Nicholasville Nursing And Rehabilitation
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
- Location
- 100 Sparks Avenue, Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356
- CMS Provider Number
- 185220
- Inspections on file
- 23
- Latest survey
- August 22, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 6
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Nicholasville Nursing And Rehabilitation during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility failed to maintain accurate records of controlled drugs, with numerous missing signatures on narcotic count sheets during shift changes. Staff interviews revealed inconsistencies in the process of counting and wasting narcotics, with unclear procedures for returning or crediting medications. The DON and Administrator expected timely and accurate narcotic counts for resident safety.
The facility failed to label medications according to professional standards, with undated opened medications found in all four medication carts. The facility's policy required staff to check expiration dates and label multi-dose containers with the date opened, but observations revealed non-compliance. Interviews with the DON and Administrator confirmed the expectation for proper medication storage and dating to ensure resident safety.
The facility failed to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, with several residents lacking appropriate signage and PPE. Staff did not consistently adhere to Enhanced Barrier Precautions, and there were lapses in hand hygiene and medication handling practices. Interviews revealed inconsistencies in staff understanding of infection prevention policies.
The facility failed to provide adequate nursing staff, resulting in delayed care for residents. Three residents reported long wait times for assistance, with call light response times ranging from 10 to 69 minutes. Staff interviews revealed difficulties in managing workloads due to staffing shortages. The DON was unaware of these issues, while the Administrator acknowledged the problem and mentioned using agency staff to fill gaps.
The facility failed to document influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations or declinations for four residents, despite policies requiring assessment and documentation upon admission. Interviews with the DON, Administrator, and Medical Director confirmed the absence of records in the EMR, highlighting a lapse in following infection control policies.
A facility failed to maintain a homelike environment for two residents due to persistent odors of urine and an open wound in their shared room. One resident, who managed his own urostomy and colostomy care, often refused assistance with personal care and cleaning, contributing to the odor. Despite daily cleaning efforts and attempts to replace the mattress, the facility could not eliminate the smell, resulting in a deficiency finding.
A resident's discharge assessment was not completed and submitted within the required timeframe, leading to a deficiency. The resident, admitted with conditions like malnutrition and hypertension, was discharged to acute care. The MDS Nurse misunderstood the submission timeline, resulting in a delay of several months. The DON and Administrator acknowledged the expectation for timely submission.
A facility failed to create a person-centered care plan for a resident with end-stage renal disease, inaccurately including interventions for a fistula instead of a dialysis catheter. The care plan lacked the resident's name and did not reflect individualized care. Staff interviews revealed a lack of understanding and implementation of appropriate interventions, and the facility lacked a policy for developing resident-centered care plans.
A resident's care plan was not revised after readmission to the facility, despite having significant medical conditions such as stroke and malnutrition. The facility lacked a policy for updating care plans upon readmission, and staff absences contributed to the oversight. The MDS Coordinator and DON acknowledged the care plan should have been updated to guide care, but it was not.
A facility failed to update a resident's Advance Directives, leading to a discrepancy in code status documentation. The resident, with a history of atrial fibrillation and diabetes, was cognitively intact and had changed their code status from Full Code to DNR. However, the Code Status Book still listed them as Full Code. Interviews revealed a lack of consistent procedures for updating these records.
A resident at risk for inadequate nutrition and dehydration was readmitted to a facility without a comprehensive nutritional assessment by the RD, as required by facility policies. Despite the resident's history of malnutrition and failure to thrive, the RD did not perform the necessary assessment, and the facility failed to document or verify diet and tube feeding orders. Interviews with staff revealed communication gaps and a lack of follow-up on the resident's nutritional needs.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and respiratory needs was not provided with the prescribed oxygen therapy at 3 L/m, as observations showed lower settings of 2 L/m and 2.5 L/m. The facility's policy required adherence to the care plan, which was not followed, and the oxygen tubing was not labeled with the date of change. Interviews with nursing staff and administration confirmed the expectation to follow physician orders and care plans.
Failure to Maintain Accurate Controlled Drug Records
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain accurate recordkeeping of controlled drugs, which compromised the inventory of medications received, dispensed, and administered. Observations and reviews of narcotic count sheets revealed that staff did not consistently sign inventory sheets for controlled narcotics or sign narcotic count sheets at the change of shift. Specifically, the review of narcotic books for four medication carts showed numerous instances where two signatures from licensed personnel were missing during shift changes. This issue was observed across multiple medication carts, with significant discrepancies noted in the narcotic count sheets over several months. Interviews with various staff members, including State Registered Nurse Aides, a Registered Nurse, and the Director of Nursing (DON), highlighted inconsistencies in the process of counting and wasting narcotics. Staff members indicated that narcotic waste was typically done by two people, and the DON was responsible for wasting discontinued narcotics. However, there was a lack of clarity among staff regarding the process for returning or crediting controlled medications. The DON and the Administrator both expressed expectations that narcotic counts should be conducted timely and accurately, in accordance with facility policy, to ensure resident safety.
Medication Labeling Deficiency in LTC Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all drugs used in the facility were labeled in accordance with professional standards, as evidenced by the presence of undated opened medications in all four medication carts. The facility's policy, which was last revised in August 2020, required staff to check expiration dates and label multi-dose containers with the date they were opened. However, observations revealed multiple instances of non-compliance. For example, the B Hall front cart contained an opened, undated vial of purified protein derivative (PPD) and several other medications, including Linzess, Fiasp insulin, and various inhalers and eye drops, that were opened and not dated. Additionally, a bottle of Unisom, which was not labeled or dated, was found in the same cart, reportedly confiscated from a resident's personal order. Further observations showed similar issues in the other medication carts. The B Hall back cart contained undated Chloraseptic throat lozenges, calcium antacid, and guaifenesin. The A Hall even cart had undated Milk of Magnesia, Spiriva inhaler, Symbicort inhaler, Flonase nasal spray, and an ipratropium albuterol nebulizer. The A Hall odd cart contained undated MiraLAX, Milk of Magnesia, ipratropium albuterol nebulizer, Enulose, and an albuterol inhaler. Interviews with the Director of Nursing and the Administrator confirmed that the expectation was for staff to properly store and date medications, and to check and discard expired medications to ensure resident safety.
Infection Control and Medication Handling Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by multiple observations and interviews. Several residents, including those with orders for Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP), did not have appropriate signage or personal protective equipment (PPE) available at their room doors. Staff were observed not adhering to EBP protocols, such as failing to don PPE during high-contact activities and not performing hand hygiene after resident interactions. Specific instances included a resident's catheter bag and tubing touching the floor, and staff entering rooms without the required PPE. Additionally, there were lapses in medication administration procedures. A registered nurse was observed dropping medications on the medication cart and then placing them back into a cup for administration, which is against safe medication handling practices. The nurse admitted to disinfecting the cart before starting medication administration but did not follow proper protocol when the medication touched the cart surface. Interviews with various staff members, including State Registered Nurse Aides, Licensed Practical Nurses, and the Director of Nursing, revealed inconsistencies in understanding and implementing the facility's infection prevention policies. Some staff were unclear about when PPE was required, and there was a lack of consistent hand hygiene practices. The Director of Nursing, who was also the interim Infection Preventionist, acknowledged the expectations for staff to follow EBP protocols and perform hand hygiene, but the observations indicated these were not consistently met.
Staffing Shortages Lead to Delayed Resident Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide sufficient nursing staff with the necessary competencies and skills to ensure resident safety and maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of residents. This deficiency was identified for three residents, who reported long wait times for assistance, particularly with call lights. The facility's staffing levels, as documented, were inadequate, with only two aides and one nurse on each unit during certain shifts. The facility's call light audit revealed response times ranging from 10 to 69 minutes, with one resident reporting waiting up to four hours for assistance. Interviews with staff and residents highlighted the staffing shortages, with staff members expressing difficulty in managing their workload and residents experiencing delays in receiving care. The Director of Nursing was unaware of the staffing shortages and the lengthy call light response times, while the Administrator acknowledged the staffing issues and mentioned the use of agency staff to fill gaps. Despite hiring new aides, the facility continued to struggle with maintaining adequate staffing levels, impacting the quality of care provided to residents.
Failure to Document Vaccinations for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide proof of vaccinations or declinations for four out of five sampled residents, specifically for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations. The facility's policies required that each resident be assessed for these vaccines upon admission, offered the vaccines unless contraindicated, and provided education on the benefits and potential side effects. However, documentation was missing for Residents 14, 16, 32, and 60. For Resident 14, there was no record of influenza vaccination or declination. Resident 16's medical record lacked documentation of pneumococcal immunization or declination. Resident 32 had a signed consent form for the pneumococcal vaccine, but no documentation of the vaccine being administered. Resident 60's record showed a family refusal for the influenza vaccine, but consent forms for both vaccines were signed later, with no documentation of administration. Interviews with the Director of Nursing, Administrator, and Medical Director revealed that the facility's electronic medical records did not contain the necessary vaccination documentation for these residents. The Director of Nursing acknowledged the importance of vaccinations for resident and staff safety, while the Administrator and Medical Director emphasized the need to follow facility guidelines and infection control policies. Despite the acknowledgment of the importance of these vaccinations, the facility failed to maintain proper documentation, leading to the deficiency noted in the report.
Failure to Maintain a Homelike Environment Due to Persistent Odor
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for two residents, as evidenced by the persistent odor of urine and an open wound in their shared room. The facility's policies on maintaining a homelike environment and respecting resident rights were not effectively implemented, as the room continued to emit strong odors despite daily cleaning efforts. The room's condition was noted during multiple observations by the State Survey Agency Surveyor, who reported the smell both inside and outside the room. One of the residents, who had a urostomy and colostomy, was identified as the primary source of the odor. This resident managed his own care, including wound management for a large sore on his coccyx, and often refused assistance with bathing, changing bed linens, and cleaning the room. The facility struggled to obtain the correct urostomy bags due to supply issues, leading to leaks that contributed to the odor. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident's refusal to accept care and the leaking urostomy bag were significant factors in the room's condition. Despite efforts by housekeeping staff to clean the room multiple times daily and replace the mattress, the odor persisted. The facility's administration acknowledged the issue but emphasized the resident's autonomy in refusing care and cleaning. The other resident sharing the room did not perceive the odor as unpleasant and declined to move to another room. The facility's inability to effectively address the odor and maintain a homelike environment for the residents resulted in a deficiency finding.
Failure to Timely Submit Discharge Assessment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete and electronically transmit a discharge assessment within the required timeframe for a resident. The resident, who was admitted with diagnoses including protein-calorie malnutrition, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation, was discharged to acute care. Despite the requirement to complete the Minimum Data Set (MDS) within 14 days of discharge, the facility did not submit the MDS until several months later. The resident's discharge date was in late May, but the MDS was not submitted until mid-September. Interviews with facility staff revealed a misunderstanding of the timeline for completing and submitting the discharge assessment. The Minimum Data Set Nurse indicated that she believed she had seven days to complete the assessment and an additional seven days to submit it, but she did not add the necessary discharge information when the resident did not return within 23 hours. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator both acknowledged the expectation for timely submission according to the Resident Assessment Instrument manual, but the assessment was not submitted on time, leading to the deficiency.
Failure to Develop Person-Centered Care Plan
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop a person-centered care plan for Resident 267, which did not include measurable objectives and time frames to meet the resident's medical, nursing, mental, and psychosocial needs as identified in the comprehensive assessment. The care plan inaccurately included interventions such as assessing for a bruit and thrill, which are applicable to a fistula, while the resident had a dialysis central venous catheter. Additionally, the care plan contained multiple instances where the resident's name was not documented, using the generic term 'Resident Name' instead. Resident 267 was admitted with chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and diabetes mellitus type II, requiring hemodialysis. The resident's care plan, dated shortly after admission, aimed to prevent complications related to dialysis but included incorrect interventions. The facility's policy on dialysis care required assessment of catheter sites every shift, but the care plan did not reflect this accurately. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of understanding and implementation of appropriate care plan interventions for the resident's specific needs. The facility did not have a policy for developing and implementing resident-centered care plans, as confirmed by the Administrator. The MDS Nurse acknowledged that care plans were initially generic and needed to be individualized within seven days of a resident's arrival. The Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that the care plan for Resident 267 was not individualized and did not reflect the care being provided. The Administrator also recognized that the care plan was not resident-centered due to improper interventions and the use of generic terms instead of the resident's name.
Failure to Revise Care Plan After Resident Readmission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to revise the comprehensive care plan for a resident, identified as R167, following their readmission after an acute care hospital stay. The care plan, which initially focused on nutritional needs and dietary assessment, was not updated to reflect the resident's current condition after readmission. The facility's policies did not include specific guidelines for revising care plans upon readmission, and the Registered Dietician's recommendations were not incorporated into the care plan. Interviews with facility staff, including the MDS Coordinator and the DON, revealed that the care plan should have been updated to guide care, but this was not done due to staff absences. R167 was readmitted to the facility with diagnoses including stroke, hemiplegia, hemiparesis, protein-calorie malnutrition, and adult failure to thrive. Despite these conditions, the care plan was not revised to address the resident's nutritional needs after readmission. The MDS Coordinator acknowledged that the care plan should have been updated, but it was not due to her and the DON's absence. The Administrator confirmed that facility guidelines should have been followed, but there was no policy in place for revising care plans upon readmission.
Failure to Update Resident's Code Status in Advance Directives
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to update and accurately maintain the Advance Directives and code status for a resident, identified as R9, which led to a discrepancy in honoring the resident's wishes for emergency care. R9 was admitted with diagnoses including unspecified atrial fibrillation, type II diabetes mellitus with unspecified complications, and hypertensive urgency. The resident was assessed to be cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15 out of 15. Initially, R9's care plan indicated a Full Code status, but it was later revised to reflect a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) directive. Despite this change, the Code Status document in the facility's Code Status Book incorrectly listed R9 as Full Code. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of consistent procedures for updating the Code Status Books. The Minimum Data Set Nurse confirmed the care plan update to DNR, but the Code Status Book was not updated accordingly. The Director of Nursing acknowledged the absence of a policy or designated person to audit the Code Status Books, relying instead on team audits during morning meetings. The Administrator admitted the books were inaccurate and expressed an expectation for them to be up-to-date, although no specific corrective actions were detailed in the report.
Failure to Conduct Comprehensive Nutritional Assessment for At-Risk Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to perform a comprehensive nutritional assessment for a resident, identified as R167, who was at risk for inadequate nutrition and dehydration. R167 was readmitted to the facility following a hospital stay due to a fall and had a history of conditions such as stroke, hemiplegia, hemiparesis, protein-calorie malnutrition, and adult failure to thrive. Despite these risks, the Registered Dietician (RD) did not conduct a full nutritional assessment upon readmission, as required by the facility's policies and the RD's job description. The RD admitted to failing to perform the assessment, citing being at another facility and not reviewing R167's information at the time. The facility's policies required the RD to review the nutritional status of residents and make recommendations within four business days, and for the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) to review residents with risk conditions weekly. However, there was no documentation of a nutritional assessment or recommendations for R167, and the facility was unable to provide the RD's recommendations form. The RD's contract also stipulated that a full nutritional assessment should be completed by day 14 of readmission, which was not done for R167. The lack of a comprehensive assessment and follow-up on nutritional needs contributed to R167's risk of malnutrition and dehydration. Interviews with facility staff, including the Director of Nursing (DON) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs), revealed a lack of communication and follow-up regarding R167's nutritional needs. The DON acknowledged that the RD should have performed another nutritional assessment upon readmission, and the Medical Director noted a disconnect between the sending hospital and the facility concerning diet orders. Despite the facility's process for reviewing discharge orders, there was no clear documentation or verification of R167's diet and tube feeding orders, leading to inadequate nutritional support for the resident.
Failure to Provide Appropriate Respiratory Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate respiratory care for a resident, identified as R55, who required oxygen therapy. R55 had a physician's order to receive oxygen at 3 Liters per minute (L/m) via nasal cannula, but observations on multiple occasions revealed the resident was receiving oxygen at lower rates of 2 L/m and 2.5 L/m. The facility's policy on oxygen administration required adherence to professional standards and the resident's care plan, which was not followed in this case. Interviews with nursing staff, including an LPN and RN, confirmed that the oxygen settings should match the orders in the resident's medical chart, and the oxygen tubing and humidification bottles should be dated and changed weekly. R55 was admitted with diagnoses including hypertension, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease, and was assessed to have severe cognitive impairment and dyspnea. The resident's comprehensive care plan included interventions to manage respiratory distress, such as administering oxygen as ordered and monitoring for signs of respiratory compromise. Despite these directives, the oxygen concentrator settings did not align with the prescribed orders, and the tubing was not labeled with the date of the last change. Interviews with the DON, ADON, and the Medical Director highlighted the expectation for staff to follow physician orders and care plans, emphasizing the potential risk of under-oxygenation if the prescribed oxygen rate was not maintained.
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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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