Cherokee Park Rehabilitation
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Location
- 2100 Cherokee Ridge Way, Louisville, Kentucky 40205
- CMS Provider Number
- 185237
- Inspections on file
- 15
- Latest survey
- July 9, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 5
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Cherokee Park Rehabilitation during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility failed to provide proper tracheostomy care and suctioning for two residents, leading to deficiencies in professional standards and infection control. An LPN did not assess a resident after a significant drop in oxygen saturation, failed to suction mucus, and lacked necessary emergency equipment. Another LPN did not clean a stoma site, failed to suction before reinserting a cannula, and did not monitor oxygen saturation. Staff training gaps and inconsistent adherence to procedures were noted.
Two residents experienced a decline in their ability to perform ADLs due to the facility's failure to provide restorative care. One resident with multiple sclerosis and contractures declined from using a standing lift to requiring a Hoyer lift after the facility discontinued its restorative program. Another resident, admitted with a stroke, became dependent on a Hoyer lift after a fall and therapy, with no restorative services provided post-therapy. Staff confirmed the absence of a restorative program, leading to increased dependency on mechanical lifts and staff assistance.
The facility failed to address a grievance about the removal of a microwave used for reheating food, affecting eight residents. Despite raising the issue in resident council meetings, no alternative was provided, leading to dissatisfaction. Staff confirmed the microwave's removal due to safety concerns, but no procedure was in place for reheating food, and the issue remained unresolved.
The facility did not ensure residents were aware of the location of state survey inspection results, as required by policy. Residents and the Activity Director were unaware of where the results were posted, and the survey binder was not easily accessible. The Administrator acknowledged the need for the binder to be more accessible.
The facility failed to serve food and beverages at safe and appetizing temperatures, affecting ten residents. Residents reported cold and bland food, with issues confirmed through observations and interviews. The Dietary Manager acknowledged temperature discrepancies, and the facility lacked a system to maintain cold beverage temperatures. The administrator was aware of increased complaints following the removal of a microwave for reheating food.
A resident's electric bed was malfunctioning, with a sunken mattress and non-functional motor, which was not addressed by the facility. Despite the resident's complaints, no work orders were submitted, and the maintenance director was unaware of the issue until the bed was removed. The facility's protocol for reporting maintenance issues was not followed, leading to a deficiency in providing a safe and comfortable environment.
A resident's preference for morning showers was not honored, as she was scheduled for night showers based on room number. Despite being cognitively intact and expressing her preference, the facility's rigid scheduling led to her refusal of a late-night shower. Staff interviews revealed a lack of communication and awareness of the resident's needs, resulting in a deficiency in honoring resident rights and self-determination.
A resident was incorrectly assessed to have received insulin injections on their MDS Assessment, despite having no physician orders for insulin. The MDS Coordinator confirmed the error, highlighting a failure in accurate documentation of medication administration.
Expired medications were found on a medication cart in the facility's Affinity Unit. During an observation, several medications were identified as being past their opened dates without discard dates. Interviews with staff, including the DON and an LPN, revealed uncertainty about the timeframe for which opened medications remain valid, leading to the deficiency.
The facility failed to follow infection control guidelines during a dressing change for a resident with a pressure ulcer, as an LPN contaminated the clean barrier and did not change gloves after cleansing the wound. Additionally, a resident's nebulizer equipment was found lying unprotected on the floor, and a housekeeper swept and mopped around it without notifying clinical staff. The DON and Unit Manager acknowledged these breaches in infection control practices.
A facility failed to document care for two residents with severe cognitive impairments and incontinence issues, leading to a deficiency in maintaining accurate medical records. Despite being totally dependent on staff for ADL care, documentation was incomplete over several months. Interviews with the Unit Manager and DON suggested possible documentation errors, but the lack of records made it difficult to confirm care was provided.
Deficient Tracheostomy Care and Suctioning Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide tracheostomy care and tracheal suctioning consistent with professional standards of practice and infection control processes for two residents, R54 and R61. For R54, an LPN did not assess the resident after oxygen saturation levels dropped significantly, failed to suction the resident when mucus was expectorated, and did not have necessary emergency equipment such as a Yankaur suction tip and Ambu-bag readily available. The LPN also did not monitor the resident's oxygen saturation during the tracheostomy care, which was not performed according to the physician's orders. For R61, another LPN did not clean the tracheostomy stoma site as ordered, failed to suction the resident to ensure a clear airway before reinserting the cannula, and did not monitor oxygen saturation during the procedure. The LPN also did not change gloves between clean and dirty procedures and did not have an Ambu-bag present in the room. The tracheostomy care was not performed per the physician's orders, and the LPN did not follow sterile procedures. Interviews with staff revealed gaps in training and adherence to procedures. LPNs reported receiving training in nursing school and through annual skills check-offs, but there was no consistent in-person observation of skills. The facility's policy required tracheostomy care to be performed according to physician orders and professional standards, but this was not consistently followed, leading to the identified deficiencies.
Failure to Provide Restorative Care Leads to Decline in Resident Function
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide restorative care and services to maintain the highest level of functioning for two residents, R55 and R58, resulting in a decline in their ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). R55, who was admitted with multiple sclerosis and contractures, experienced a decline in physical abilities after the facility discontinued its restorative care program in 2021. Despite receiving therapy, R55 did not receive restorative services post-therapy, leading to a decline from being able to use a standing lift to requiring a Hoyer mechanical lift for transfers. Interviews with staff confirmed the absence of a restorative program and the resident's decline in function. R58, admitted with a cerebral infarction and cognitive communication deficit, also experienced a decline in ADLs. Initially able to use a sit-to-stand lift, R58 became dependent on a Hoyer lift after a fall and subsequent therapy. The facility's lack of a restorative program meant R58 did not receive services to maintain abilities post-therapy, contributing to a decline in function. Observations during the survey showed R58's increased dependency on staff for ADLs and the absence of restorative care. Interviews with facility staff, including the Administrator and Director of Nursing, confirmed the discontinuation of the restorative program during COVID and the reliance on group exercise programs offered by the activity department. The facility's failure to provide restorative care and services led to a decline in the residents' functional abilities, as evidenced by the increased dependency on mechanical lifts and staff assistance for transfers and other ADLs.
Failure to Address Resident Grievance on Food Reheating
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to address a grievance repeatedly voiced by residents regarding the removal of a microwave used for reheating food, which affected eight out of 23 sampled residents. The residents expressed dissatisfaction with the inability to heat their food, which they had previously been able to do. The facility's policy stated that staff should assist residents with food brought in by family or visitors, but no alternative mechanism was provided after the microwave was removed. During interviews, residents reported that they had raised the issue multiple times in resident council meetings without receiving a satisfactory response. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the microwave had been removed due to cross-contamination concerns, and no system was in place to reheat food. The Administrator was unaware that residents could not get their food reheated and mentioned safety concerns as the reason for the microwave's removal. Staff interviews revealed that there were other microwaves in the building, but no procedure was in place for reheating residents' food. The Activity Director acknowledged that the issue had been raised in resident council meetings multiple times and was a significant problem. Despite the residents' willingness to provide thermometers for safe reheating, the facility had not implemented a solution, leading to ongoing dissatisfaction among residents.
Failure to Inform Residents of Survey Results Location
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents were aware of the location of the state survey inspection results and did not make these results readily accessible for review. This deficiency was identified through observations, interviews, and a review of the facility's policies and resident council meeting minutes. The facility's policy on Resident Rights, dated March 22, 2022, states that residents have the right to examine the results of the most recent survey conducted by federal or state surveyors. However, a review of five months of Resident Council Meeting Minutes revealed no documentation of discussions regarding the state survey inspection results or their location. During a resident meeting, five residents confirmed they were unaware of where the survey results were posted, expressing a desire for this information to be shared during council meetings. The Activity Director also admitted to not knowing where the survey results were posted and had not reviewed them with residents. The Administrator stated that the survey results were kept in a binder in a cabinet, which was observed to be not easily accessible to residents, families, or visitors. The Administrator acknowledged that the survey binder should be more accessible and available for residents to see.
Deficiency in Food Temperature and Palatability
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food and beverages were served at safe and appetizing temperatures, affecting ten residents. During a resident group meeting, five residents expressed concerns about the food being served cold and lacking seasoning. Additional interviews with five other residents revealed similar complaints, including issues with the texture and seasoning of specific food items like broccoli and mashed potatoes. Observations confirmed that hot foods were served below the recommended temperature of 121 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold foods were above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that the hot foods should have been served at a minimum of 121 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold foods should have been below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. However, during a test tray observation, scrambled eggs were found to be 117 degrees Fahrenheit, fried potatoes were 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and apple juice was 66 degrees Fahrenheit. The test tray also revealed issues with food presentation, such as soggy toast without margarine or butter. The facility's policy stated that meals should be nourishing and palatable, but the observations and resident feedback indicated a failure to meet these standards. Additionally, the facility lacked a system to maintain cold beverage temperatures during meal service. Beverages intended to be served cold, such as milk, juice, and tea, were observed at room temperature with no mechanism to keep them cold. The Dietary Manager confirmed that beverages were served from carts without ice or other means to maintain appropriate temperatures. The facility's administrator was aware of the food complaints, which increased after the removal of a microwave used for reheating residents' food.
Resident's Bed Malfunction Not Addressed
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident had a properly functioning bed, which is a violation of the resident's rights to a dignified existence and a safe, comfortable, and homelike environment. The resident, who was cognitively intact, reported that her electric bed was not functioning properly, as it did not raise up or down, and the mattress was sunken in on one side. Despite the resident informing the staff about the issue, the bed remained unfixed for an extended period. The maintenance director was not made aware of the bed's malfunction until the day it was removed from the resident's room. The maintenance director confirmed that the motor actuator was failing and the mattress was visibly sunken. However, no work orders had been submitted for the bed, and the maintenance director had not conducted a bed check on the resident's side of the unit since October 2023. The facility's system for tracking repairs, TELS, was not utilized by the staff to report the issue. Interviews with the Director of Nursing and the Administrator revealed that they were also unaware of the bed's malfunction. They stated that their expectation was for the CNAs to inform the nurses, who would then submit a work order into the TELS system and report the issue to maintenance. The lack of communication and failure to follow the facility's protocol for reporting and addressing maintenance issues led to the deficiency.
Failure to Honor Resident's Shower Preferences
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor a resident's choice regarding shower times, which is a violation of resident rights and self-determination. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had expressed a preference for morning showers, was scheduled for showers during the night shift. This scheduling did not align with her stated preferences, leading to her refusal of a shower when it was offered late at night. The resident expressed that she was too tired and groggy to take a shower at that time, and she was asked to sign a refusal form without being fully aware of what she was signing due to her state of tiredness. The facility's shower schedule was based on room numbers, with certain rooms assigned to night or day shifts. This rigid scheduling did not take into account individual resident preferences, as evidenced by the resident's experience. The CNAs and nursing staff did not communicate effectively with the resident to understand her preferences or to adjust the schedule accordingly. The resident's refusal was documented, but there was no follow-up to address her preference for morning showers until after the surveyor's observation. Interviews with facility staff, including CNAs and the Unit Manager, revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding the resident's preferences. The staff followed a pre-existing schedule without questioning or verifying if it met the residents' needs. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that the schedule was in place before their tenure and stated that accommodations should be made for resident preferences, but this was not done in practice for the resident in question.
Inaccurate MDS Assessment for Insulin Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure an accurate Minimum Data Set (MDS) Assessment for one of the sampled residents. The resident, who was admitted with diagnoses including atrial fibrillation, anemia, and dementia, was incorrectly assessed to have received insulin injections during the look-back period. The MDS Coordinator confirmed that the insulin information was erroneously checked on the MDS Assessment. Upon review of the resident's medical records, it was found that the resident did not have any physician orders for insulin administration during the specified period. This discrepancy was identified during an interview with the MDS Coordinator, who acknowledged the error in the MDS Assessment, indicating a failure in accurately documenting the resident's medication administration.
Expired Medications Found on Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that one of three medication carts observed was free of expired medications, which could potentially affect the efficacy of the medications. During an observation of the Affinity Unit medication cart, several medications were found to be past their opened dates without being dated with a discard date. Specifically, a bottle of Tums was marked as opened on January 30, 2024, Robafen DM on February 3, 2024, Fluticasone-Salmeterol on April 9, 2024, and Albuterol HFA on March 2, 2024. These findings were confirmed during an interview with the Unit Manager, the Affinity Unit Program Director, and an LPN, who acknowledged that the medications had been kept past their opened dates. The Director of Nursing (DON) stated that it was her expectation for staff to dispose of medications within 28 or 30 days after being opened. However, during interviews, it was revealed that there was uncertainty among staff regarding the exact duration for which opened medications were considered valid. The LPN interviewed was unsure about the specific timeframe, believing it to be 30 days. The DON reiterated that staff were expected to check expiration and opened dates whenever passing medications and to dispose of any expired medications. This lack of adherence to the facility's policy on medication storage and disposal led to the deficiency identified by the surveyors.
Infection Control Deficiencies in Wound Care and Equipment Handling
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its infection control guidelines during a dressing change for a resident with a stage four pressure ulcer. The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) contaminated the clean barrier with the old dressing and did not change gloves after cleansing the wound, which is against the facility's policy. The LPN admitted to forgetting the procedure due to nervousness, and both the Unit Manager and Director of Nursing acknowledged the breach in infection control practices. Another deficiency was observed with a resident's nebulizer equipment, which was found lying unprotected on the floor. The nebulizer tubing and mouthpiece were not stored in a container or bag, and a housekeeper was seen sweeping and mopping around the equipment without notifying clinical staff. The housekeeper was unaware of the need to report such findings, which was confirmed during an interview with the Housekeeping/Laundry Supervisor. The Director of Nursing and Unit Manager expressed that the nebulizer equipment should have been replaced immediately and stored properly to prevent infection control issues. The housekeeper's actions were not aligned with the facility's expectations, as they should have informed clinical staff to address the situation. The lack of communication and adherence to infection control protocols led to the deficiencies observed in the facility.
Deficiency in Documentation of Resident Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper documentation of care and services for two residents, leading to a deficiency in maintaining accurate medical records. The first resident, admitted with a history of intracranial injury, epileptic seizures, and urinary incontinence, was assessed as severely impaired and totally dependent on staff for activities of daily living (ADL) care. However, documentation revealed that personal hygiene and incontinence care were not consistently recorded over several months, indicating a lack of adherence to the facility's policy on incontinence care. The second resident, diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and weakness, also required extensive assistance with ADL care, including personal hygiene and incontinence management. Similar to the first resident, documentation for this resident was incomplete, with several days lacking records of care being provided. This inconsistency in documentation was noted over multiple months, raising concerns about the reliability of the care provided. Interviews with the Unit Manager and Director of Nursing confirmed the absence of documentation, which they attributed to potential documentation errors. However, they acknowledged that without proper records, it was challenging to verify whether the necessary care was delivered. The facility's failure to document care as per professional standards resulted in a deficiency in safeguarding resident-identifiable information and maintaining accurate medical records.
Latest citations in Kentucky
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, and well‑maintained environment as required by its own policy, with surveyors observing loose kitchen handrails, damaged doors and wood paneling, exposed concrete and stained flooring in resident rooms and bathrooms, bubbling and chipped paint, rusted door frames, water‑stained ceiling tiles, scuffed walls and baseboards, damaged tiles, and deteriorated outdoor structures such as a raised garden bed. Additional issues included a broken cabinet and taped wall corner guard in shower rooms, an unsecured wall clock, a missing floor tile, dried paint splatter, rusted heating/cooling units with chipped paint, and a pool table with a missing corner guard. A resident reported a heating/air unit in her room with a missing bottom panel exposing dust and debris. Staff interviews revealed that some items had been broken for years, concerns about the safety of the handrails had not resulted in repairs, housekeeping did not consistently log issues for maintenance, and there was no formal system to track and ensure completion of maintenance work orders, as acknowledged by the DON, the Maintenance Director, and the Administrator.
The facility failed to ensure food and beverages were served at safe and appetizing temperatures, as required by its Food Preparation and Service policy. Multiple test tray assessments documented hot items such as meats, vegetables, and starches being served within the temperature danger zone, and cold items such as desserts, milk, juice, and sandwiches above the required cold-holding temperature. A resident with DM2, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, who was cognitively intact, reported receiving cold food all the time, and residents in a Resident Council meeting also reported cold food at mealtimes. During a test tray observation, surveyors found hot entrée and vegetable items to be room temperature or cold and beverages warm. Despite these findings, dietary leadership and the RD stated that hot food was always hot and that temperatures taken during audits were accurate, while the DON and Administrator expressed expectations that hot food be hot and cold food be cold.
Surveyors found that nourishment refrigerators and freezers on several units were soiled with dried food debris, and multiple opened grape jelly containers were left undated and unrefrigerated despite labeling that required refrigeration after opening. Facility policies required refrigerators and freezers to be kept clean, free of debris, and that refrigerated or frozen foods be covered, labeled, and dated. Staff interviews showed that Dietary was responsible for cleaning nourishment refrigerators, that refrigerators were cleaned on a set schedule with spills expected to be wiped up by staff, and that opened jelly should have been dated and refrigerated. These practices had the potential to affect all current residents.
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, and homelike environment and to ensure adequate supplies for resident care. Over several months, grievances and Resident Council minutes documented repeated concerns about lack of needed supplies, use of wrong-size briefs, and the prolonged closure of a small dining room. Multiple STNAs reported frequent shortages of briefs, linens, washcloths, peri-care products, and other supplies, sometimes leading staff to cut towels into washcloths and to use ill-fitting brief sizes for residents. Environmental observations revealed inaccessible and damaged dining areas with buckled and broken floor tiles, missing and stained ceiling tiles, and a resident bathroom with uneven flooring, persistent staining, a cracked shower light cover containing a dead insect, and a soap dispenser installed above a non-functional outlet. Additional rooms and hallways had exposed wall cracks, sagging ceiling tiles, lifting and separating floor tiles, and buckled flooring attributed to leaks, while maintenance and housekeeping leaders acknowledged awareness of many of these issues but had not ensured timely correction.
The facility failed to develop and implement comprehensive, person-centered care plans for multiple residents, and staff did not consistently follow existing care plan interventions. Several residents with PEG tubes, a dialysis catheter, and a colostomy either lacked appropriate EBP care plan focuses at admission or did not have EBP practices implemented as written, including missing door signage and failure to follow tube-feeding protocols. In addition, two residents with PTSD and other mental health diagnoses had active PTSD documented in assessments and psychiatric notes, but their care plans did not address PTSD-related triggers, symptoms, or trauma-informed interventions, despite staff acknowledging these omissions and the importance of accurate, complete care planning.
A deficiency was cited after surveyors found that multiple residents receiving enteral nutrition did not receive care consistent with facility policy, physician orders, or manufacturer guidance. Tube feeding bags were often hung without dates or times, tubing connectors were left uncapped between uses, and pumps and IV poles were visibly soiled with dried formula. A resident with a G-tube and severe cognitive impairment twice developed abdominal wall cellulitis identified by an adult day care center, with no prior documentation of infection signs by facility staff despite orders to monitor the site each shift. Other residents had medications administered via PEG or G-tubes without verification of tube placement, feedings started late or allowed to run past ordered stop times, and feeding systems spiked and primed hours before use with open, uncovered connectors. Staff interviews confirmed that protective caps were not supplied, that they were behind on tasks, and that they were aware these practices could introduce contamination, leading to the cited deficiency in enteral feeding management.
The facility failed to implement and maintain effective infection prevention and control practices, including missing Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) signage for multiple residents with devices such as feeding tubes, colostomies, dialysis catheters, and indwelling urinary catheters, despite care plans and orders indicating EBP. Several residents receiving tube feedings had bottles and tubing hanging without dates or times and without protective end caps when not in use, contrary to staff statements that feedings should be dated, timed, and properly capped. Staff also did not consistently disinfect shared equipment and surfaces between residents, including a medication cart used for blood glucose checks, a blood pressure cuff used on more than one resident, and a mechanical lift that was returned to the hallway without cleaning after use, despite facility expectations and policies requiring cleaning between each resident.
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, as gnats, roaches, mice, and other pests were repeatedly observed and reported in resident rooms, bathrooms, dining areas, and the kitchen. Surveyors noted gnats around urine-filled urinals on a bedside table, in the kitchen near an open freezer, and on dirty dishware in a unit dining room, as well as a cracked bathroom light fixture containing a dead moth. Exterior doors near the kitchen, courtyard, and parking lot were repeatedly propped open with objects, contrary to expectations stated by the DON, Dietary Manager, and Maintenance Director, allowing pests to enter. A resident reported seeing a mouse and cockroaches in his room, with a mouse glue trap observed there, while another resident reported a mouse in her window and mouse droppings in both the window and on a meal tray. STNAs described ongoing problems with gnats and large roaches and stated that routine pest control spraying and glue traps had not resolved the issues.
A resident with COPD, chronic pain, and pneumonia was placed on palliative and hospice care and ordered oral morphine concentrate for end-of-life pain management. The NP intended a dose of 0.25 ml of 100 mg/5 ml morphine (5 mg), but an LPN entered the order in the EMR as 20 mg/5 ml at 0.25 ml (1 mg), creating a concentration discrepancy. Pharmacy dispensed 100 mg/5 ml morphine labeled to give 0.25 ml (5 mg), yet staff did not detect the mismatch between the EMR and the bottle. A hospice nurse, relying on the incorrect 20 mg/5 ml EMR order, obtained a new order to increase the dose to 1.25 ml to equal 5 mg and documented this on a hospice visit record. A CMT then administered the 100 mg/5 ml concentrate at 0.25 ml once and 1.25 ml three times, each 1.25 ml dose equaling 25 mg instead of 5 mg. Despite concerns from the UM and ADON about the unusually high 1.25 ml dose, clarification was delayed, and the resident was later pronounced dead. Interviews and policies showed staff were expected to follow the five rights of medication administration and reconcile labels with EMR orders, but multiple failures to verify the correct concentration and dose led to repeated morphine overdoses and a significant medication error.
A resident on hospice with COPD and chronic pain received morphine concentrate after a verbal order from an NP was incorrectly entered by an LPN as a lower‑strength solution. A hospice nurse later increased the volume of the morphine dose based on the incorrect concentration in the electronic order rather than the pharmacy order or medication label, resulting in administration of doses five times higher than intended on multiple occasions. The resident died later that day, and hospice staff, the coroner, and police became involved, with police confirming concerns about excessive dosing and seizing the morphine. Despite a facility policy requiring prompt reporting of abuse allegations and any reasonable suspicion of a crime to state agencies, the DON and Administrator did not report the incident, with the Administrator stating she relied on police to make the report.
Failure to Maintain Safe, Clean, and Well-Maintained Environment
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain a safe, clean, and well‑maintained environment as required by its “Home-like Environment” policy, which states residents have a right to a safe, clean, and homelike setting. Surveyors observed multiple unresolved maintenance and housekeeping issues throughout the building and grounds. These included loose and insecure handrails leading into the kitchen, a damaged kitchen entry door with scratches and a missing piece, damaged and chipped wood paneling at the nurses’ station, and multiple areas of damaged flooring in resident rooms where heating/cooling units had been removed, exposing concrete and stained flooring around toilets and sinks. Additional observations included bubbling and chipping wall paint, rusted door frames, discolored and water‑stained ceiling tiles, and scuffed walls and baseboards in hallways and the dining room. Further observations showed environmental issues in resident-use and common areas, including a water hose lying in flowerbeds at the facility entrance, a Styrofoam cup on the ground outside a resident’s window, scratched glass doors to the smoking area, damaged floor tiles at the exit to the smoking area, a cabinet in a resident shower room with a missing handle, and a wall corner guard held in place with multiple strips of tape. Another shower room had a wall clock not mounted properly, resting on cloth hooks. Additional findings included a missing floor tile in a resident room exposing concrete, dried paint splatter at entries to several resident rooms, rust and chipped paint on a heating/cooling unit and adjacent exit door, a pool table in the dining room with a missing corner guard and exposed edges, and a raised garden bed with structural deterioration and a failing, rotted base partially detached and laying on the ground. Interviews confirmed that these conditions had been ongoing and not consistently addressed through the facility’s maintenance processes. A resident reported that the heating/air unit in her room was missing the bottom part, exposing dust and debris on the floor, and stated she would clean it herself if able. A CNA reported the broken cabinet in the shower room had been in that condition for many years and that repairs were not consistently completed after being reported via logbooks. The Housekeeping Manager acknowledged awareness of scuff marks on walls and baseboards but had not entered them into the maintenance logbook. The Dietary Manager stated she had concerns about the safety of the kitchen handrails, which she believed could pose a fall risk, and that maintenance had not repaired them. The Maintenance Director stated there were no outstanding work orders in the logbook, acknowledged that monthly painting had not been done for March, and noted the damaged raised garden bed had not been repaired or removed. The DON and Administrator both acknowledged there was no formal system to track and ensure completion of maintenance work orders, and the Administrator was aware of the unsecured kitchen handrails but was not aware if repairs had ever been completed.
Failure to Maintain Safe and Palatable Food Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide food and drink at safe and appetizing temperatures in accordance with its own Food Preparation and Service policy. The policy, dated 2001, defined the temperature danger zone as above 41°F and below 135°F, and required potentially hazardous foods to be maintained at or below 41°F or at or above 135°F. Multiple Providence Pavilion Test Tray Assessment documents for various meals showed hot foods such as baked ravioli, baked chicken, rice pilaf, carrots, rosemary chicken, mushroom rice, au gratin cauliflower, broccoli, mashed potatoes, beef stroganoff, and carrots being served at temperatures between 118°F and 132°F, which were within the policy’s stated danger zone. Cold items such as apple bar, milk, cold ham and cheese sandwich, pudding, juice, and lemonade were recorded at temperatures between 42°F and 61°F, also within the danger zone. During a test tray observation, surveyors tasted the beef stroganoff, broccoli, and lemonade and described them as room temperature, cold, and warm, respectively. Resident feedback corroborated these findings. One resident, admitted with diagnoses including type 2 diabetes mellitus, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, and assessed as cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 14/15, stated she received cold food all the time. Residents attending a Resident Council meeting also reported receiving cold food at mealtimes. Despite these reports and documented tray temperatures in the danger zone, the Dietary Manager stated she preferred hot food served at 130°F and reported that steam tables were turned on one-half hour before meal service. The RD reported that she conducted sanitation walkthroughs and test trays and stated that hot food was always hot and that recorded temperatures showed this, and further indicated that department heads passed trays and took temperatures during test tray audits. The DON and Administrator both stated their expectations that residents receive food at proper temperatures, with hot food hot and cold food cold, but the documented observations and resident interviews showed that this was not consistently occurring.
Improper Food Storage and Unsanitary Nourishment Refrigerators
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store, prepare, and serve food in accordance with professional standards and its own policies for food safety. Surveyors observed that nourishment refrigerators and freezers on multiple units, including the Honor, Pavilion, and Purpose Units, were soiled with dried food debris on shelves and throughout the compartments. On the Honor Unit, an opened grape jelly container was found sitting on top of the refrigerator, undated and not stored inside the refrigerator, despite the product label directing refrigeration after opening. In the kitchen, two additional opened and undated grape jelly containers were observed left out of the refrigerator. Review of facility policies from 2001 showed that refrigerators and freezers were to be kept clean, free of debris, and disinfected with sanitizing solution on a scheduled basis, and that all foods stored in the refrigerator or freezer were to be covered, labeled, and dated with a use-by date. Staff interviews further clarified practices and expectations related to the deficiency. A state tested nurse aide stated that Dietary was responsible for cleaning the unit nourishment refrigerators. The Dietary Manager reported that nourishment refrigerators were cleaned twice weekly and that any spills should be cleaned up by staff, and acknowledged that the jelly was kept out to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but should have been dated when opened and kept refrigerated. The DON stated her expectation that nourishment refrigerators be clean, and the Administrator stated her expectation that staff wipe up any spills and maintain the cleanliness of nourishment and resident refrigerators. The deficient practices had the potential to affect all 80 current residents.
Failure to Maintain Safe, Clean, and Homelike Environment and Adequate Care Supplies
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide residents with a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, including adequate supplies for daily care. The facility’s own policy on a homelike environment requires a safe, clean, comfortable setting that emphasizes residents’ independence and personal needs and preferences. Review of grievance logs and Resident Council minutes over several months showed repeated resident concerns about not having needed supplies and the prolonged inaccessibility of the small dining room. Grievances documented that residents lacked needed supplies and that the small dining room remained unusable, while Resident Council minutes reflected residents’ desire for the small dining room to be usable by Thanksgiving and ongoing concerns about not receiving needed supplies and aides using the wrong size briefs. Multiple staff interviews confirmed ongoing supply shortages affecting resident care. One STNA reported that the facility frequently did not have enough supplies, including hand sanitizers, soaps, clean linens, and briefs, and that this had been an issue for a few months. She stated that when briefs ran out, staff reported to nursing, who contacted central supply, and if unavailable, the Administrator was called to purchase supplies locally. Another STNA reported housekeeping budget cuts and stated the facility had run out of washcloths and disposable bed pads, leading staff to cut up towels to use as washcloths for peri-care. She also reported that a previous central supply staff member told STNAs the facility budgeted briefs to be changed once every six hours, which she felt was not sufficient for some residents, and that residents sometimes had to use larger or smaller brief sizes and complained about this. A third STNA stated the facility ran out of supplies on the unit, sometimes leaving no linens for night shift, and that peri-care supplies and specific brief sizes sometimes ran low, requiring use of different sizes. Environmental observations and staff interviews showed multiple areas of the building that were not maintained in a safe, clean, or homelike condition. The small dining/activity room off the main hall was observed with tables and chairs blocking entryways and a wavy, buckled wood-grain tile floor, and the room remained inaccessible to residents. In the Honor dining room, surveyors observed a large section of broken and mismatched wood-grain tiles with gaps between them and a missing ceiling tile. The bathroom in one resident room had an uneven floor, staining on the raised toilet seat, rust-colored stains running from a soap dispenser down past a non-functional wall outlet and onto the baseboard, and a cracked shower light cover containing a dead moth. The Housekeeping Manager acknowledged the staining had been present for two to three months, that attempts to remove it were unsuccessful, that the bathroom was not homelike, and that the floor needed to be replaced. Additional structural issues were observed in resident areas and common spaces. In another resident room, the wall with the window had an exposed crack with visible sheetrock, and ceiling tiles above the door included one missing tile and six stained and sagging tiles; an LPN stated there had been a leak and that maintenance was aware, but no repairs had been made. The Maintenance Director stated the leak was caused by the HVAC system and that repairs had not yet been completed. In the Providence hallway, blue border floor tiles were lifting and separating along the length of the hallway, with large scuff marks and dull, soiled center tiles; the Housekeeping Manager stated staff could not strip and wax the floor due to the tile’s condition, and the Regional Maintenance Director stated the facility was in the process of obtaining quotes to replace the floor. In another resident room, the floor appeared buckled and wavy, which the Maintenance Director attributed to a water leak in a wall coil assist located in the ceiling, and he stated there were plans to repair the flooring in multiple rooms. Interviews with maintenance and management staff showed awareness of many of these environmental issues but also revealed gaps in monitoring and timely correction. The Maintenance Assistant reported doing monthly room rounds for lights, extension cords, plugs, and handrails but was unaware of the bathroom issues in the identified room and had not noticed the damaged tiles in the Honor dining room or how long the small dining room had been closed. The Maintenance Director stated the small dining room floor damage was due to a water leak from an ice machine and believed it occurred months earlier, and he acknowledged that the non-live outlet in the bathroom would need to be removed and covered. The Housekeeping Manager stated she was aware of damaged and ill-fitting tiles in the Honor dining room and that floors in several areas, including the small dining room, needed replacement. The DON and Administrator both stated their expectations that the facility be kept clean, safe, and homelike, with all spaces utilized for residents and floors kept even, clean, dry, and free from clutter, but the observed conditions and staff reports demonstrated that these expectations were not being met.
Failure to Develop and Implement Comprehensive Person-Centered Care Plans
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to develop and implement comprehensive, person-centered care plans with measurable objectives and timeframes for multiple residents, and failure of staff to follow existing care plan interventions. For two residents with PEG tubes and one resident with a dialysis catheter, the facility did not fully develop care plans at admission to reflect their diagnoses and required Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP). One resident was admitted with a PEG tube in August 2025, but EBP related to the PEG tube was not added to the care plan until March 2026, and there was no EBP signage on the door during observation. Another resident admitted with end stage renal disease and a dialysis catheter had no care plan focus for the dialysis catheter or EBP, despite having an order for EBP and being admitted with the catheter; there was also no EBP signage observed on the door. For a resident with diverticulitis and colostomy status, the care plan did include EBP, and there were orders for EBP and colostomy care every shift; however, there was no EBP signage on the door, and the MDS nurse stated she had been told that residents with colostomies did not require EBP, even though EBP remained on the care plan and staff were expected to follow care plan interventions. Another resident with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and gastrostomy status had a care plan directing staff to check PEG tube placement and gastric contents/residual volume prior to medication administration per facility protocol, but observation showed an LPN administering medications via the PEG tube without checking for placement before pushing the medication. Two residents with PTSD diagnoses did not have their mental health needs fully addressed in their care plans. One resident admitted in 2023 with PTSD and other mental health diagnoses had a quarterly MDS showing a mood severity score of 18, with difficulty sleeping, little interest in activities, and feeling depressed or hopeless nearly every day, and psychiatry notes documented PTSD and schizoaffective disorder related to past trauma and ongoing nightmares; however, the care plan contained no focus for PTSD. Another resident admitted in 2016 with PTSD and borderline personality disorder had an active PTSD diagnosis on the MDS, but the comprehensive care plan did not address PTSD, including triggers, symptoms, or trauma-informed interventions. The Social Services Director, MDS nurse, DON, and Administrator all acknowledged that the PTSD diagnosis and related care plan focus had been overlooked and that care plans were expected to be fully developed and implemented so staff would know how to properly care for residents.
Failure to Maintain Safe, Timely, and Sanitary Enteral Feeding Practices
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide appropriate treatment and services to prevent complications related to enteral nutrition for six residents with feeding tubes. Surveyors found that tube feeding systems were frequently hung without being dated or timed, and tubing connector tips were left uncapped between uses, despite facility policy and manufacturer guidance requiring protection of components that contact formula. Multiple residents had feeding containers spiked and primed but not infusing, with the open ends of tubing left exposed and no protective caps available. Staff interviews confirmed that caps were not provided by the facility, and nurses acknowledged that uncovered connectors could introduce germs and place residents at risk for infection. For one resident with a gastrostomy tube and severe cognitive impairment, the care plan and orders required monitoring the G-tube site for infection every shift and checking tube placement and gastric residuals. The resident was sent twice from an adult day care center to the Emergency Department and diagnosed with abdominal wall cellulitis on both occasions, after the day care staff identified abnormal G-tube findings, including leakage and inability to flush the tube. The facility’s clinical record contained no documentation that staff had identified or recorded signs or symptoms of infection before the resident left for day care on either occasion, and the Physician Assistant reported she had not been notified of excessive leakage that could contribute to recurrent cellulitis. During observation, this resident’s G-tube site was reddened with yellowish-green drainage, the feeding container had been spiked the previous day and was being reused, the connector was left uncovered, and the pump and IV pole had dried formula residue. Other residents with PEG or G-tubes also experienced deficiencies in enteral feeding management. Several residents had tube feedings hanging and infusing without dates or times on the bags, and tubing sets were observed primed and hanging with open, uncapped ends. One resident received medications via PEG tube without the nurse checking tube placement beforehand, despite a care plan intervention to check placement and gastric contents per protocol. Another resident’s feeding was labeled to start later in the day but was already spiked and primed hours in advance, with the connector left uncovered and the pump and IV pole soiled with dried feeding residue. For a resident ordered to receive tube feeding from late afternoon to early morning, the feeding was started approximately two hours late and then observed still infusing well past the ordered stop time; the resident was later found in bed with a large amount of emesis on the gown and linens, and the LPN stated she had been running behind and had not turned off the feeding. Throughout these observations, the DON, PA, RD, and product representative all confirmed that connectors should be covered, feedings should follow ordered schedules, and systems should not remain hanging beyond recommended timeframes, but the facility’s practices did not align with these expectations. Across multiple days of observation, the surveyors repeatedly noted that enteral feeding pumps and IV poles for several residents were coated with dried feeding residue on the exterior surfaces, along the poles, and at the bases, indicating that equipment used for tube feeding was not maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Facility policies on enteral nutrition and G-tube site care required staff to monitor for signs of infection, maintain cleanliness of the tube site, assess for redness, swelling, pain, or drainage, and report signs of infection to a supervisor and physician. The policies also emphasized confirming tube placement prior to initiating feedings to reduce aspiration risk and recognizing complications such as aspiration, tube misplacement, skin breakdown, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Despite these written policies and the manufacturer’s guidance on closed versus open systems, hang times, labeling, and handling to prevent contamination, staff actions and inactions—including failure to document and report abnormal G-tube findings, failure to verify tube placement before medication administration, failure to adhere to ordered feeding schedules, and failure to keep connectors capped and equipment clean—led to the cited deficiency for all six residents receiving enteral nutrition.
Failure to Implement Effective Infection Prevention and Control Practices
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to establish and maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by multiple observations of noncompliance with policies, CDC guidance, and basic infection control practices. Surveyors observed that residents on Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) did not have required signage posted on their room doors, despite care plans and orders indicating the need for EBP. Residents with devices such as a PEG tube, colostomy, dialysis catheter, and indwelling urinary catheter were under EBP, but their rooms lacked appropriate signage. Staff interviews confirmed that EBP should have been initiated and care planned upon admission for these residents and that signage should have been posted, but this was not done or was delayed. The deficiency also includes improper management of enteral nutrition systems for several residents receiving tube feedings. Surveyors observed tube feeding bottles and tubing hanging on poles without dates or times indicating when they were opened or hung, and with tubing primed but without protective end caps when not in use. Staff, including LPNs and the PA, acknowledged that tube feedings should be dated and timed, that they are only good for a limited period once hung, and that the absence of end caps could allow germs or bacteria to be introduced into the feeding system. The DON and Administrator stated their expectations that tube feedings be dated, timed, and capped, and that undated or uncapped systems should be replaced, but the observed practice did not align with these expectations. Additional deficiencies were identified in the cleaning and disinfection of shared equipment and surfaces between resident use. A nurse performing blood glucose checks placed used supplies and a glucometer on the medication cart surface, cleaned the glucometer, but did not disinfect the cart surface before preparing supplies for another resident on the same surface. Another nurse used a blood pressure cuff on two different residents without cleaning it between uses, stating she normally would use disinfectant wipes but forgot and did not have wipes in her cart. In a separate incident, staff used a mechanical lift to transfer a resident back to bed and then placed the lift in the hallway without cleaning it after use. Staff and leadership interviews confirmed that shared equipment and surfaces should be disinfected between residents to prevent cross-contamination, but this was not consistently done. Collectively, these observations show that the facility did not follow its own infection prevention and control policies related to EBP implementation and signage, safe handling of tube feedings, and cleaning and disinfection of shared equipment and surfaces. The facility’s policies required surveillance of staff adherence to infection control practices, proper use of standard precautions, and cleaning and reprocessing of reusable equipment between residents, but surveyors found repeated instances where these requirements were not met for multiple sampled residents.
Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control and Environmental Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program to ensure the environment was free of pests and rodents, despite having a pest control contract and invoices showing routine service. Surveyors observed gnats in multiple areas of the facility on several days, including around urinals in a resident room, in the kitchen near an open double reach-in freezer, and on dishware in a unit dining room sink and tray. A cracked overhead bathroom light fixture in another room contained a large dead moth. Staff and residents reported seeing gnats, roaches, and mice in the facility, and invoices confirmed that pest control services were being provided for various pests including mice, rats, spiders, water bugs, silverfish, and roaches. Multiple observations showed that exterior doors were repeatedly propped open, allowing pests to enter the building. The kitchen delivery and emergency door was held open with a milk crate, creating a gap between the doors, and the kitchen back door was again observed held open with a milk crate on another day. Two side doors leading to the courtyard and toward the kitchen were observed open with wind blowing into the building, and a side door facing the parking lot was held open with two chairs, despite posted signs instructing that the door not be used. The Director of Maintenance, Dietary Manager, and DON each stated that these doors were expected to remain closed except during specific uses, and acknowledged that open doors allowed pests to enter and potentially contaminate food. Residents and staff provided additional accounts of pest activity. One resident reported seeing a mouse come from under a chair in his room, as well as cockroaches on the walls disappearing into ceiling tiles and gnats; a mouse glue trap was observed behind a chair in that room, and the resident stated he had reported the issue and pest control had sprayed. Another resident reported finding a mouse between the screen and window in her room, later seeing mouse droppings in the window, and receiving a meal tray with mouse droppings. STNAs reported seeing large roaches in hallways, ongoing problems with flies and gnats in dining rooms, and complaints from residents and families about gnats, while also stating that pest control spraying did not seem effective. The DON acknowledged that one resident did not like staff touching his belongings, which contributed to urinals with urine being left on a bedside table with gnats flying around them, and stated the facility should be kept clean and as nice as possible for residents.
Fatal Morphine Overdose Due to Unreconciled Concentration and Dose Errors
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident was free from significant medication errors when staff administered multiple overdoses of concentrated oral morphine. The resident had COPD, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and was placed on palliative care, later transitioning to hospice after a decline that included pneumonia, decreased oxygen saturation, shallow breathing, and lethargy. On the morning of the incident, the facility NP gave a verbal order for morphine concentrate 100 mg/5 ml at 0.25 ml (5 mg) every hour as needed, and also sent a written order to the pharmacy for this concentration and dose. However, when the LPN entered the order into the electronic medical record, she documented morphine 20 mg/5 ml with a dose of 0.25 ml (1 mg), creating a discrepancy between the NP’s intended concentration and the order recorded in the system. The pharmacy dispensed morphine sulfate 100 mg/5 ml concentrate with label directions to give 0.25 ml (5 mg) every hour as needed, consistent with the NP’s written order. When the medication arrived, the receiving LPN stated she compared the bottle to the pharmacy order and the computer but did not identify any difference between the 100 mg/5 ml label and the 20 mg/5 ml order in the EMR. Later, a hospice nurse arrived, reviewed the MAR that showed morphine 20 mg/5 ml at 0.25 ml (1 mg), and observed the first dose of 0.25 ml being administered by a CMT. Seeing continued discomfort, the hospice nurse obtained a verbal order from the hospice physician to increase the dose to 1.25 ml to equal 5 mg, basing this calculation on the 20 mg/5 ml concentration shown in the Physician Order Report and not on the actual 100 mg/5 ml concentration on the bottle or the NP’s written pharmacy order. Following the hospice nurse’s written order on the Nursing Home Visit Record to increase the dose to 1.25 ml, the CMT administered the concentrated morphine 100 mg/5 ml at 0.25 ml once and then at 1.25 ml on three subsequent occasions that afternoon, each 1.25 ml dose equaling 25 mg instead of the intended 5 mg. The CMT reported that she questioned the 1.25 ml dose because she had never given that much before, but proceeded after the hospice nurse confirmed it was correct based on the MAR. The Unit Manager and ADON both expressed concern about the 1.25 ml dose and recognized it seemed like a large amount, but clarification with hospice was delayed until late in the day. The pharmacy later confirmed that, based on the 100 mg/5 ml concentration delivered, the resident received 25 mg instead of 5 mg on three administrations within approximately three hours, a fivefold overdose each time. The resident was pronounced dead that evening, and law enforcement and the coroner were notified after hospice staff and facility staff identified a potential morphine overdose and documented that three doses had been given at five times the ordered concentration. Interviews with multiple RNs, the DON, Medical Director, and Administrator confirmed that facility expectations and policies required staff to perform the five rights of medication administration, visually compare the medication label to the EMR order and narcotic sheet, and seek clarification from the provider or pharmacy if any discrepancy or concern arose. Despite these policies, staff involved in ordering, receiving, verifying, and administering the morphine did not reconcile the differing concentrations (20 mg/5 ml vs. 100 mg/5 ml) between the EMR, the hospice documentation, and the pharmacy label. The hospice nurse based the dose increase solely on the EMR order, the receiving LPN did not detect the mismatch between the EMR and the bottle, and the CMT and nursing leadership did not stop administration or obtain timely clarification when the 1.25 ml dose appeared unusually high. These combined actions and inactions resulted in repeated administration of morphine at five times the intended dose and constituted a significant medication error. The facility’s own policies on medication administration, physician orders, and medication labeling required nurses to question inappropriate doses, verify label accuracy, and consult the provider or pharmacy when directions changed or appeared inconsistent. Staff interviews indicated that these expectations were known, including the need to reconcile the drug in hand with the EMR order and narcotic record before administration. Nonetheless, the morphine order was incorrectly entered into the EMR, the discrepancy between the EMR and the pharmacy label was not recognized at receipt or prior to administration, and the hospice nurse’s dose adjustment was calculated from the incorrect EMR concentration rather than the actual bottle concentration. The failure of multiple staff members to follow established verification processes and to resolve evident concerns about the dose led directly to the resident receiving three excessive doses of morphine concentrate and underpinned the cited deficiency for significant medication errors under 42 CFR 483.45 (F760).
Failure to Report Suspected Abuse/Neglect and Medication Error Involving Morphine Overdose
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to report an alleged violation involving potential abuse/neglect and a reasonable suspicion of a crime to state agencies as required by facility policy and regulation. The facility’s Abuse, Neglect and Misappropriation of Property policy required that any abuse allegation be reported to the state within two hours and that any reasonable suspicion of a crime with serious bodily injury be reported to the state and police. For one resident, R1, who had diagnoses including COPD, chronic pain, and osteoarthritis and who was placed on hospice care at family request, there was a medication error involving morphine dosing on the day of the resident’s death. Despite this event and subsequent involvement of law enforcement and the coroner, the facility Administrator and DON did not report the incident to the state agencies, with the Administrator stating she relied on the police to report it. On the morning of 03/12/2026, the facility NP gave a verbal order for morphine concentrate 0.25 ml every hour as needed, which she clarified as morphine concentrate 100 mg/5 ml, 0.25 ml (5 mg) every hour as needed, and she placed a written order to the pharmacy accordingly. LPN1, however, documented the order in the Physician Order Report as morphine 20 mg/5 ml, 0.25 ml (1 mg) as needed for pain. Later, a hospice nurse (HN1) wrote a hand‑written Nursing Home Visit Record increasing the morphine dose to 1.25 ml to equal 5 mg as needed, basing this on the 20 mg/5 ml concentration shown in the Physician Order Report and not on the NP’s written order to the pharmacy or the actual medication label, which both indicated 100 mg/5 ml. The morphine supplied for R1 was morphine sulfate 100 mg/5 ml concentrate, labeled to give 0.25 ml (5 mg) every hour as needed, and the Controlled Drug Record showed that on 03/12/2026, R1 received 0.25 ml at 11:30 AM and 1.25 ml at 1:46 PM, 3:11 PM, and 4:49 PM, meaning the resident was administered five times the ordered dose on three occasions. During this period, the UM and ADON expressed concern about the increased morphine dose of 1.25 ml, with the ADON instructing the UM to call hospice for clarification because the amount seemed like a lot. The UM reported she did not obtain clarification until later in the shift, and hospice documentation reflected a call at 5:10 PM questioning the order. R1 was pronounced dead at 5:53 PM that day. After the death, hospice staff raised concerns about the amount of morphine administered, reported difficulty obtaining the narcotic log, and one hospice nurse (HN2) stated she was told that the prior hospice paperwork had been shredded. The coroner and police became involved; the police retrieved the morphine, reviewed medications, and had a recorded call from the UM acknowledging that three doses had been given at five times the ordered amount. When interviewed, the DON stated that incidents to be reported to OIG would include any type of abuse and that such allegations should be brought to the Administrator, but she believed the incident was reported by police. The Administrator confirmed she did not report the allegations regarding R1 to state agencies because she knew the police were going to report the incident, even though the Medical Director acknowledged that the incident probably should have been reported. The facility’s failure, therefore, centered on not reporting the alleged violation involving potential abuse/neglect and a reasonable suspicion of a crime related to the morphine dosing error and resident death, despite clear internal policy requiring timely reporting to state agencies and, when applicable, to law enforcement. The report documents that the facility relied on law enforcement to make any required report instead of submitting its own report to the state agencies. This omission occurred in the context of conflicting morphine orders, administration of doses higher than intended based on the actual concentration, concerns raised by hospice staff and facility leadership, and subsequent involvement of the coroner and police.
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