Andrew Residence
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Location
- 1215 South 9th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
- CMS Provider Number
- 24E116
- Inspections on file
- 22
- Latest survey
- November 25, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 15 (1 serious)
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Andrew Residence during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility's system for reconciling non-narcotic, controlled medications relied on three-ring binders with loose paper, making it difficult for staff to detect if medication sheets or cards were removed. Staff and the DON confirmed that this method did not allow for timely identification of missing or diverted medications, as there was no secure or reliable way to track changes, and staff often depended on memory to notice discrepancies.
Two residents reported that a washing machine on the 5th floor was intermittently broken for months, with the most recent outage lasting over two weeks. Staff interviews confirmed ongoing issues, communication breakdowns, and incomplete repair documentation. Observations showed the machine contained standing dirty water and debris, and at times lacked an 'OUT OF ORDER' sign, resulting in an unsanitary environment.
Two residents had inaccurate MDS assessments, including one who was incorrectly documented as receiving insulin injections when only non-insulin diabetes medications were administered, and another who was coded with a dementia diagnosis not supported by the medical record. Nursing staff and the DON confirmed these errors after review.
A resident with COPD received oxygen therapy without documented baseline SpO2 or clear parameters for when to initiate or discontinue supplemental oxygen. The care plan and physician orders lacked specific guidance, and staff confirmed these omissions during interviews. Facility policy did not address the need for baseline SpO2 or individualized parameters.
A resident with schizoaffective disorder and a history of unsafe smoking behaviors sustained burns after using a cigarette to remove arm hair. Although staff implemented one-to-one supervision and escort for cigarette smoking, this intervention was not documented in the care plan, despite being communicated verbally and in progress notes. The care plan did not reflect the resident's current safety needs or the interventions being provided.
Two residents with wounds requiring bacitracin ointment did not have proper transcription or documentation of the medication in the MAR or EHR, despite its administration being recorded in progress notes. Facility staff confirmed that the standing order for bacitracin was not individually transcribed or documented with all required elements, leading to incomplete records and failure to follow professional standards for medication documentation.
A resident with an indwelling suprapubic catheter did not have Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBPs) identified in the care plan, and staff failed to use required PPE, including gowns and gloves, during high-contact care activities such as shaving. A nursing assistant entered the room without hand hygiene or a gown, only donning gloves after entry, and completed shaving without following full EBP protocols. The DON confirmed that both gown and glove use were required for such care but were not implemented.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment was found with a broken bed rail due to the facility's failure to conduct regular inspections of hospital beds. Despite daily staff rounds, the broken condition was not reported. Interviews revealed no scheduled maintenance checks or logs, and the maintenance engineer was unaware of proper installation procedures.
The facility failed to ensure that the call light system was accessible from the floor in a multi-resident bathroom for three residents identified as fall risks. Observations showed that call lights were positioned too high for residents to reach if they fell. Interviews confirmed the residents' inability to access the call lights from the floor, despite their care plans emphasizing the need for immediate assistance. The DON acknowledged the issue but was uncertain about the necessity of floor-level access.
Inadequate Medication Reconciliation System for Non-Narcotic Controlled Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure an adequate system for medication reconciliation to timely identify loss or diversion of non-narcotic, controlled medications across all medication carts reviewed. Observations and interviews revealed that non-narcotic, controlled medications were stored in permanently affixed lock boxes within locked medication carts, and staff reconciled these medications every shift using a three-ring binder with loose, three-hole punched paper. Staff members confirmed that the reconciliation process involved comparing the count of medications in the locked box to the corresponding sheet in the binder, and referencing the medication administration record if discrepancies were noted. However, staff also acknowledged that the use of loose paper in a three-ring binder made it difficult to detect if a medication sheet and the corresponding medication card were removed, as there was no way to tell when a sheet was missing until the next administration of the medication. The director of nursing (DON) and multiple staff members confirmed that the current practice did not provide a reliable method for timely identification of missing or diverted non-narcotic, controlled medications. The facility's policy required shift change counts and documentation on a controlled drug record and a C-drug Count Acknowledgement Form, but did not specify the use of a bound book or other secure method for recordkeeping. Staff expressed uncertainty about how they would notice if documentation or medication was removed, relying instead on memory or familiarity with the medications. This system limitation was observed on all floors reviewed, and the DON acknowledged the inadequacy of the current practice for tracking and reconciling non-narcotic, controlled medications.
Failure to Maintain Functional and Sanitary Laundry Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that equipment was in proper working order and to maintain a sanitary environment in the 5th floor laundry room. Two residents, both cognitively intact and independent with activities of daily living, reported that one of the two washing machines had been intermittently broken for several months, with the most recent outage lasting over two weeks. Multiple staff interviews confirmed ongoing issues with the washing machine, including repeated breakdowns, delays in repairs, and a lack of awareness about the presence of standing water inside the machine. Staff described a process for reporting repairs through TELS tickets, but there was evidence of communication breakdowns between residents, staff, and maintenance, as well as incomplete documentation of repair requests. Observations over several days revealed that the broken washing machine contained dark grey standing water with floating debris and a film layer, and at times lacked an "OUT OF ORDER" sign. Housekeeping and maintenance staff confirmed the unsanitary condition and the extended period the machine had been out of service. Maintenance staff were at times unaware of the duration of the breakdown or the presence of standing water. Record review showed only one documented TELS report for the issue, despite staff claims of multiple reports, and a complete TELS report was not provided upon request.
Inaccurate MDS Assessments for Two Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure accurate completion of Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments for two residents. For one resident, the quarterly MDS indicated the resident was cognitively intact, had a diagnosis of diabetes, and received seven days of insulin injections. However, review of the medication administration record (MAR) did not show any insulin injections administered during the observation period. Further investigation revealed that the resident was prescribed Metformin, an oral diabetes medication, and Victoza, a non-insulin injectable medication. Both the registered nurse and the Director of Nursing confirmed that Victoza is not an insulin and should not have been recorded as such on the MDS. For another resident, the quarterly MDS documented an active diagnosis of non-Alzheimer's dementia. Upon review of the resident's medical record, there was no documentation to support a diagnosis of non-Alzheimer's dementia. The Director of Nursing confirmed that this was an error in the MDS coding, as the diagnosis was not present in the medical record. These inaccuracies in the MDS assessments were identified through interviews and record reviews.
Failure to Establish Baseline SpO2 and Oxygen Therapy Parameters for Resident with COPD
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by not identifying a baseline SpO2 (blood oxygen level) and not establishing clear parameters for the use or discontinuation of supplemental oxygen therapy. The resident's care plan and physician orders included the use of an oxygen concentrator at 4 liters per minute via nasal cannula as needed, but did not specify when to initiate or discontinue oxygen, nor did they document the resident's baseline SpO2. The Treatment Administration Record showed SpO2 levels ranging from 91% to 99%, but did not indicate whether supplemental oxygen was in use at the time of these readings. Interviews with nursing staff and the director of nursing confirmed the absence of parameters and baseline SpO2 in the resident's orders and care plan. The director of nursing acknowledged that such information is expected, especially for residents with COPD, due to the risks associated with over-oxygenation. The facility's existing oxygen concentrator policy did not address the identification of baseline SpO2 or provide guidance on parameters for use based on resident-specific risk factors.
Failure to Update Care Plan with Smoking-Related Safety Intervention
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to revise the care plan for a resident with schizoaffective disorder and a history of unsafe smoking behaviors, specifically not including a smoking-related safety intervention after the resident sustained burns from using a lit cigarette to remove arm hair. The resident was known to have cognitive impairments affecting judgment and had a documented history of self-inflicted burns related to smoking, with previous assessments identifying him as vulnerable and requiring specific interventions, such as the use of flameless lighters and staff assistance with hair removal. Despite these known risks and a recent incident where the resident burned himself with a cigarette, the care plan was not updated to reflect the newly implemented intervention of one-to-one staff escort and supervision when the resident smoked cigarettes. Multiple staff interviews confirmed that the resident required one-to-one supervision when smoking cigarettes, a measure that was verbally communicated and documented in progress notes and incident reports, but not formally included in the resident's care plan. Staff relied on verbal communication, staff logs, and program sheets to know about the intervention, but the care plan, which is the primary document for guiding resident care, did not reflect this critical safety measure. The omission was acknowledged by several staff members, including the program director, director of nursing, and director of clinical services, who all stated that the intervention should have been included in the care plan for consistency and continuity of care. Facility policies required that residents assessed as vulnerable for unsafe smoking behaviors have a vulnerability care plan with outlined interventions, and that care plans be reviewed and revised as needed. However, the implemented intervention of one-to-one staff escort for cigarette smoking was not documented in the care plan, despite being in practice. This failure to update the care plan meant that the formal documentation did not accurately reflect the resident's current needs and the interventions being provided to ensure his safety.
Failure to Properly Document and Transcribe Standing Order Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that professional standards of practice for documentation were followed during the transcription and administration of a standing order medication, specifically bacitracin ointment, for two residents with wounds. The standing order for bacitracin required that it be transcribed into the resident's medication administration record (MAR) with all necessary details, including the prescribing practitioner's name, medication name, dosage, route, frequency, duration, and indication for use. However, for both residents, the administration of bacitracin was documented in progress notes but not properly transcribed or documented in the MAR or electronic health record (EHR) as required by facility policy and professional standards. For the first resident, who had a history of schizoaffective disorder and sustained multiple self-inflicted burns and other minor wounds, bacitracin was applied on several occasions as documented in progress notes. Despite this, there was no corresponding order or documentation in the MAR or EHR specifying the use of bacitracin, nor were the required elements of a complete medication order present. Nursing staff confirmed that the standing order for bacitracin should have been transcribed into the MAR and EHR, but this was not done. The facility's process relied on a general standing order in the physician orders, without individual transcription upon use, which led to incomplete documentation and lack of clarity regarding the administration of the medication. For the second resident, who sustained a burn to the finger, bacitracin was also applied and documented in progress notes prior to the transcription of a wound care order into the MAR. The MAR did not include all required elements of the bacitracin order, and the wound care order did not specify the seven-day limit as required by the standing order. Interviews with nursing staff and the DON revealed that the facility practice was not to transcribe individual standing orders into the MAR or EHR unless specifically utilized, and that documentation of administration was often limited to progress notes rather than the MAR. This practice resulted in incomplete and inconsistent documentation of medication administration, failing to meet professional standards and facility policy.
Failure to Use Required PPE During High-Contact Care for Resident with Indwelling Catheter
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures by not ensuring staff used required personal protective equipment (PPE) during high-contact care for a resident with an indwelling suprapubic catheter. The resident had multiple urinary diagnoses, including bladder disorder, urethral stricture, benign prostatic hyperplasia, bladder neck obstruction, and overactive bladder, and required regular shaving of the head and body as part of activities of daily living. The care plan for the resident did not identify the need for Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBPs) despite the presence of an indwelling catheter, and signage on the resident's door indicated the need for PPE during high-contact care activities. During observation, a nursing assistant entered the resident's room without performing hand hygiene or donning a gown, and only put on gloves after entering the room. The assistant proceeded to shave the resident's inner thigh, pubic area, buttocks, and arms, then exited the room carrying soiled supplies in gloved hands without performing hand hygiene. The assistant stated she had not been instructed to use a gown for this care activity and only used gloves. The director of nursing confirmed that EBPs, including gown and glove use, were required for residents with indwelling devices during high-contact care, and that these precautions should have been included in the care plan.
Failure to Conduct Regular Bed Inspections
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to conduct regular inspections of hospital bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails, leading to a deficiency involving a resident with a broken bed rail. The resident, who had severe cognitive impairment and was independent in activities of daily living, was observed with a broken pivoting assist device (PAD) on their bed. The right PAD was not aligned with the bed frame and was touching the floor, indicating it was broken. Despite daily staff rounds, the broken condition of the PAD was not reported or addressed until it was observed by surveyors. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of scheduled maintenance checks for the resident's bed, and no maintenance logs were kept. The maintenance engineer admitted to not reviewing the manual for proper installation and was unaware of the correct procedures. The facility's Director of Nursing confirmed that the bed had been in use since the care plan intervention date, but no maintenance policy or inspection logs were provided. The owner's manual for the bed recommended periodic inspections, which were not conducted, leading to the deficiency.
Inaccessible Call Light System in Multi-Resident Bathroom
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the resident call light system was accessible from the bathroom floor in a multi-resident bathroom for three residents. Observations revealed that the call lights were positioned on the walls with cords that were not reachable from the floor, being approximately two to three feet above it. Interviews with the residents confirmed that they were unable to reach the call lights if they fell while using the toilet or shower, despite having a history of falls and being identified as fall risks. The care plans for these residents emphasized the importance of using the emergency call-light system for immediate assistance, yet the physical setup did not support this need. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that the call lights might not be within reach if the residents were on the floor, but expressed uncertainty about the necessity of floor-level access due to the residents' ambulatory status. The facility's policy on the emergency monitoring system indicated that pull station transmitters should be located in resident rooms, bathrooms, and other common areas, with all activations requiring a timely response from staff. However, the current setup in the multi-resident bathroom did not align with this policy, as it did not allow residents to access the call system from the floor, potentially delaying urgent assistance.
Latest citations in Minnesota
A resident with dry eye syndrome and degenerative eye disease had orders for cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion and Refresh Tears, both scheduled at the same time. Medication records and direct observation showed a TMA instilled cyclosporine drops in both eyes and immediately followed with Refresh Tears in both eyes without waiting between medications. This practice conflicted with referenced professional guidance recommending several minutes between multiple eye drops and with the medical provider’s recommendation to wait fifteen minutes between the two ophthalmic medications. No facility policy on ophthalmic medication administration was provided when requested.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment, impaired mobility, and high fall risk was care planned to have wheelchair footrests in place at all times, with staff ensuring proper positioning and monitoring for leaning during transport. A NA transported the resident in a manual wheelchair from the shower without the footrests, and while going through the doorway the wheelchair struck the door frame, causing the resident, who was leaning forward, to fall out. The resident sustained a T12 fracture, head injury with concussion, abrasions and contusions, and multiple right-hand lacerations requiring sutures, and the DON confirmed the care plan had not been followed.
A high‑risk, immobile resident with MS and prior heel DTI developed an avoidable unstageable coccygeal pressure ulcer after staff failed to consistently assess and document skin status, did not transfer or timely provide ordered pressure‑relieving mattresses, and did not reliably perform q2h repositioning. The resident was repeatedly left on a bedpan for prolonged periods despite early reports of this issue, and the toileting care plan was not revised to a bedside commode until after the coccygeal wound had significantly worsened. Wound assessments lacked complete measurements and staging, changes in wound size and color were not promptly recognized as deterioration or reported to providers, and recommended interventions from a wound NP (including an air mattress and offloading) were not promptly implemented. As a result, the coccygeal ulcer rapidly progressed to a large, necrotic, malodorous wound requiring hospital transfer and surgical debridement.
A resident with spastic hemiplegia, muscle weakness, and moderate cognitive impairment was observed using bilateral bed grab bars for bed mobility and transfers, but the care plan did not address grab bar or side rail use. Review of the EMR showed no completed bed mobility device or side rail assessment to determine the necessity or safety of the grab bars, and no documentation that risks and benefits were discussed or that informed consent was obtained. An LPN and the ADON stated that a bed mobility device assessment is required before grab bars are installed and confirmed that no such assessment existed for this resident.
A resident with bilateral heel pressure ulcers and multiple comorbidities received wound care during which an RN removed dressings from both heels, cleansed both wounds, and wiped each heel without changing gloves or performing hand hygiene between wounds or after disposing of soiled dressings. This practice conflicted with the facility’s written wound care procedure, which requires glove removal and hand hygiene after dressing removal and after wound cleansing. In interviews, the RN, NP, and DON/IP acknowledged that hand hygiene and glove changes are expected between dirty and clean tasks and between separate wounds to prevent infection.
A resident with MS, neurogenic bladder, mobility limitations, and existing pressure injuries was identified as dependent for toileting hygiene and at risk for pressure ulcers, yet the care plan lacked an individualized toileting/incontinence plan and a defined repositioning schedule. Despite a new coccyx pressure ulcer and documentation that interventions such as increased repositioning and incontinent care were needed, the care plan was not revised for a period of time to reflect these changes. During this time, the resident sometimes fell asleep on a bedpan and remained on it until staff removed it, and staff were not initially informed that the bedpan should no longer be used. The DON later acknowledged that the care plan revisions for turning, repositioning, and toileting were delayed until after the resident’s coccyx ulcer had significantly worsened.
A resident with diabetes, Crohn’s disease, bowel incontinence, and a history of MASD on the right gluteus developed an open, painful lesion on the right gluteal area that was documented over time without complete wound characteristics, clear etiology, or timely provider notification. Wound care orders were written for a stage 3 pressure ulcer on the left buttocks, while staff reported the wound was only on the right side and applied the left‑sided orders to the right gluteal wound in the absence of specific right‑side treatment orders. The DON acknowledged discomfort with staging the wound, lack of early physician notification, and confusion over wound classification, despite a facility policy requiring comprehensive wound assessment, consistent measurement, and provider notification when treatment orders are absent.
A resident with diabetes, chronic leg ulcer, kidney transplant, and a documented gluteal wound was care-planned for Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP), with posted instructions requiring gown and gloves for high-contact care such as transfers and wound care. During a telehealth wound assessment, the DON donned a gown and initially performed hand hygiene but then applied gloves without hand hygiene, removed a soiled dressing from the resident’s gluteal area, discarded it, removed gloves, and applied new gloves again without performing hand hygiene between glove changes. On another occasion, during use of a sit-to-stand lift, an NA wore gown and gloves, but the DON handled the lift harness, the resident’s clothing, and assisted with the transfer and repositioning while wearing a gown but no gloves, despite EBP requirements for transfers. The DON stated EBP was only needed for catheter or wound care and not for transfers, contradicting the posted EBP instructions and facility policy.
A resident with severe dementia, psychiatric disorders, and high dependence for ADLs was verbally abused during evening care when a NA, frustrated with the resident’s crying and resistance, loudly ridiculed her as acting like a two-year-old, threatened to hit her back if struck, told her she would be sent to a locked unit, and questioned who would want to care for her when she cried like a baby. Multiple staff witnessed the loud, stern, and intimidating tone and reported it to an LPN, who recognized it as verbal abuse but did not immediately remove the NA from duty or promptly report the allegation per policy, allowing the NA to continue working on the unit. Following this incident, the resident demonstrated increased crying, combativeness, resistance to care, wandering, self-isolation, and refusal of food, fluids, and medications above baseline, with documentation of significant emotional distress and subsequent ED evaluation for aggressive behaviors and poor intake.
A resident with dementia, bilateral above‑knee amputations, vascular disease, and severe protein‑calorie malnutrition developed a wound on an amputation stump that had a dressing dated several days before any documentation or treatment orders appeared in the record. Although bath audits and nursing notes initially reported no skin issues, a later assessment described a full‑thickness stage 4 ulcer/diabetic ulcer on the stump with exposed bone, erythema/edema, slough, and moderate serosanguineous drainage. Nursing staff interviews showed no one could identify who first discovered the wound or applied the initial dressing, and there was no evidence that the wound was assessed, the provider notified, or standing orders implemented when it was first present, despite facility expectations that new wounds be promptly evaluated and reported.
Failure to Follow Professional Standards for Ophthalmic Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow professional standards of practice for administering ophthalmic medications to a resident with dry eye syndrome and degenerative eye disease. The resident was cognitively intact, required assistance with ADLs, and had physician orders for cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% one drop in both eyes twice daily and Refresh Tears ophthalmic solution one drop in both eyes four times daily for dry eyes. The administration summary showed that both eye medications were scheduled for the same time and were documented as being given at the same time on multiple dates. During a medication pass observation, a trained medication aide administered the ordered oral medications, then applied gloves and instilled one drop of cyclosporine in each eye, immediately followed by one drop of Refresh Tears in each eye, without any waiting period between the two medications. The surveyors referenced guidance from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology stating that when more than one eye drop is ordered, three to four minutes should be allowed between drops in the same eye, and five to fifteen minutes should be allowed between different eye medications to prevent dilution. Interviews with the DON, pharmacy consultant, and medical provider confirmed that best practice and the provider’s recommendation were to wait between administration of cyclosporine and Refresh Tears, with the medical provider specifying a fifteen-minute interval. The facility did not provide a policy on ophthalmic medications when requested. The observed practice and documented administration times demonstrated that staff did not follow these professional standards or the medical provider’s recommended interval between the two eye medications.
Failure to Follow Wheelchair Transport Care Plan Leads to Fall With Injuries
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to implement care-planned fall prevention interventions for a resident at high risk for falls, resulting in a fall with injury. The resident had diagnoses including aphasia, dysphagia, muscle weakness, traumatic brain injury, and impaired mobility, with severe cognitive impairment documented on the MDS and dependence on staff for transfers and wheelchair transport. A care plan addressing wheelchair transport safety and positioning directed staff to ensure the resident was fully positioned and supported in the wheelchair prior to transport, verify footrests were in place prior to transport, and monitor for leaning, sliding, or unsafe positioning. An additional care-planned approach required wheelchair pedals to be on at all times. On the date of the incident, a nursing assistant transported the resident in a manual wheelchair from the shower room to the resident’s room without the foot pedals in place, contrary to the care plan. While being wheeled through the doorway, the wheelchair struck the door frame, causing the chair to stop and the resident, who had begun leaning forward, to fall out of the wheelchair onto the floor. Progress notes and ED documentation identified that the resident sustained a T12 vertebral fracture, a head injury with concussion, an abrasion and contusion to the head, a bruise to the left knee, and multiple lacerations to the right hand requiring sutures. The nursing assistant later acknowledged awareness that the foot pedals should have been on but did not apply them because the transport was only from the shower to the room. The DON confirmed that the resident’s care plan had not been followed when the fall occurred.
Failure to Implement and Update Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment Led to Avoidable Unstageable Coccygeal Ulcer
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to adequately assess, monitor, and implement individualized pressure ulcer prevention and treatment interventions for multiple high‑risk residents, resulting in an avoidable, unstageable coccygeal pressure ulcer for one resident that required surgical debridement and hospitalization. The resident had primary progressive multiple sclerosis, hereditary spastic paraplegia, obesity, and pre‑existing pressure‑related deep tissue injury to the left heel, and was identified as high risk for pressure ulcers on the Braden Scale due to constant moisture, chairfast status, very limited mobility, inadequate nutrition, and friction/shear risk. Hospital records on readmission documented irritant contact dermatitis of the bilateral gluteal cleft with specific cleansing and barrier cream orders, and facility documentation showed the resident could not reposition in bed or chair and required assist of two and a full‑body mechanical lift for transfers. Despite this, the admission/readmission skin assessment and weekly skin checks lacked measurements and detailed wound characteristics for the heel ulcer and gluteal dermatitis, and the care plan did not include comprehensive, individualized interventions beyond generic repositioning and wound care orders. After a new coccyx pressure ulcer was identified and documented as a stage 2 lesion, the facility failed to promptly and accurately update the care plan and implement recommended pressure‑relieving interventions. The wound nurse practitioner on 3/5 ordered coccyx wound care, an air mattress, pressure offloading, and a dietician consult, but the care plan was not revised and there was no evidence that an air mattress was placed on the bed for nearly two weeks. The environmental services director later confirmed that when the resident was moved to a new room, the gel mattress was not transferred, and the air mattress requested on 3/17 was not actually placed until the following day, despite being marked as completed. During this period, TAR documentation showed gaps in the every‑2‑hour repositioning order, and staff interviews revealed that CNAs were unaware of which residents were on repositioning programs, were not consistently repositioning residents, and had not received recent education on pressure ulcer prevention. The DON and RN case manager acknowledged that the coccyx wound increased in size and changed color between assessments, that the bed lacked the ordered gel mattress, and that the physician was not notified of the wound’s deterioration at that time. The facility also failed to timely modify toileting and incontinence care practices despite knowledge that the resident was being left on a bedpan for extended periods. The DON reported hearing before an IDT meeting that the resident had fallen asleep on a bedpan for an undetermined amount of time, but the care plan was not revised to discontinue bedpan use and implement a bedside commode until after the coccyx wound had significantly worsened. CNAs confirmed that the resident sometimes fell asleep on the bedpan and that they were not informed she should no longer use it until after the sore had worsened. Subsequent wound assessments documented rapid progression of the coccyx wound from a small stage 2 ulcer to a large, malodorous, necrotic wound with eschar, slough, erythema, and purulent drainage, ultimately classified as an unstageable pressure ulcer. The DON, NP, PA, and medical director all indicated that the lack of a pressure‑relieving mattress, failure to adjust pressure‑reducing interventions, and prolonged time on a bedpan likely contributed to the development and deterioration of the resident’s pressure ulcer, which was determined to be avoidable and resulted in hospitalization and surgical debridement. Additional documentation and interviews showed systemic assessment and communication failures related to pressure ulcer management. Weekly skin checks and wound assessments often omitted complete measurements, staging, and wound characteristics, and changes in wound size and appearance were not consistently recognized as deterioration or communicated to providers. The DON acknowledged that a 3/12 assessment showing increased wound size and purple discoloration should have been identified as a deep tissue injury and reported to the physician, but this did not occur. When nursing later documented foul odor, increased pain, and expanding necrotic tissue, telemedicine and PA responses deferred in‑person evaluation and ED transfer despite earlier recommendations that the resident be sent to the ED if an in‑person provider could not assess the wound. The NP ultimately found a large, malodorous, purulent wound with expanding eschar and ordered transfer to the hospital, where imaging and surgical findings confirmed a large necrotic sacral wound requiring extensive debridement. Throughout this sequence, the facility did not consistently follow its own pressure ulcer protocols, did not ensure ordered pressure‑relieving equipment was in place, and did not promptly revise care plans or interventions in response to known risk factors and documented wound changes. The report also notes that other residents reviewed for pressure ulcers were affected by similar failures in monitoring and individualized intervention, though detailed narratives focus primarily on this resident. Staff interviews revealed that CNAs relied on paper care guides that did not clearly identify residents on repositioning programs or at risk for skin breakdown, and that they were unaware of some residents’ special mattress orders or toileting restrictions. The DON and medical director stated that residents at risk for pressure ulcers should have immediate pressure‑relieving interventions and that existing ulcers require ongoing evaluation to prevent deterioration, but the documented practices for this resident did not align with those expectations. These combined actions and inactions—insufficient assessment detail, delayed or missing care plan revisions, failure to implement ordered support surfaces and repositioning, and delayed response to wound deterioration—constituted the deficiency in providing appropriate pressure ulcer care and preventing new ulcers from developing.
Failure to Assess, Care Plan, and Obtain Consent for Bed Grab Bar Use
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow required procedures before installing and using bed grab bars for a resident. The resident had diagnoses including spastic hemiplegia affecting the left side and muscle weakness, and an admission MDS indicating moderate cognitive impairment. During observation, the resident was seen in a power chair with bilateral grab bars on the bed and reported using them to roll in bed and for transfers. The resident’s care plan, dated 1/23/26, documented a need for assistance with bed mobility and independence with transfers but did not mention or address the use of grab bars or side rails. Review of the electronic medical record showed no completed grab bar/side rail or bed mobility device assessment to determine the necessity of the grab bars or whether the resident could safely use them. There was also no evidence that the resident or the resident’s representative had been educated on the risks of having a grab bar on the bed or that informed consent had been obtained. In interviews, an LPN and the ADON both stated that a bed mobility device assessment was required to determine need and safety prior to installing grab bars, and both confirmed that no such assessment was present in the resident’s record.
Failure to Perform Hand Hygiene and Change Gloves During Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that a registered nurse (RN) and a nurse practitioner (NP) did not follow the facility’s established infection control practices during wound care for one resident. During a wound treatment, the RN wore gloves while removing the dressing from the resident’s left heel, then removed the dressing from the right heel, sprayed both wounds with wound cleanser, wiped the left heel with gauze, and then used a clean gauze pad to wipe the right heel. The RN did not remove her gloves or perform hand hygiene after disposing of the soiled dressings or between cleaning the left and right heel wounds, contrary to the facility’s written wound care procedure, which requires glove removal and hand hygiene after removing the previous dressing and again after cleaning the wound. The resident’s admission MDS documented diagnoses including multiple rib fractures, heart failure, dementia, anxiety, and the presence of a pressure ulcer, and indicated the resident was cognitively intact and required staff assistance with care and transfers. The resident’s care plan identified pressure ulcers on both heels requiring wound care. In interviews, the RN, NP, and the DON/infection prevention nurse each stated that gloves should be changed when moving from dirty to clean areas and that hand hygiene is expected after glove removal and between wounds to prevent infection, confirming that the observed practice did not align with facility policy or expected infection control standards.
Failure to Timely Revise Care Plan for Toileting and Skin Integrity
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to timely revise and individualize a resident’s care plan to address toileting and incontinence needs in relation to impaired skin integrity. The resident had diagnoses including primary progressive multiple sclerosis, hereditary spastic paraplegia, obesity, and a pressure-induced deep tissue injury to the left heel. A Significant Change MDS identified the resident as dependent for toileting hygiene, with lower extremity range-of-motion limitations, wheelchair use, dependence for transfers, occasional urinary incontinence, intact cognition, and at risk for pressure ulcers with existing unhealed pressure injuries and MASD. The resident’s skin-focused care plan, revised on various dates, included skin inspections, wound care orders, weekly skin checks, pressure ulcer care to the left heel, nutritional supplements, and a gel mattress, but did not include an individualized toileting or incontinence plan. On a weekly skin check dated 3/3/26, nursing staff identified a new Stage 2 pressure ulcer on the coccyx and contact dermatitis on both gluteal folds. An IDT Final Post Review Follow Up dated 3/10/26 (signed 3/23/26) documented that a new skin issue had occurred and that interventions after the incident included wound care treatment orders, increased repositioning, and increased incontinent care. However, the resident’s care plan from 3/3/26 through 3/16/26 did not show revisions reflecting increased incontinence care or a repositioning schedule, and the care plan was not updated to include these elements until 3/17/26. During this period, the care plan still lacked an individualized toileting plan despite the resident’s identified incontinence and new coccyx pressure ulcer. Progress notes on 3/17/26 documented that the resident’s coccyx wound had declined, with an evaluation describing a deteriorating wound characterized as a Kennedy terminal ulcer/End of Life, staged as a Stage 4 pressure ulcer, in-house acquired, with increased size, exudate, odor, pain, and surrounding erythema. On that same date, the skin focus care plan was revised to include prompt incontinence care and keeping the skin clean and dry, and the elimination focus care plan was revised to address incontinence due to neurogenic bladder with use of a bedside commode offered every 2–3 hours. A nursing assistant reported that when working with the resident, the resident would sometimes fall asleep on the bedpan and forget to ask staff to remove it, and that she was not aware the resident was not supposed to use the bedpan until after the sore had worsened. The DON stated that the resident’s care plan had not been revised earlier to include a turning and repositioning schedule or toileting changes, and that it should have been revised as soon as staff learned the resident was falling asleep on the bedpan, rather than waiting until after the pressure ulcer worsened.
Failure to Assess and Notify Provider for Right Gluteal Wound
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to comprehensively assess and appropriately manage a non‑pressure skin issue on a resident’s right gluteal area, and to notify the physician in a timely manner. The resident had diagnoses including diabetes, Crohn’s disease, and a kidney transplant, and the MDS indicated occasional bowel incontinence, no pressure ulcers, and no moisture‑associated skin damage at that time. Earlier documentation identified a resolved MASD to the right gluteus, and a progress note later described a sacral wound with creams applied, noting that sores were still open and painful during application, but without any measurements, wound characteristics, or evidence of physician notification. Subsequent wound assessments documented an open lesion on the right gluteus with specific measurements on multiple dates, but did not identify the wound type or other characteristics, and the record did not show physician notification or treatment orders for the right gluteal lesion. Provider orders in place initially addressed cleansing the buttocks and applying barrier cream, and later included a detailed wound care order for a stage 3 pressure ulcer documented on the left buttocks. However, the resident’s record did not contain a specific treatment order for the right gluteal wound, despite the ongoing documentation of an open lesion in that area. Interviews revealed confusion and inconsistency in wound identification and classification. The DON stated that the right gluteal wound was documented as an open lesion because she did not feel comfortable determining the wound type, and acknowledged that the physician should have been notified when the wound was first identified. The DON was unaware that the NP had documented the wound as being on the left buttocks and as a stage 3 pressure ulcer, while the RN reported that the wound had never been on the left buttocks and that she had been applying the left‑sided wound orders to the right gluteal area because there was no open area on the left. The resident reported a recurring painful area on the right buttocks and chronic stool leakage since prior anal fistula surgery. The facility’s own wound treatment policy required comprehensive assessment of wound etiology and characteristics, consistent measurement and documentation, and provider notification in the absence of treatment orders, which were not followed for this resident’s right gluteal wound. The deficiency centers on the lack of a comprehensive wound assessment for the right gluteal lesion, incomplete documentation of wound characteristics, failure to clearly determine and document the wound etiology, and failure to notify the physician and obtain appropriate treatment orders when the wound was identified and remained open. These actions and inactions resulted in a discrepancy between the documented wound location and type and the actual clinical presentation, as well as a period during which the right gluteal wound had no specific, clearly ordered treatment despite being open and painful.
Failure to Perform Hand Hygiene and Implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions During Wound Care and Transfers
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure proper hand hygiene during wound care and to consistently implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) for a resident requiring such measures. The resident had diagnoses including diabetes, a non-pressure chronic ulcer of the right lower leg, and a kidney transplant, and a wound assessment documented an open lesion on the right gluteal area. The resident’s care plan and a sign posted outside the room specified that EBP, including gown and gloves, were required for high-contact care activities such as dressing, bathing, transferring, providing hygiene, changing linens, changing briefs or assisting with toileting, catheter care, and wound care. During one observation, the DON performed hand hygiene and donned a gown before entering the resident’s room for a telehealth wound assessment. Inside the room, the DON went into the bathroom, applied gloves without performing hand hygiene, removed the resident’s brief, and removed a foam dressing from the right gluteal area that had stool on one corner. After discarding the soiled dressing, the DON removed gloves and then applied new gloves without performing hand hygiene between glove changes. When questioned, the DON stated that hand hygiene should be done when hands or gloves are visibly soiled and before and after removing or applying gloves, and acknowledged that hand hygiene had not been performed each time gloves were removed and reapplied. In a separate observation, the resident was transferred using a sit-to-stand mechanical lift while EBP requirements were not fully followed. An NA entered the room wearing a gown and gloves with the lift, and the DON applied the lift harness under the resident’s arms and cinched the waist strap, encountering the resident’s clothing, while not wearing gloves. After the transfer to bed, the DON pulled down the resident’s pants and removed the harness while touching the resident’s clothes. Following wound care by a CNP-WOC, the DON again assisted the resident by sitting the resident on the edge of the bed, applying the lift harness, and adjusting the resident’s pants and shirt while wearing a gown but no gloves. The DON stated that EBP was only needed for catheter or wound care and not for transfers, and only upon reading the posted EBP sign acknowledged that EBP was required for all high-contact resident care activities, including transfers.
Failure to Protect Resident From Verbal Abuse and Delay in Removing Alleged Perpetrator
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect a vulnerable resident from mental abuse and to respond appropriately to an allegation of abuse. The resident had severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, anxiety, depression, psychotic disorder, and significant functional dependence, including frequent incontinence and the need for extensive assistance with ADLs and transfers. Her care plan identified behavioral and mood issues such as wandering, yelling, combative behavior, and calling staff names, with interventions including calm approaches, emotional support, redirection, and monitoring for emotional distress and mood/behavior changes. She was identified as a vulnerable adult, with instructions to monitor for signs of emotional distress and to follow the facility’s abuse reporting policy. On the evening in question, while the resident was crying on the phone with her son and expressing a desire to leave, NA-A and NA-B entered to provide evening care using an EZ stand lift. After the resident ended the phone call, multiple staff reported that NA-A spoke to the resident in a loud, stern, and frustrated tone, telling her to stop crying and that she was acting like a two-year-old. When the resident swatted at NA-A, NA-A stated, “If you hit me, I’m going to hit you back,” and later told the resident she was “in trouble now.” Staff reported that NA-A told the resident she would be sent to a locked unit so she could not get out, and questioned who would want to care for her when she cried like a baby, and that nobody would want to keep working with her. NA-C described NA-A yelling commands such as “HOLD ON!” and “Stop crying! Where would you be if you were not here? Probably lying on the floor,” and felt NA-A was obviously upset and overwhelmed. These statements were made in the presence of the resident while she was already distressed and crying. Following this interaction, the resident exhibited crying, yelling, combativeness, resistance to care, wandering into other residents’ rooms, self-isolation, and refusal of food, fluids, and medications above her prior baseline, as documented in behavior charts, target behavior monitoring, and nursing progress notes. Staff documented that she cried most of the morning, was very restless, difficult to redirect, hit and pinched staff, called staff names, and refused care and meals. She required repeated redirection, 1:1 attention, and non-pharmacological interventions, and was ultimately sent to the ED for evaluation of combativeness and emotional distress, where she was treated for dementia with aggressive behavior and hypoglycemia related to poor intake. The report identifies that the resident’s actual response and the reasonable person concept showed serious psychosocial harm, including increased crying and combative behavior above baseline, fear/anxiety manifested as combativeness, resistance to care and social interaction, and self-isolation. The facility also failed to immediately remove the alleged perpetrator from resident care and to promptly report and investigate the allegation in accordance with its abuse policy. After NA-B and NA-C reported to LPN-A that NA-A had yelled at and threatened the resident, LPN-A acknowledged it as verbal abuse but did not initiate immediate protective measures or timely reporting. LPN-A stated she believed she had 24 hours to report because there was no injury, despite facility policy requiring reporting within two hours. NA-A remained on the unit and continued working until the end of her shift, including after staff had clearly communicated their concerns to LPN-A. TMA and NA staff described uncertainty about their authority to remove NA-A and reliance on the nurse to act, while the DON later informed LPN-A that NA-A should have been removed from the floor to prevent further danger to residents. The Immediate Jeopardy was determined to have begun when NA-A’s derogatory, intimidating, and threatening statements were made and continued while she remained on duty with access to the resident and other vulnerable residents.
Failure to Timely Assess and Treat Newly Discovered Stump Wound
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide timely treatment and care for a newly discovered wound on a resident’s above‑knee amputation stump. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including unspecified dementia with behavioral disturbances, vascular dementia, bilateral above‑knee amputations, vascular disease, reduced mobility, and severe protein‑calorie malnutrition, and had no documented ulcers or skin problems on admission or on the most recent MDS. A weekly bath audit on 3/17/26 documented only non‑tender lymph nodes on the right upper hip and did not identify any open areas. However, when the wound was later assessed, the dressing on the stump was dated 3/16/26, indicating that a wound and dressing existed at that time, even though no corresponding assessment, provider notification, or treatment orders were documented. On 3/23/26, nursing staff documented a new skin issue above the resident’s knee at the amputation site, describing a stage 4 pressure ulcer/injury with full‑thickness skin and tissue loss, exposed bone, erythema/edema, and moderate serosanguineous exudate. The wound measured 1.56 cm by 1.64 cm, with 20–29% granulation tissue and 80% slough. A progress note and skin issues assessment on that date confirmed the wound characteristics and staging, and the NP, after reviewing a picture, determined the wound to be a diabetic ulcer with peripheral vascular disease and severe protein‑calorie malnutrition as contributing factors. On that same date, the NP was notified, antibiotic therapy (doxycycline) was ordered for possible cellulitis, and specific wound care orders were initiated, with documentation on the MAR that these treatments were carried out beginning 3/23/26. Multiple interviews with nursing staff revealed that no one could identify who discovered the wound or who applied the initial dressing dated 3/16/26, and there was no documentation of a wound assessment, provider notification, or interim treatment between 3/16/26 and 3/22/26. Several RNs and LPNs who worked shifts from 3/16/26 through 3/20/26 stated they did not notice a wound on the stump and that, per their usual practice, they would have contacted the provider and initiated treatment if they had found one. One LPN recalled seeing a band‑aid with a date on the stump but could not recall the date, and another LPN stated she did not see the wound because she was not looking for one. The facility’s standing orders required staff to assess all wounds daily, change dressings every three days and as needed, treat with normal saline or non‑cytotoxic cleanser and appropriate dressings, and notify the provider the next business day when a new wound or injury was found. Despite these expectations, the wound identified by the dated dressing on 3/16/26 was not assessed, reported, or treated according to orders and facility policy until 3/23/26.
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