transported in the facility van by a CNA who served as the van driver. According to the facility’s reportable and the CNA’s written witness statement, the CNA applied two back floor locks and one front floor lock to secure the wheelchair but did not secure all four required locks. During the drive, as the CNA approached a dip or hump in the road and applied the brakes, the resident’s wheelchair tilted backwards. The resident stated they were falling, and when the CNA stopped the van, she found the resident lying flat on their back on the van floor with the wheelchair also on the floor. Nursing documentation indicated the resident reported pain at the base of the skull, had a nodule on the back of the head, and declined transfer to the emergency room. Interviews and document reviews showed that the CNA had previously received in-service training and skills checkoffs on how to properly secure residents in the van and had signed best-practice forms stating that wheelchairs would be securely attached to the van body and kept centered during transport. The Administrator reported that the CNA admitted she did not use the correct number of straps to secure the wheelchair and that a hold-down device (tie-down/safety strap) had been removed from the smaller van to be used in a larger van and was not replaced. The Maintenance staff confirmed that a hold-down device for the back of the wheelchair was missing from the van used for the transport and that tie-downs were interchangeable between vans. Subsequent observation with other CNAs demonstrated that when all four locks and the seat belt were properly engaged, the wheelchair did not move, but loosening the front locks allowed the wheelchair to move, illustrating how incomplete securement could permit wheelchair movement during transport. The facility’s Safety and Supervision of Residents policy stated that the environment should be made as free from accident hazards as possible and that employees should be trained and demonstrate competency in identifying and preventing accident hazards. Despite this policy and prior in-services, the resident’s wheelchair was not fully secured with all required straps at the time of transport, and a necessary hold-down device was missing from the van, directly contributing to the resident’s fall inside the vehicle.
Failure to Follow Physician Orders for PICC Line, Wound, and Catheter Care
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow physician orders for PICC line dressing changes, wound care, and indwelling catheter care for two residents. One resident was admitted with osteomyelitis of the vertebra, sacral and sacrococcygeal region, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and a pressure ulcer, and had a BIMS score indicating moderate cognitive impairment. Physician orders included a PICC line dressing change every three days, daily dressing changes to an unstageable right heel pressure ulcer, daily cleansing and dressing of an unstageable coccyx pressure ulcer, and catheter care every shift and PRN with soap and water or wipes for wound healing. Review of the Treatment Administration Record (TAR) for June showed multiple dates where there were no initials or check marks to indicate that the PICC line dressing changes, right heel dressing changes, coccyx pressure ulcer treatments, and catheter care had been completed as ordered. The TAR for this resident showed no documentation of PICC line dressing changes on several specified dates, despite an active order for changes every three days. Similarly, the TAR lacked initials or check marks for the ordered daily dressing changes to the right heel pressure ulcer on multiple dates. For the coccyx pressure ulcer, there were two separate orders—one to cleanse and apply wet-to-dry dressings with a specific brand dressing and island dressing every day shift, and a later order to cleanse and apply wet-to-dry dressings with a specific brand dressing and foam dressing every day shift. On several dates, the TAR contained open blocks with no initials or check marks, indicating that these treatments were not completed. Additionally, the TAR showed that catheter care ordered every shift and PRN was not documented as completed on multiple day shifts over a series of days. The DON confirmed that open blocks on the TAR indicated treatments were not completed. For the second resident, who was admitted with infection and inflammatory reaction due to an internal left hip prosthesis, MRSA, and pain related to orthopedic prosthetic devices, there was an order for a PICC line dressing change to the left upper arm every Wednesday on the day shift. The March TAR reflected this order and showed documented dressing changes on two Wednesdays, with check marks and initials indicating the treatment had been administered. During a medication pass observation, an LPN examined the PICC line dressing and was unsure of the last dressing change date, noting that the handwritten date on the dressing was unclear and that PICC line dressings could only be changed by an RN. Later observation showed the treatment nurse at the bedside with the PICC line site uncovered after the dressing had been removed, while the LPN administered oral medications and hung an antibiotic through the PICC line, leaving the site uncovered for several minutes. The treatment nurse stated the dressing change had been due the previous day but was not completed because the dressing was not available, and also stated she signed the TAR after completing the dressing change. Further interviews revealed documentation discrepancies for this second resident. The DON’s nursing incident/accident note documented that the PICC line dressing change was not completed on the scheduled day and was instead changed the following day. The LPN later acknowledged that the initials on the TAR for the scheduled dressing change date were hers, and admitted she had not changed the dressing but had only looked at it after being told by the treatment nurse that the dressing was within a seven-day time frame. She stated she placed her initials in the TAR block to indicate she had looked at the dressing, even though the TAR coding indicated that initials in the block meant the treatment was given. The treatment nurse reported changing the dressing on one earlier date and, when changing it later, observed a written date on the removed dressing that did not match any documented TAR entry and could not identify whose initials were on that dressing. The treatment nurse and APN both confirmed that the physician’s order required the dressing to be changed every Wednesday and that, even if changed on another day, it still needed to be changed on Wednesday per the order. The DON confirmed that staff initials in a TAR block indicated the treatment was given, an X indicated the treatment was not ordered for that day, and an open block indicated the treatment was not completed.
Improper Hand Hygiene and PICC Line Management During MRSA-Positive Resident Care
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure proper infection prevention and control practices during the care of a resident with a PICC line and MRSA colonization. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including infection and inflammatory reaction due to an internal left hip prosthesis, MRSA, and pain related to orthopedic prosthetic devices. The resident had a PICC line in the left arm for IV antibiotic therapy to treat the hip infection, and the care plan included contact isolation, use of gowns and gloves during physical contact, handwashing before leaving the room, and standard precautions for infection control. Orders and the TAR showed that PICC line dressings were to be changed weekly, and the MAR showed daily IV antibiotic administration. Surveyor observations on one morning showed that an LPN performed hand hygiene and donned two pairs of gloves along with other PPE before entering the resident’s room to obtain blood pressure and administer medications. The LPN entered the room multiple times, repeatedly double-gloving, and handled the blood pressure cuff, trash can lid, medication cart, and medication cards without performing hand hygiene between glove removal and donning new gloves. At one point, the LPN removed gloves, closed the trashcan lid with a gloved hand, then removed gloves and immediately donned a clean pair without hand hygiene before preparing and administering the resident’s oral medications. Later, when preparing to administer IV antibiotic through the PICC line, the LPN again donned PPE, placed supplies on paper towels on the overbed table, removed the cap from the PICC access port, and wiped the port with an alcohol pad for less than three seconds before flushing with normal saline. During this process, IV tubing touched the resident’s bedding, the access port fell back onto the resident’s arm, and the LPN discarded the contaminated tubing, obtained new tubing, and again wiped the access port for less than three seconds before attaching the tubing and starting the IV medication, without performing hand hygiene or changing gloves during the sequence. A subsequent observation the same day showed the treatment nurse at the bedside with the resident’s PICC line dressing removed, leaving the site uncovered while the resident looked at the open site and was not wearing a mask. The LPN entered without performing hand hygiene before donning PPE, administered oral medication, disconnected the IV tubing from the PICC line, wiped the access port for three seconds, and flushed with normal saline. The treatment nurse stated responsibility for PICC dressing changes and believed the last dressing change had occurred the prior week, but also reported that the dressing removed that day was marked with a date indicating it was due for change the previous day and that the dressing had not been changed because supplies had to be ordered. Facility records showed that the TAR had been signed for a PICC dressing change on a scheduled day, while later nursing documentation described that a dressing change ordered for a specific day had not been performed as ordered. Facility policies and CDC-based documents required hand hygiene before and after glove use, hand hygiene after glove removal, and disinfection of needleless access devices for at least 15 seconds, and the DON stated that the PICC port should be cleaned for 15 seconds and that the dressing should be in place before starting medication, which contrasted with the observed practices. Interviews with the LPN revealed that double gloving was used so gloves would not have to be changed as often, and the LPN acknowledged that hand hygiene should have been performed after removing gloves and before donning new ones. The LPN initially could not state the required length of time for scrubbing the PICC access port and later stated it should have been cleaned for at least 15 seconds, which differed from the observed practice of wiping for less than three seconds. The treatment nurse described limited availability of PICC dressing kits and that no specific person was responsible for ordering them, and reported having changed the resident’s PICC dressing two to three times since admission. The APN and DON both stated expectations that PICC sites and access ports be kept sterile or clean during medication administration and flushing, that staff use only one set of gloves at a time with handwashing between glove changes, and that the PICC port be cleaned for 15 seconds with alcohol swabs even when medicated caps are used. These expectations and policies contrasted with the observed failures in hand hygiene, glove use, PICC port disinfection, and maintaining an intact dressing prior to accessing the PICC line.
Inconsistent Documentation of DNR Status in Medical Record
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that one resident’s medical record accurately and consistently reflected the resident’s advance directive specifying no Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The resident had non-Alzheimer’s dementia, anxiety, depression, moderate impairment in decision-making, and was receiving hospice services. Documentation in the record included a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, a Living Will Declaration, and a Resuscitate/Do Not Resuscitate order, all indicating that CPR and chest compressions were to be withheld and that the resident was a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). The resident’s face sheet also indicated an advance directive for no CPR. Despite these documents, multiple parts of the electronic health record and physician documentation identified the resident as a full code. Physician’s orders from admission onward, including after the resident was admitted to hospice, contained orders indicating full code status. A MD progress note also documented the resident as a full code, and the Medication Administration Record (MAR) for the reviewed period listed the resident as full code. These entries conflicted with the existing DNR orders and advance directive documents in the record. Interviews with nursing staff and leadership confirmed awareness of the discrepancy between the resident’s documented advance directives and the active physician orders and MAR entries. A RN, an LPN, the ADON, the DON, and the Administrator each acknowledged that the resident’s advance directives and resuscitate/do not resuscitate order indicated DNR status, while the current physician orders and MAR showed full code. Staff stated that code status is typically verified using the medical record, MAR, and face sheet, and they recognized that the inconsistency meant staff could rely on incorrect information about whether to initiate CPR. Facility policy required that advanced directives be respected, that the plan of care be consistent with documented treatment preferences, and that the physician be notified so appropriate orders could be documented in the medical record and care plan, which did not occur in this case.
Failure to Revise Sexual Expression Care Plan After Cognitive Decline
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to revise a resident’s comprehensive care plan after a significant decline in cognitive status and changes documented on the quarterly MDS. One resident with active diagnoses of depression, insomnia, and non-Alzheimer’s dementia had a BIMS score of 09 on the 07/30/2025 quarterly MDS, indicating moderate cognitive impairment, which later declined to a BIMS score of 03 on the 01/05/2026 quarterly MDS, indicating severe cognitive impairment. Despite this documented decline, the resident’s care plan continued to include an active problem of “Sexual Expression,” initiated on 08/15/2025 after an incident in which the resident was found in another resident’s bed with both residents partially undressed and engaging in intimate behavior. The care plan goal was to allow the resident to engage in sexual behavior with other consenting residents, with interventions focused on ensuring appropriate consent, providing privacy, and observing for changes in mood or cognition. Interviews and record reviews showed that the care plan was not updated to reflect the resident’s current cognitive status or capacity for consent. The resident’s responsible party stated that the resident was not capable of consenting to sexual relationships or activity and had not been capable for a long time, and identified themselves as the decision maker. An LPN familiar with the resident reported that the resident could not express needs or wants and did not believe the resident was ever capable of making decisions about a sexual relationship, despite what was documented on the care plan. Another LPN stated that the current care plan was not accurate due to the resident’s steady decline. The Social Services Director reported completing sexual consent questionnaires for both involved residents at the time of the original incident and determining they could consent, but acknowledged the form was not set to repeat on subsequent assessments. The Medical Director stated that a care plan for sexual activity for a resident with a BIMS score of 03 was not appropriate because sexual knowledge would be low, and the Administrator confirmed that care plans were expected to be updated quickly when the MDS reflected a change, underscoring that this did not occur for this resident’s sexual expression care plan.
Failure to Update Care Plan for New Exit-Seeking Behaviors Leading to Elopement
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to develop and implement an effective, updated comprehensive care plan with individualized interventions in response to new onset wandering, exit‑seeking, and elopement‑related behaviors for a resident on a secured unit. The resident had a history of traumatic brain injury, cerebral infarction (stroke), altered mental status, and was admitted to the secured unit due to traumatic brain injury and elopement risk. A quarterly MDS showed the resident was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 12 and independent with ambulation, but a later BIMS showed a score of 2, indicating moderately impaired cognition. Despite these changes and the resident’s known elopement risk, the care plan initiated months earlier contained only general interventions such as therapeutic activities and medication monitoring, and no additional or revised interventions were added after 08/25/2025 to address later‑emerging behaviors or elopement attempts. On 01/13/2026, multiple progress notes documented significant behavioral changes and explicit exit‑seeking behavior. Early that morning, staff recorded that the resident was up all night walking the halls, refusing to go to bed, entering other residents’ rooms, and voicing that they did not live in the facility. The resident stated an intent to get out of the window. Later that day, another note documented that the resident had been seeking elopement since returning from a home visit, admitted a desire to leave, had been looking for ways to get out, and followed staff out locked doors, showing force when staff tried to return the resident to the unit. A further note that evening described the resident talking loudly, being aggressive toward staff, and again stating a desire to get out of the facility. Although an elopement assessment was completed at that time, there were no new care plan interventions put in place to guide staff in preventing exit‑seeking or managing the aggressive behaviors. In the weeks that followed, staff interviews and documentation showed that the resident continued to exhibit wandering and exit‑seeking behaviors without corresponding care plan revisions. Staff reported that after a family home visit, the resident began trying to leave the unit, walked door to door asking how to get out, watched staff to see if they were paying attention, and talked about leaving. On the night of the elopement, camera footage showed the resident repeatedly moving between the room, day room, and bathroom before entering the room and not re‑emerging. A CNA on duty stated that the resident had been going in and out of the room earlier in the shift, then went back to the room and was not checked on again; the CNA also reported dozing off during the shift and not hearing the window break. In the early morning hours, staff discovered the resident’s window busted and the resident missing, and a progress note documented that the resident had eloped by throwing an end table through the window. A police report and interviews confirmed that the resident was found off‑site after nearly being struck by a vehicle, having left the facility to find family. Throughout this period, the facility did not update the resident’s care plan with individualized, effective interventions to address the clearly documented new onset wandering, exit‑seeking, and elopement behaviors.
Removal Plan
- Revise Resident #1's care plan to include individualized elopement prevention interventions updated to include all interventions per the Plan of Removal.
- Complete new elopement risk assessments for residents residing on the secured unit.
- For any resident scoring moderate or high risk, review care plans to ensure individualized elopement interventions are present.
- Complete environment exit safety checks.
- Revise and update all secured unit residents' care plans based on the Plan of Removal.
- Provide in-service education to nursing and direct care staff on the elopement policy and missing resident procedures.
- Provide in-service education to nursing and direct care staff on the definition and examples of elopement and exit-seeking behaviors, early warning signs requiring interventions, and requirements to notify the nurse, administrator, or DON of new or increased behaviors.
- Provide in-service education to nurse management responsible for updating care plans on mandatory care plan revision following behavior changes with individualized interventions.
- Order shatter-resistant film for front-facing secured unit windows and install it.
- Implement monitoring for the DON or designee to review the 24-hour report to identify new or increasing exit-seeking behaviors.
- Implement monitoring for the DON or designee to complete audits to verify elopement risk assessments are completed, individualized interventions are present, and documentation reflects staff implementation, then transition to routine QAPI monitoring.
Elopement from locked unit due to inadequate supervision and response to exit-seeking behaviors
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide adequate supervision and maintain an environment free from accident hazards for a resident with known wandering and elopement risk, resulting in an elopement through a broken bedroom window. The resident had a history of traumatic brain injury, cerebral infarction, altered mental status, and wandering, and had been admitted to a secured unit due to elopement risk. An MDS assessment earlier in the year showed the resident as cognitively intact and independently ambulatory, but a later BIMS assessment showed moderately impaired cognition. The resident’s care plan identified the need for placement on a secured unit related to traumatic brain injury and elopement risk, with interventions focused on therapeutic activities and monitoring of psychotropic medications, but did not include enhanced supervision measures in response to escalating exit-seeking behaviors. In the weeks prior to the elopement, multiple progress notes and staff interviews documented increased exit-seeking and behavioral changes after the resident returned from a home visit. On one day, progress notes recorded that the resident was up all night walking the halls, going in and out of other residents’ rooms, voicing that they did not live in the facility, and stating an intention to get out through a window. Staff documented that the resident had been seeking elopement since returning from a home visit, had been looking for ways to get out, followed staff out locked doors, and showed force when staff tried to return the resident to the unit. Another note from the same day described the resident talking loudly, being aggressive toward staff, and repeatedly expressing a desire to leave the facility. An elopement assessment documented that the resident ambulated independently, had a history of following staff and others, and had been wandering halls and standing by locked exit doors after returning from home. On the night of the elopement, camera footage showed the resident repeatedly moving between the resident’s room, the day room, and the bathroom until entering the room at approximately 3:12 a.m. and not re-emerging. Staff interviews revealed that the CNA assigned to the unit acknowledged that the resident had been trying to start a fight with another resident for two days, that the resident typically went in and out of the room throughout the night, and that staff did not normally go back to check on the resident once the resident returned to the room. The CNA reported that she did not check on the resident after the last interaction around 9:30–10:00 p.m., that she sometimes could not take breaks due to staffing, and that she dozed off for about 30 minutes during the shift. The DON later stated that the CNA reported falling asleep and not hearing the window break. Staff discovered the broken window only when an LPN returned from break around 4:25 a.m., at which point the resident was found to be missing. Law enforcement records and interviews confirmed that the facility reported the resident missing in the early morning hours and that the resident was located off-site by police after a citizen reported almost striking the resident with a vehicle. The police officer stated that the resident was found near a school approximately 1.9 miles from the facility, requiring travel across an intersection and along areas without sidewalks. The resident told police they were walking to find family. Interviews with multiple CNAs and nurses indicated that the resident had been going door to door asking how to get out, watching staff to see if they were paying attention, and walking back and forth to doors after returning from a family visit. The DON and Administrator both stated they were not aware of prior elopement attempts beyond wandering and walking back and forth, and the MDS Coordinator reported she had not been informed of the January incident in which the resident voiced a plan to escape through a window. Facility policies required staff to know the location of residents under their care and to implement care plan strategies for residents at risk of wandering or elopement, but staff interviews showed that routine checks were not performed on the resident during the night of the incident and that the resident’s escalating exit-seeking behaviors were not effectively communicated or translated into increased supervision. A police incident report and witness statements further detailed that the resident exited the building by throwing an end table through the bedroom window. The facility’s own missing resident and wandering/elopement policies stated that staff are responsible for knowing residents’ whereabouts and that care plans for at-risk residents must include safety strategies and interventions. Despite documented behaviors such as wandering, standing at locked doors, following staff out locked exits, verbalizing intent to leave, and specifically stating a plan to get out through a window, there was no evidence in the record that supervision was increased or that staff adjusted monitoring practices during periods of heightened exit-seeking. Staff interviews also revealed that for several weeks there had often been only one CNA on the locked unit at night, and that the CNA on duty the night of the elopement positioned herself in a doorway with hall lights off and later admitted to dozing off. These actions and inactions resulted in the resident being able to break the window, leave the secured unit and facility, and travel a significant distance off-site before being located and returned by police.
Failure to Follow Care-Planned Assistance and Supervision Leading to Resident Falls
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to follow care-planned interventions for assistance and supervision for two residents, resulting in falls. Resident #2, admitted with Alzheimer's disease, spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, and neuromuscular bladder dysfunction, had a care plan requiring assistance of two staff for bathing/showering, bed mobility, personal hygiene, toilet use, and transferring. On 06/04/2025, the DON and an LPN responded to Resident #2's room and found the resident on their back on the floor after CNA #1 attempted to perform incontinent care alone, contrary to the care plan specifying a two-person assist for bed mobility, transfers, and personal hygiene. CNA #1 later stated that, upon hiring, it was not made clear how to access the electronic care plan system and that initial training on the system was brief and difficult to see. Resident #3 was admitted with spinal stenosis of the cervical region, cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, generalized muscle weakness, and was receiving surgical aftercare following nervous system surgery. The care plan required assistance of one staff member for toileting, bathing/showering, dressing, and bed mobility, and assistance of two staff members for transferring, including use of a sliding board with two-person assist. A progress note documented that on 01/15/2026, an LPN was called to Resident #3's room and found the resident lying face down on the floor wearing a cervical collar, after the resident reported being told to dress themself. The resident later recounted that a CNA had helped them to a seated position at the edge of the bed, then left the room with another staff member while the resident attempted to dress themself, during which time the fall occurred. Interviews with multiple CNAs and facility leadership confirmed that CNAs were expected to obtain resident care instructions from the electronic care plan/Kardex system and that Resident #3 required staff assistance for all tasks except meals. CNA #2 acknowledged leaving Resident #3 unattended while assisting another staff member, despite the electronic care plan indicating the resident did not perform tasks alone. Another CNA reported sometimes being the only staff member in the room when transferring Resident #3 with a slide board, even though the care plan required two staff. The DON and Administrator stated that aides were trained one-on-one on the electronic care plans after morning huddles and that CNAs were expected to verify care requirements in the electronic care plan before providing care. The Medical Director stated it was his expectation that orders were followed as written in the care plan. Standard of practice cited requires that residents receive treatment and care in accordance with professional standards, the comprehensive person-centered care plan, and residents' choices.
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