Hartland Park Health & Rehabilitation
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Lexington, Kentucky.
- Location
- 1500 Trent Boulevard, Lexington, Kentucky 40515
- CMS Provider Number
- 185197
- Inspections on file
- 23
- Latest survey
- November 24, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 2
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Hartland Park Health & Rehabilitation during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Surveyors found that the facility did not provide or document required written information about Advance Directives for several residents, including those with severe cognitive impairment and those who were cognitively intact. Despite facility policies and staff interviews indicating that Advance Directives should be obtained and reviewed, only Hospitality Guide Acknowledgements were present in the records, with missing or incomplete Advance Directive, Living Will, or POA documentation.
Staff failed to store drugs and biologicals in their original packaging, resulting in unidentified pills being left on a resident's bedside table and loose pills found in two medication carts. A resident with intact cognition was unable to identify pills left in her room, and staff interviews revealed inconsistent adherence to medication administration and disposal policies. Facility leadership confirmed expectations for proper medication handling, but observations showed these were not always met.
Staff failed to consistently follow infection prevention and control practices, including proper hand hygiene, use of PPE, and cleaning of shared equipment. Contaminated linens and trash were improperly handled and stored, and environmental cleanliness was not maintained, with infectious waste observed both inside and outside the facility. These deficiencies affected multiple residents, including those with cognitive impairment and indwelling devices, and had the potential to impact all residents.
Two residents were not treated with dignity and privacy as required. One resident's full urinary catheter bag was left uncovered and visible from the hallway, contrary to the care plan. Another resident received an insulin injection in the hallway from an LPN, with other residents and staff present, and without privacy. Facility leadership confirmed that privacy and dignity should have been maintained in both cases.
A nurse administered a dose of MiraLAX, prescribed to one resident, to another resident when the latter's supply was missing, instead of following facility protocols for medication shortages. Both residents were cognitively intact and had physician orders for MiraLAX. Facility policy prohibits sharing medications between residents, and staff interviews confirmed this expectation.
The facility did not timely update or implement comprehensive, person-centered care plans for multiple residents, including those with indwelling urinary catheters, colostomies, and severe cognitive impairment. Care plans failed to reflect residents' preferences, changes in condition, or ongoing activity participation, despite staff awareness and provision of care.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses received enteral tube feeding without the required head-of-bed elevation, as observed on multiple occasions. Despite facility policy and CDC guidelines mandating a 30-45 degree elevation to prevent complications like aspiration, staff did not consistently maintain this position during feedings.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and complex medical needs did not consistently receive prescribed Volara System respiratory treatments, with 22 missed doses documented over a month. The missed treatments occurred primarily when the respiratory therapist was not present and nursing staff were responsible. The resident's representative and clinical staff expressed concerns about the impact of these missed treatments, including increased congestion and the need for additional medical evaluation.
Food in a nourishment refrigerator was repeatedly stored at temperatures above the recommended maximum of 41°F, as documented on multiple days. Staff interviews revealed confusion about the correct temperature range and inconsistent monitoring practices. The DON confirmed the standard was not to exceed 41°F, but this was not consistently followed.
Two residents experienced deficiencies in their care plans. One resident did not receive prescribed pain medication for over 21 hours after hospital readmission, despite a care plan to administer medications per orders. Another resident's care plan failed to address non-compliance with a prescribed diet, as family members brought in regular-texture food contrary to the resident's dietary needs. The facility's policy required comprehensive care plans, but these were not fully developed or implemented for the residents.
A resident with femur fractures did not receive timely pain medication due to staff unawareness of available Oxycodone in the emergency medication box. Despite orders for Oxycodone, the resident experienced significant pain for approximately 21 hours. Interviews revealed a lack of communication and adherence to procedures, leading to the deficiency.
The facility failed to document and resolve grievances related to missing personal items for several residents. Despite residents reporting missing items to staff, these grievances were not logged, and the items were neither found nor replaced. Interviews with residents and staff revealed a lack of proper documentation and follow-up, contrary to the facility's policy requiring grievances to be documented and resolved.
A resident with dysphagia was not accurately assessed for a modified texture diet in the MDS, despite physician's orders for a pureed diet. The RD failed to mark the mechanically altered diet section, leading to an inaccurate reflection of the resident's dietary needs. Staff discussions in clinical meetings did not translate into accurate MDS documentation.
An LPN worked 82 shifts with a suspended license at a facility that lacked a policy on staff licensure. The facility's job description and employee handbook required proof of current licensure, which was not followed. The LPN was terminated after the suspension was discovered, as confirmed by interviews with the facility's administration.
A facility failed to secure a medication cart and properly label medications, leading to potential risks. An unlocked medication cart was found unattended, contrary to policy. Additionally, a resident's medication lacked proper labeling, with the opened date missing, risking administration of expired medication. Staff interviews confirmed the importance of securing carts and following expiration dates to ensure safety and effectiveness.
The facility failed to follow infection control precautions for three residents. A Social Service Assistant and an LPN did not adhere to hand hygiene and equipment disinfection protocols for a resident on enhanced barrier precautions. An RN administered medication to another resident without gloves, and another RN changed a dressing without wearing required protective gear. The facility's infection control policies were not properly implemented, as revealed in interviews with staff and administration.
The facility failed to maintain clear hallways, creating a safety hazard. Observations showed wheelchairs and a linen cart obstructing a hallway, confirmed by staff interviews. The congestion was due to unidentified wheelchairs and frequent use of carts, posing a risk during emergencies.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment did not receive scheduled medications on time due to an LPN being distracted by other residents' needs. The LPN had prematurely signed the MAR, indicating the medications were given, which was against facility policy. The oversight was discovered by a family member, and the medications were administered later by an RN.
Failure to Provide and Document Advance Directive Information and Documentation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide and document written information to residents and their representatives regarding the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment and to formulate an Advance Directive, as required by federal regulations and the facility's own policies. Multiple residents, including those with severe cognitive impairment and those who were cognitively intact, did not have copies of their Advance Directives, Living Wills, or Power of Attorney (POA) documents present in their electronic medical records (EMR) when requested by surveyors. Instead, the only documentation provided was a Hospitality Guide Acknowledgement, which did not include the required Advance Directive documents. For several residents, such as those with diagnoses of cerebral palsy, epilepsy, dementia, and heart disease, the facility's records showed either a lack of documentation of Advance Directives or incomplete records, such as missing POA or Living Will documents. In some cases, residents or their representatives stated they did not recall receiving written information about Advance Directives or signing related documents. Interviews with facility staff, including the Social Services Director, Director of Medical Records, Director of Nursing, and the Administrator, confirmed that while the facility had processes in place to request Advance Directives during admission and care plan meetings, these processes were not consistently followed or documented. The facility's policies required that residents be informed of their rights regarding Advance Directives upon admission and that staff verify and periodically review these wishes. However, the survey found that for six sampled residents, there was no evidence that the facility provided the necessary written information or obtained and retained the required documentation. This deficiency was identified through interviews, record reviews, and policy reviews, demonstrating a failure to comply with federal and state requirements for Advance Directives.
Failure to Properly Store and Identify Medications
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were stored in their original packaging or containers as required by policy and professional standards. Observations revealed that one resident had five unidentified pills left on her bedside table, and neither the resident nor the nursing staff could identify the medications or their origin. The resident, who had intact cognition and a history of rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and anxiety, was unsure about the purpose or duration of the pills' presence. The nurse practitioner acknowledged the resident's autonomy in self-administering medications but also recognized the potential risk if other residents accessed the pills. Additionally, staff interviews confirmed that facility policy required medications to be administered immediately after preparation and that unused doses should be disposed of according to policy. Further observations identified loose, unidentified pills in two medication carts. In one instance, twelve loose pills were found in a medication cart drawer, and the LPN on duty could not account for how they got there, noting that pills sometimes fell out of blister packs. Another observation showed a nurse preparing a resident's medications in advance and storing them in the cart before administration. An additional loose, unidentified tablet was found in a cup in another cart, with a medication aide admitting she did not want to waste the pill and initially considered returning it to the drawer. Facility leadership interviews confirmed expectations that staff verify medication ingestion and waste unused medications appropriately, but these practices were not consistently followed.
Failure to Maintain Effective Infection Prevention and Control Program
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by multiple direct observations of staff not adhering to established infection control practices. Staff were observed failing to perform hand hygiene, not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during high-contact care, and improperly handling contaminated linens and trash. For example, a certified nurse aide provided direct care to a resident under enhanced barrier precautions without donning a gown, and several staff members were seen transporting dirty linens and trash through hallways without removing gloves or performing hand hygiene. Additionally, clean and contaminated items were improperly stored, such as respiratory equipment and dentures left to dry on a stained towel in a resident's bathroom, and clean privacy curtains dragged on the floor before being hung. Shared equipment, including gait belts, blood glucose meters, blood pressure cuffs, and mechanical lifts, was not consistently cleaned and disinfected between resident use. An LPN was observed performing a blood sugar fingerstick without following infection control protocols, including failing to clean and disinfect the glucometer according to manufacturer instructions and not performing hand hygiene before or after the procedure. Other staff members admitted to not cleaning equipment between uses unless a resident was on contact precautions, and there was confusion or lack of knowledge regarding proper disinfection procedures and required contact times for cleaning products. Environmental cleanliness and waste management were also deficient. Trash and contaminated linens were left on floors in resident rooms and hallways, and infectious waste was observed scattered around the dumpster area outside the facility. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent understanding and application of infection control policies, despite reported training and competencies. These failures were observed to affect multiple residents, including those with severe cognitive impairment, indwelling devices, and those under enhanced barrier precautions, and had the potential to impact all residents in the facility.
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity and Privacy During Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain resident dignity and privacy for two residents. In the first instance, a resident with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and neuromuscular dysfunction of the bladder was observed with an indwelling urinary catheter collection bag that was full of urine and not covered by a dignity bag, as required by the resident's care plan. The collection bag was visible from the hallway, and the unit manager confirmed that dignity covers should be used but was unaware why it was not in place for this resident. In the second instance, a resident with hemiplegia, cerebral infarction, type 2 diabetes, and severe cognitive impairment received an insulin injection in the abdomen from an LPN while seated in her wheelchair next to the medication cart in the hallway. Multiple residents and staff were present and could see the procedure. The LPN acknowledged that privacy was not provided and that the injection should have been administered in the resident's room. Both the DON and the facility administrator confirmed that staff are expected to provide privacy and treat residents with dignity during care.
Misappropriation of Resident Medication by Nursing Staff
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a registered nurse (RN) administered MiraLAX, a laxative prescribed to one resident, to another resident. The RN observed that one resident was missing their prescribed MiraLAX and, instead of waiting for the pharmacy to deliver a new supply, used another resident's medication. Both residents were cognitively intact and had physician orders for MiraLAX for constipation, but the medication was specifically prescribed to each individual. Facility policy defined misappropriation as the wrongful use of a resident's belongings or medication without consent and stated that residents have the right to be free from such misappropriation. The RN acknowledged during an interview that medications should not be shared between residents. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator both confirmed that staff are expected to reorder medications through the pharmacy and consult the provider if a medication is missing, rather than borrowing from another resident. The incident was identified through observation, record review, and staff interviews, confirming that the facility failed to protect a resident from the misappropriation of their medication.
Failure to Timely Update and Implement Comprehensive Person-Centered Care Plans
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement comprehensive, person-centered care plans for several residents, as required by policy and regulatory standards. For one resident with an indwelling urinary catheter, the care plan was not updated in a timely manner to reflect the resident's longstanding preference for a leg bag, despite staff being aware of this preference. The care plan was only revised months after the preference was established, and interviews with nursing staff confirmed that the resident had always used a leg bag. Another resident who was readmitted with a colostomy did not have this significant change in condition reflected in the care plan until several months after readmission. Although the resident had a physician's order for ostomy care and staff were providing the necessary care, the care plan was not updated to include the colostomy until it was discovered missing by the MDS nurse. The MDS nurse acknowledged that the omission occurred at the time of readmission and was not caught during daily meetings or by other staff responsible for care plan updates. Additional deficiencies were noted for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and an indwelling urinary catheter, whose care plan was not updated to include the use of a leg bag after the resident repeatedly removed the catheter. The change to a leg bag was made to address this behavior, but the care plan was not revised until much later. Another resident with severe cognitive impairment was not care planned for activities until long after admission, despite ongoing participation in bedside activities and music therapy. Staff interviews confirmed that activities were being provided, but the care plan did not reflect this until it was eventually updated.
Failure to Maintain Proper Head-of-Bed Elevation During Enteral Feeding
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident receiving enteral tube feeding was provided with appropriate care to prevent complications such as aspiration. Observations on two separate occasions showed that the resident was lying in bed with tube feeding infusing, but the head of the bed (HOB) was not elevated as required by both facility policy and CDC guidelines. The facility's policy and CDC guidance specify that the HOB should be elevated 30 to 45 degrees for residents receiving enteral feedings, unless medically contraindicated. The resident in question had diagnoses including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and dysphagia, and was severely cognitively impaired according to the most recent assessment. Interviews with staff, including an LPN, the Infection Preventionist/Staff Development Coordinator, the DON, and the Administrator, confirmed that the expectation was for the HOB to be elevated for residents receiving tube feedings. The LPN stated that the resident experienced pain and yelled out when the HOB was elevated, so she raised it slowly throughout the shift. Despite these statements, observations confirmed that the HOB was not elevated during feedings, which was inconsistent with both policy and professional standards. The deficiency was identified for one resident with a feeding tube, and no evidence was provided that the required positioning was maintained during enteral feeding.
Failure to Consistently Administer Ordered Respiratory Treatments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to consistently provide prescribed respiratory treatments for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical diagnoses, including dementia, cerebral infarction, and aphasia. The resident was ordered to receive Volara System therapy with sodium chloride inhalation twice daily, as documented in the electronic medical record. However, review of the device's digital therapy log revealed that 22 treatments were missed over a period of approximately one month. The missed treatments included both morning and evening doses, and there was no documentation provided to explain these omissions. The facility was also unable to provide the requested Respiratory Policy to the surveyor during the investigation. Interviews with the resident's Power-of-Attorney, the respiratory therapist, and the nurse practitioner confirmed concerns about inconsistent administration of the respiratory therapy, particularly during evenings and weekends when the respiratory therapist was not present and nursing staff were responsible. The resident's POA reported increased congestion and wheezing when treatments were missed, which led to a chest x-ray being ordered. Both the respiratory therapist and nurse practitioner stated that it was their expectation for nursing staff to follow provider orders to maintain the resident's health and well-being.
Failure to Maintain Safe Food Storage Temperatures in Unit Refrigerator
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store food in a safe manner in a nourishment refrigerator on one of its resident units. Review of the refrigerator temperature logs for the unit revealed that, on multiple dates, the recorded temperatures were above the recommended maximum of 41 degrees Fahrenheit, with specific readings of 46, 42, 48, and 46 degrees Fahrenheit on consecutive days. The State Operations Manual defines the 'Danger Zone' as food temperatures above 41 degrees Fahrenheit and below 135 degrees Fahrenheit, which can allow the rapid growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Staff interviews indicated uncertainty about the correct temperature range, with some staff believing the acceptable range extended up to 45 or 46 degrees Fahrenheit. The night shift staff were responsible for monitoring and recording refrigerator temperatures, while the unit manager was responsible for ensuring this was done. Interviews with the CNA, LPN/Unit Manager, DON, and Administrator confirmed that staff were expected to monitor and document refrigerator temperatures and report any concerns to supervisors or maintenance. However, the logs showed that the refrigerator was repeatedly above the safe temperature threshold, and there was a lack of clear understanding among staff regarding the correct temperature range. The Director of Nursing clarified that the appropriate refrigerator temperature should not exceed 41 degrees Fahrenheit, but this standard was not consistently met or enforced on the unit.
Deficiencies in Care Plan Implementation for Two Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement comprehensive care plans for two residents, leading to deficiencies in their care. Resident 124, who was readmitted from the hospital with fractures in both femurs, did not receive prescribed pain medication for approximately 21 hours after it was ordered. Despite having a care plan that included administering medications per orders, the resident's pain scores indicated significant discomfort, with scores ranging from 5/10 to 8/10 during this period. The medication administration record showed that the resident did not receive the ordered Oxycodone at several documented times when pain was reported. Resident 36's care plan was not adequately developed to address non-compliance with the prescribed diet. The resident, who had dysphagia and major depression, was on a controlled carbohydrate, pureed diet. However, observations and interviews revealed that the resident's family frequently brought in regular-texture food, which was not in compliance with the diet order. The care plan lacked interventions to address this non-compliance and did not include education for the resident or family about the prescribed diet. Interviews with staff and family members confirmed that the resident's dietary needs were not being fully met according to the care plan. The facility's policy required comprehensive, person-centered care plans with measurable objectives and timeframes to meet residents' needs. However, the care plans for both residents were not fully developed or implemented, resulting in unmet medical and dietary needs. Interviews with facility staff, including the MDS Coordinator and the Director of Nursing, highlighted the expectation that care plans should be accurate and reflect the residents' current care needs, which was not the case for these two residents.
Failure to Administer Timely Pain Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to administer prescribed pain medications in a timely manner for Resident 124, who was readmitted to the facility with fractures of the right and left femur. Despite having orders for Oxycodone 5 mg every 12 hours as needed and Oxycodone 15 mg every six hours, the resident did not receive the medication until approximately 21 hours after first expressing pain. The resident's pain scores ranged from 5/10 to 8/10 during this period, indicating significant discomfort. Interviews and observations revealed that the facility staff were unaware that the necessary medications were available in the emergency medication box. The Registered Nurse responsible for admitting the resident did not recall the incident or the resident being in extreme pain. The facility's policies allowed for verbal authorization in emergencies, but this was not utilized, and there was a lack of awareness about the availability of Oxycodone in the emergency medication box. The Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing both stated that they expected nursing staff to administer pain medication when a resident was in pain. However, there was a breakdown in communication and procedure, as the medication was not administered promptly, and the facility's process for handling controlled medications was not effectively followed. The facility's failure to provide timely pain management resulted in prolonged discomfort for the resident.
Failure to Document and Resolve Grievances for Missing Items
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to document, replace, and resolve grievances related to missing personal items for four residents. These residents reported missing items to staff, but the facility did not log these grievances in the grievance log, nor did they find or replace the missing items. The facility's policy required that grievances be documented and resolved, but this was not adhered to in these cases. Interviews with the residents revealed that they had reported missing items to staff, but no follow-up or resolution was provided. One resident mentioned that her items were never returned from the laundry, leading her to have her laundry done by family members. Another resident reported missing clothing items and stated that no staff member had followed up with her about these grievances. A third resident, who shared a room with her mother, reported multiple missing clothing items and noted that staff no longer allowed residents to search for their missing items in the laundry room. Staff interviews indicated a lack of proper documentation and follow-up on grievances. A CNA mentioned verbally informing the charge nurse about missing items, but there was no formal documentation. The Social Worker, responsible for grievances, stated that items should be replaced if not found, but this was not done. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator both emphasized the importance of documenting grievances and providing resolutions, but this was not reflected in the actions taken by the facility.
Inaccurate Dietary Assessment for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure an accurate assessment for one resident, who was on a modified texture diet due to dysphagia. The Quarterly and Annual Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments did not reflect the resident's need for a mechanically altered diet, despite the resident's admission records and physician's orders indicating a pureed texture diet. The resident, who was cognitively intact, confirmed she had been on pureed food for a long time due to failing a swallowing test at the hospital. Interviews with facility staff, including the Regional Registered Dietitian (RD), MDS Nurse, Director of Nursing (DON), and Administrator, revealed that the RD was responsible for completing the swallow and nutritional status section of the MDS. However, the RD did not mark the mechanically altered diet section, leading to an inaccurate reflection of the resident's dietary needs in the MDS. The MDS Nurse and other staff discussed resident care changes in clinical morning meetings, but the MDS did not accurately reflect these changes in the comprehensive care plan.
LPN Worked with Suspended License
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that nursing staff providing resident care was licensed, as evidenced by an LPN working on a suspended license. The LPN performed duties as a licensed nurse in the facility for a period of time while her license was suspended. The facility did not have a policy regarding staff licensure, and it was revealed that the LPN worked 82 shifts during the period her license was suspended. The facility's job description and employee handbook required that licensed employees furnish proof of current registration and licensure, which was not adhered to in this case. Interviews with the facility's administration, including the Administrator, Assistant Administrator, and Director of Nursing, confirmed the oversight. The Administrator acknowledged the importance of maintaining active licenses to ensure compliance and resident safety. The Assistant Administrator confirmed that the LPN was terminated once the facility discovered the suspension. The Director of Nursing emphasized the necessity of valid licenses to ensure staff compliance and up-to-date education hours.
Medication Security and Labeling Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the security and proper labeling of medications, as evidenced by an unlocked and unattended medication cart on the Memory Care Unit. During an observation, it was noted that the medication cart was left unlocked, which was against the facility's policy that mandates all medication carts be locked when not in use. Interviews with staff, including a registered nurse and the unit manager, confirmed the importance of keeping medication carts locked to prevent unauthorized access by residents, visitors, or other staff. Additionally, the facility did not adhere to professional standards for labeling medications, specifically concerning expiration dates. A resident, who was admitted with diagnoses including deep vein thrombosis, diabetes, and pre-glaucoma, was prescribed latanoprost ophthalmic solution. The medication was observed to be improperly labeled, with the opened date missing on the container, despite the pharmacy's instructions that the medication was good for 42 days after opening. This oversight meant the medication was potentially expired when administered, as the opened date was only noted on the box, which could be separated from the container. Interviews with nursing staff and the unit manager highlighted the importance of following expiration dates and ensuring medications are labeled correctly to maintain their effectiveness. The pharmacist confirmed the potency of the medication decreases after the expiration date, although it does not cause adverse effects. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator reiterated the facility's policy and expectations regarding medication security and labeling, emphasizing the need for compliance to ensure resident safety and effective medication administration.
Infection Control Precautions Not Followed for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to infection control precautions for three residents on infection control precautions. In the case of Resident 124, a Social Service Assistant (SSA) entered the resident's room, which was under enhanced barrier and contact precautions, without following proper hand hygiene protocols. The SSA picked up a clipboard, placed it on the sink, removed her gloves, and left the room without washing her hands or cleaning the clipboard. Additionally, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provided wound care to the same resident, removed her protective equipment, and placed an eye shield on the sink. She washed her hands but did not disinfect the top of the treatment cart after placing the eye shield on it. For Resident 71, a Registered Nurse (RN) administered medication without wearing gloves, despite the resident being on enhanced barrier precautions. The RN handled the medications with bare hands and expressed nervousness during the interview, acknowledging the potential for transferring infectious organisms due to not wearing gloves. Resident 12 was also on enhanced barrier precautions, but an RN changed the resident's dressing without wearing a gown or gloves, contrary to the signage requirements. The RN believed that gowns were only necessary for certain procedures. Interviews with the Director of Nursing and the Infection Preventionist revealed that staff were expected to follow enhanced barrier precautions, but no issues had been identified in their audits. The Administrator was unaware of any infection control issues, although these were discussed in monthly Quality Assurance Performance Improvement meetings.
Crowded Hallways Create Safety Hazard
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe environment for residents, staff, and the public in one of its resident care units. An observation revealed that the hallway in the [NAME] Hall was crowded with four wheelchairs folded up against the handrail on one side and a linen cart on the opposite side. This congestion was noted to create a safety issue, particularly in emergencies, as it hindered residents' ability to maneuver through the hallway. Interviews with staff, including a Registered Nurse, the Unit Manager, the Director of Nursing, and the Administrator, confirmed that the hallways were frequently crowded with various carts and equipment. The Unit Manager explained that the wheelchairs were left in the hallway because they had been washed and lacked identification, making it unclear where they should be stored. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator both emphasized the importance of keeping hallways clear for safety, especially during mealtimes when additional tray carts were present.
Medication Administration Lapse for a Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of a resident, identified as R114, who did not receive scheduled medications on a specific date. The facility's policy required staff to observe the resident's consumption of medications and sign the Medication Administration Record (MAR) only after administration. However, on the day in question, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) was distracted by other residents' needs and forgot to administer R114's medications, despite having already signed the MAR indicating they were given. This oversight was discovered when a family member reported the issue to a Registered Nurse (RN), who then administered the medications later than scheduled. R114, who had severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including unspecified dementia and type 2 diabetes mellitus, was supposed to receive several medications, including Metformin and Protonix, at 6:00 PM. The RN confirmed with the LPN that the medications were not given and subsequently administered them at 7:35 PM. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the medications were administered late and emphasized that the facility's policy was not followed, as medications should not be signed out until they are actually administered. The incident highlighted a lapse in adherence to medication administration protocols, leading to a delay in the resident receiving necessary medications.
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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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