Community Place
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Brandon, Mississippi.
- Location
- 116 Lake Vista Place, Brandon, Mississippi 39047
- CMS Provider Number
- 255285
- Inspections on file
- 18
- Latest survey
- January 16, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 0
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Community Place during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility failed to ensure advance directives were completed and readily available in the medical records for several residents. Despite facility policy requiring this information to be prominently displayed, a review revealed a lack of documentation for residents with various diagnoses, including Hemiplegia and Parkinson's Disease. Interviews with staff confirmed the absence of documentation, with the Admissions Director suggesting it might be stored elsewhere and the Administrator acknowledging a potential training issue.
A resident's right to a dignified existence was compromised when their urinary catheter drainage bag was left without a privacy cover, making the urine visible from the open door. This was against the facility's policy, as confirmed by both a CNA and an LPN. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had a suprapubic catheter, was admitted with a pressure ulcer diagnosis.
A resident with Hemiplegia and Hemiparesis was unable to take showers due to the facility's failure to provide a necessary shower chair, despite the resident's expressed desire and previous use of such equipment. The resident's mother had raised concerns with facility management, who acknowledged the need but did not provide the equipment. The Director of Rehabilitation noted safety concerns without proper equipment, and the Administrator confirmed the resident's right to shower access.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment was inappropriately restrained with a lap tray for fall prevention, contrary to the facility's policy. The lap tray was not consistently removed every two hours as per the physician's order, and the resident had a history of falls despite the restraint. Staff interviews revealed the restraint was used for convenience, and documentation did not support the required removal schedule.
A facility failed to provide necessary nail care to a diabetic resident, resulting in long, dirty, and jagged fingernails. The resident, who is dependent on staff for personal hygiene due to mild cognitive impairment, did not receive the required weekly nail care by an RN as per the physician's order. The ADON confirmed the oversight, which was documented in the resident's records.
A facility failed to prevent catheter contamination for a resident with a suprapubic catheter, as the drainage bag was observed touching the floor multiple times. Staff interviews confirmed this was against facility policy, which aims to prevent catheter-associated infections. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had a pressure ulcer diagnosis, had a physician's order for regular catheter changes.
A resident with Obstructive Sleep Apnea was found to have her CPAP mask improperly stored, as it was left on a dresser instead of in a designated bag. Staff interviews confirmed that the mask should be stored in a bag to prevent contamination and infection. The resident's records indicated an order for the mask to be bagged after each use, which was not adhered to.
A medication cart was found unlocked and unattended with an unlabeled tablet on top, contrary to facility policy. An LPN admitted to leaving the cart unsecured while attending to another resident, acknowledging the safety risk. The ADON confirmed that carts should be locked when not attended by licensed staff.
The facility's Facility Assessment failed to include specific staffing needs by shift, a plan for recruitment and retention of staff, and contingency plans for non-emergency events. The Administrator confirmed these omissions, noting the assessment was completed before regulatory revisions.
A facility failed to ensure proper hand hygiene during PEG site care for a resident. An LPN did not change gloves throughout the procedure, using the same gloves to remove the soiled dressing, cleanse the site, and pat it dry. This was confirmed by the Infection Preventionist and the Assistant Director of Nursing, who stated that gloves should be changed multiple times to prevent infection. The resident had a diagnosis of Gastrostomy Status and a physician's order for daily PEG site cleaning.
Advance Directives Not Readily Available in Resident Charts
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that advance directives were completed and readily available in the medical records for seven out of twenty-three residents reviewed. The facility's policy on advance directives requires that information about whether a resident has executed an advance directive be prominently displayed in their medical record. However, a review of the medical records for these residents revealed a lack of documentation regarding their advance directive status. The residents involved had various diagnoses, including Hemiplegia, Hemiparesis, Parkinson's Disease, and Hypertension, and had been admitted to the facility over a range of years. Interviews with facility staff, including the Admissions Director and the Administrator, confirmed the absence of readily available advance directive documentation in the residents' charts. The Admissions Director indicated that the documentation might be stored in the facility's storage area rather than in the active medical records. The Administrator acknowledged the issue, suggesting it might be related to a training deficiency regarding the execution of advance directive requirements.
Failure to Provide Privacy Cover for Catheter Bag
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident's right to a dignified existence by not providing a privacy cover for a urinary catheter drainage bag. During observations, it was noted that the catheter drainage bag of a resident was positioned in a way that made the urine visible from the open door, and it lacked a privacy cover. This was confirmed by both a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), who acknowledged that the absence of a privacy cover was against the facility's policy and compromised the resident's dignity. The resident involved was admitted with a diagnosis that included a pressure ulcer of the sacral region and had a suprapubic catheter with specific orders for maintenance. The resident was cognitively intact, as indicated by a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15. Despite the facility's policy requiring privacy covers for catheter bags to maintain dignity, the staff failed to adhere to this policy, resulting in the deficiency.
Failure to Provide Adaptive Equipment for Resident Showers
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accommodate the needs and preferences of a resident who required adaptive equipment to take a shower. The resident expressed a desire to take showers but was informed that no shower chair was available, resulting in reliance on bed baths. A Certified Nursing Assistant confirmed the lack of a shower chair for the resident, despite providing daily bed baths. The resident's mother and representative had previously communicated concerns to the Director of Nursing and the Administrator, who acknowledged the need for a bariatric shower chair similar to one used at a previous facility location. The Director of Rehabilitation evaluated the resident and determined that due to poor upper trunk control, showers were deemed unsafe without appropriate equipment. The Administrator confirmed that the resident should have access to showers and necessary equipment, noting that a suitable chair was left behind during a facility move. An inspection of the current shower chair suggested that with further evaluation and additional staff assistance, it might be possible for the resident to use it. The resident, admitted in 1996, has a diagnosis of Hemiplegia and Hemiparesis and is cognitively intact with a Brief Interview Mental Score of 15.
Inappropriate Use of Physical Restraint for Fall Prevention
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was free from the use of physical restraints imposed for staff convenience. The deficiency involved a resident who was observed with a lap tray secured to her wheelchair, which was used to prevent her from falling. The facility's policy stated that restraints should only be used to treat medical symptoms and not for staff convenience or fall prevention. Interviews with staff revealed that the lap tray was used to prevent falls, and it was not consistently removed every two hours as per the physician's order. The resident had a history of falls and severe cognitive impairment, with a BIMS score of four, indicating severe cognitive impairment. The resident's medical records showed a physician's order for the lap tray to be released every two hours for repositioning and ADL care, but documentation indicated that this was not consistently followed. The resident had a history of over 20 falls and had been assessed for restraint use due to unsteady gait, agitated behavior, and frequent falls. Despite the use of the lap tray, the resident had fallen twice in recent months, including once with the lap tray in place. The facility's failure to adhere to the restraint policy and physician's orders resulted in the inappropriate use of a physical restraint for the resident.
Failure to Provide Diabetic Nail Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate nail care to a diabetic resident, leading to a deficiency in personal hygiene maintenance. Resident #31, who has Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Hyperglycemia, was observed with long, dirty, and jagged fingernails on multiple occasions. The facility's policy requires that residents who cannot perform activities of daily living independently receive necessary services to maintain good grooming and personal hygiene. Despite this, the resident's nails were not cleaned or cut as required. The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) confirmed that two RNs are responsible for providing diabetic nail care, which should occur weekly. However, a review of the resident's records revealed that the RN staff did not document the provision of diabetic nail care on the specified dates. The resident's Comprehensive Minimum Data Set (MDS) indicated a mild cognitive impairment and dependency on personal hygiene, further emphasizing the need for staff assistance. The failure to adhere to the physician's order for weekly nail care by an RN contributed to the deficiency observed by surveyors.
Failure to Prevent Catheter Contamination
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to its policy regarding catheter care, specifically in preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections. During observations, it was noted that a resident with an indwelling suprapubic catheter had their catheter drainage bag in direct contact with the floor. This was observed on multiple occasions, indicating a lapse in following the facility's infection control procedures, which explicitly state that catheter tubing and drainage bags should be kept off the floor to prevent contamination. Interviews with staff, including a CNA and an LPN, confirmed that the drainage bag should not have been touching the floor, as per the facility's policy. The Assistant Director of Nursing also emphasized the expectation that all nursing staff manage urinary catheters according to the policy. The resident involved was admitted with a diagnosis of a pressure ulcer in the sacral region and was cognitively intact, as indicated by a BIMS score of 15. The resident had a physician's order for regular catheter changes, which underscores the importance of proper catheter management to prevent complications.
Improper Storage of CPAP Mask for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the proper storage of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) mask for a resident, which could lead to potential complications. Resident #47, who has a diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and is cognitively intact, reported using her CPAP machine nightly. However, she stated that her CPAP mask was never stored in a designated bag and was left on top of the dresser by her bedside. Observations confirmed that the mask was not stored in a bag, as it was seen on the table during a lunch observation. Interviews with facility staff, including an LPN, the Infection Preventionist, and the Assistant Director of Nursing, confirmed that the CPAP mask should be stored in a bag to prevent it from getting dirty and causing complications. The ADON further explained that the bag should be labeled with the date, and the mask should be cleaned weekly, placed in a clean bag after cleaning, and the bag replaced weekly to prevent infection. A review of the resident's records showed an active order for the CPAP mask to be placed in a bag after each use daily, which was not being followed.
Medication Cart Security Lapse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that medications and a medication cart were properly secured, as observed during a survey. An unattended and unlocked medication cart was found with an unlabeled white tablet in a medication cup left on top of it. This cart remained unattended for approximately three minutes, which is against the facility's policy that requires medication carts to be locked and medications not to be left on top of the cart without supervision. During an interview, an LPN admitted to leaving the medication cart unlocked and unattended while responding to another resident, acknowledging this as a safety issue that could lead to potential medication errors. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that the expectation is for all medication carts to be locked when not attended by licensed staff, and no medications should be left on top of the carts without full nursing supervision.
Facility Assessment Lacks Key Elements
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all required elements were included in their Facility Assessment, which is crucial for determining necessary resources to care for residents competently. The assessment, signed on July 1, 2024, outlined an average daily schedule of direct care staff but did not specify staffing needs for each shift or account for changes in the resident population. Additionally, the assessment lacked a plan for staff recruitment and retention, as well as contingency plans for events that do not necessitate the activation of the emergency operations plan. During an interview, the Administrator confirmed these deficiencies, acknowledging that the Facility Assessment did not address specific staffing needs based on different shifts, time of day, or resident needs. Furthermore, the Administrator admitted that the assessment did not include plans for recruitment and retention of staff or contingency plans for non-emergency events. The Administrator noted that the assessment was completed using a form or template prior to the revision of regulations in August 2024.
Failure in Hand Hygiene During PEG Site Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper hand hygiene during the care of a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) site for a resident. During an observation, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) did not change gloves throughout the procedure, using the same gloves to remove the soiled dressing, cleanse the site, and pat it dry. The LPN acknowledged that gloves should have been changed between removing the soiled dressing and cleaning the site. This was confirmed by the Infection Preventionist and the Assistant Director of Nursing, who both stated that gloves should be changed multiple times during the procedure to prevent cross-contamination and infection. The resident involved was admitted to the facility with a diagnosis of Gastrostomy Status and had a physician's order to clean the PEG site daily. The resident's cognitive status was moderately impaired, as indicated by a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 10. The failure to change gloves during the procedure was a deviation from the facility's policy, which requires washing and drying hands thoroughly and changing gloves at specific steps to ensure infection control.
Latest citations in Mississippi
A resident with hemiplegia, hemiparesis, and cognitive impairment had a care plan directing staff to apply and remove a right ankle splint at specific times each day and to provide passive stretching to prevent decline in ROM. Observation found the splint not in use and lying on a chair, and the resident was unsure when it was last applied. A PTA reported the resident had developed foot drop and that the splint could no longer be applied without additional therapy, attributing this to the splint not being used daily as ordered. The DON confirmed that staff failed to follow the established care plan for splint application and ROM management.
A resident with hemiplegia and hemiparesis after a cerebral infarction, and severe cognitive impairment (BIMS 5), had physician and therapy orders for right-hand and right-ankle splinting with passive ROM to manage contractures and maintain ROM. Surveyors observed a foot splint lying unused and the resident’s right hand contracted into a fist without a hand roll. The resident could not recall when the foot splint was last applied and reported never having a hand roll. An LPN was unaware of the need for the splint and confirmed no hand roll was in use. Records showed the hand splint order was discontinued at the responsible party’s request due to pain, but OT was not notified and no alternative such as a hand roll was initiated. PT had documented improved ankle ROM and recommended a PODUS boot, while a PTA later reported the resident had developed foot drop related to the ankle splint not being applied as ordered. The DON confirmed that daily ankle splint orders existed and that the hand splint was discontinued without alternative interventions to prevent contracture.
The facility failed to protect resident narcotic medications from misappropriation when an LPN handed over a medication cart’s narcotic keys to an RN without performing required narcotic counts before and after the transfer, and the cart was later found unlocked in the nurses’ station. During the subsequent shift change count, staff discovered multiple missing doses of oxycodone-acetaminophen and hydrocodone-acetaminophen prescribed PRN for pain to four residents with conditions including dementia, COPD, dysphagia, and diabetic neuropathy. Review of individual controlled drug logs showed corrected balances to account for the missing tablets, confirming that controlled substances were unaccounted for during the period of unsecured cart access and improper key control.
Two ambulatory residents with dementia, severe cognitive deficits, and known wandering behavior, each wearing a wander guard bracelet, were able to exit through a unit door when a visitor held it open, despite the door alarm sounding and prior observations that they frequently walked together and approached doors. An LPN responded to the alarm and, along with other staff, initiated a search when the residents could not be found on the unit; staff ultimately located the residents across a four-lane highway and returned them to the building without injury. The incident occurred despite facility policies requiring use of a security system for residents unable to protect themselves from harm by wandering, and staff and leadership acknowledged that the residents had a history of walking the halls together and going to doors, and that increased monitoring and restricting visitor access to door codes could have prevented the elopement.
A cognitively impaired resident with dementia, agitation, and a history of wandering was previously assessed by the IDT as not being at risk for elopement and did not have elopement precautions in place. On one occasion, a visitor exited through the front door without realizing the resident followed outside, and staff later discovered the resident alone on the front porch after being missing for several minutes. An LPN and CNA participated in locating and returning the resident, and the incident revealed that supervision and elopement risk assessment were insufficient for this resident.
A resident with Type 2 DM and moderately impaired cognition had two unstageable heel DTIs documented on the MDS and physician orders for treatment to both heels, but the comprehensive care plan did not include any problem, goals, or interventions related to these pressure injuries. LPNs responsible for MDS and care plan completion acknowledged the omission and stated that although they periodically audit by comparing orders to the care plan, this situation was missed. The DON reported she expected the wound care nurse to update the care plan with new wound treatment orders, while an RN stated she could update interventions but had not been trained to create a new focused care plan and was unaware it was her responsibility to add the DTI treatment orders to the care plan.
A controlled substance prescribed for a cognitively intact resident with a left femur fracture was delivered and signed for by an LPN but was not entered on the narcotic accountability record or narcotic box package count and was later found to be missing. One LPN reported receiving the blister pack of thirty Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablets from another LPN, placing it on the nurses’ station, and leaving the area, while both LPNs stated they were in the medication room as the medication remained unattended. The DON and Administrator confirmed that staff failed to secure the controlled medication as required by facility policy and that the missing tablets could not be located.
Surveyors found that staff failed to properly secure and store medications for two residents. For one resident, an LPN received a delivery of Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, passed it to another LPN, and the controlled medication was left unattended at the nurses’ station instead of being immediately locked and entered into the narcotic count, after which it could not be located. For another resident, two bottles of Lorazepam oral concentrate, documented on the narcotic record and labeled to be protected from light and refrigerated, were observed stored in a locked medication cart rather than in the designated medication refrigerator, even though staff acknowledged knowing the manufacturer’s refrigeration requirement.
A resident with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following cerebral infarction was transferred by facility van to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation and was later determined by the facility to be discharged due to aggressive behavior and threats, with staff stating they could not meet the resident’s needs. The Administrator and Social Services Director communicated with the psychiatric facility and the resident’s family about finding alternative placement and informed the family the resident would not be allowed to return, but no formal involuntary discharge notice or written appeal rights were provided, and no physician discharge order was documented, contrary to facility policies requiring a completed transfer form and written notice of transfer/discharge with appeal information.
The facility did not adequately investigate, address, or resolve repeated grievances about food quality and temperature raised through Resident Council meetings. Over several months, residents reported that weekend meals were bad, food was consistently cold, beverages lacked sufficient ice, and breakfast items were hard or unpalatable. While limited steps such as using temperature-holding containers, sending trays out faster, and in-servicing dietary staff were noted, there was no documented monitoring, follow-up, or evaluation of effectiveness. Cognitively intact residents continued to report cold, poor-tasting food, and staff, including the Dietary Manager and Social Services, acknowledged awareness of the complaints without evidence of thorough follow-up or resolution.
Failure to Implement Care Plan for Ankle Splint and ROM Management
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement a comprehensive, person-centered care plan for contracture management and splinting to prevent decline in range of motion for one resident. The facility’s policy on prevention of decline in range of motion required that, based on the comprehensive assessment, the facility provide interventions, exercises, and/or therapy to maintain or improve ROM. The resident’s care plan, initiated on 8/1/25, identified an ADL self-care performance deficit related to stroke, hemiplegia, and immobility, placing the resident at risk for functional decline. The care plan interventions directed staff to apply a splint to the right ankle after breakfast, provide passive stretch to the right ankle after applying the splint, remove the splint at lunchtime, reapply the splint after supper with passive stretch, and remove the splint at bedtime. On observation, the resident’s ankle splint was not in use and was found lying in a chair in the resident’s room, and the resident was unsure when the splint was last applied. The PTA reported that the resident had developed foot drop and that the ankle splint could no longer be placed without additional therapy, confirming this was related to the splint not being applied daily as ordered. The DON stated that the care plan was used to inform staff how to care for the resident and verified that staff failed to follow the care plan when they did not apply the ankle splint. Record review showed the resident was admitted with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction affecting the right dominant side, and an MDS assessment indicated a BIMS score of 5, reflecting cognitive impairment at the time of the deficiency.
Failure to Implement ROM and Splinting Orders Resulting in Contractures and Foot Drop
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide ordered range of motion (ROM) and splinting interventions to prevent decline in ROM for a resident with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction affecting the right dominant side. The resident was admitted with these diagnoses and had physician orders and therapy recommendations for contracture management and splinting. An OT evaluation documented decreased ROM in the right upper extremity and recommended a resting hand splint and a restorative splint and brace program, with a subsequent OT evaluation recommending continuation of the contracture management and splinting program. A physician order directed staff to apply a right-hand splint after breakfast, provide passive stretch to the right elbow, wrist, and hand once daily, and remove the splint before dinner. Another physician order required application of a right ankle splint after breakfast and after supper with passive stretching following application. The facility’s own policy stated that residents without limited ROM should not experience a reduction in ROM unless clinically unavoidable. During observation, surveyors noted a foot splint lying unused in the resident’s chair and the resident’s right hand contracted into a fist without a hand roll in place. The resident reported not knowing when the foot splint was last applied and stated she had never had a hand roll. An LPN stated she did not know why the splint was in the room, believed the resident was not required to wear it, and confirmed the resident did not have a hand roll. Record review showed the right-hand splint order was discontinued at the responsible party’s request due to pain, but the OT reported she had not been notified of this discontinuation and stated a hand roll should have been initiated when the splint was stopped; she further stated the resident’s hand was now contracted into a fist. A PT discharge summary documented improved right ankle ROM with therapy and recommended a PODUS boot daily for up to five hours, while a PTA later reported the resident had developed foot drop and that the ankle splint could no longer be applied without additional therapy, confirming this was related to the splint not being applied daily as ordered. The DON verified that there were physician orders for daily ankle splinting and acknowledged that the right-hand splint was discontinued without alternative interventions to prevent contracture. The resident’s MDS showed a BIMS score of 5, indicating severe cognitive impairment.
Failure to Secure Narcotic Medications and Maintain Key Control
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect resident medications from misappropriation on one of four medication carts, resulting in missing controlled substances for four residents. The facility’s abuse, neglect, and exploitation policy defines misappropriation of resident property as the deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful use of a resident’s belongings or money without the resident’s consent. On a specific date, during the 7:00 PM shift change narcotic count, staff identified that multiple doses of Percocet and Norco (hydrocodone-acetaminophen) were missing from the narcotic box on a single medication cart. Prior to this discovery, the assigned LPN had confirmed that the narcotic count was correct earlier in the day. The events leading to the deficiency included the LPN giving her medication cart narcotic keys to an RN while she left the area to perform a urine specimen collection. The LPN did not complete a narcotic count before or after transferring the keys, which was not in accordance with facility expectations for key control and chain of custody. When the LPN returned, she observed the medication cart in the nurses’ station and unlocked. The RN later confirmed that she had moved the cart into the nurses’ station but denied administering any medications during the time she had possession of the keys. During the subsequent 7:00 PM narcotic count, discrepancies were identified, and a search of the cart and nurses’ station did not locate the missing medications. Record review showed that four residents’ controlled medication logs required corrections to reflect missing tablets. One resident with dementia had an order for oxycodone-acetaminophen 5-325 mg every 12 hours as needed for pain; the narcotic log initially showed a remaining balance of 20 tablets after a documented administration, but was later corrected to 16 tablets to account for four missing tablets. A second resident with COPD had an order for oxycodone-acetaminophen 10-325 mg every eight hours as needed; the log was corrected from a remaining balance of five tablets to four, indicating one missing tablet. A third resident with dysphagia had an order for hydrocodone-acetaminophen 5-325 mg every 24 hours as needed; the log showed two tablets on hand after the resident returned from pass with no administrations documented, and was later corrected to zero, indicating two missing tablets. A fourth resident with type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy had an order for hydrocodone-acetaminophen 7.5-325 mg every six hours as needed; the log was corrected from a remaining balance of eight tablets to seven, indicating one missing tablet. These discrepancies, combined with the unsecured cart and improper key transfer without counts, led to the determination that resident medications were not protected from misappropriation.
Failure to Prevent Elopement of Two Cognitively Impaired Wanderers
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide adequate supervision and prevent elopement for two residents with known wandering and elopement risk. Both residents were ambulatory, frequently walked throughout the facility together, and were known to staff as wanderers. Each resident had a diagnosis of dementia with severe cognitive deficits documented on their MDS assessments, and both had Wander/elopement alarms (wander guard bracelets) in place and used daily. The facility’s elopement/wandering policy stated that residents who are incapable of adequately protecting themselves and unable to determine when they are at risk for harm by wandering out of the facility should be placed on the resident security system to ensure safety. On the day of the incident, video surveillance later reviewed by the Administrator showed that a visitor entered an exit door on the B Unit at approximately 6:20 PM. The two residents at risk for elopement approached the door, and the visitor held the door open, allowing them to walk out of the building. The residents were wearing wander guard bracelets, and when they exited, the door alarm sounded. A nurse responded immediately to the alarm, exited the facility, and went down the walkway but did not see the residents. Staff were then alerted that the residents were missing, and a facility-wide search was initiated. Staff interviews and the facility’s documentation confirmed that the residents had previously been observed walking together throughout the facility and approaching doors, including the exit door involved in the incident. The Administrator reported that review of the video showed the two residents had approached the same door together two or three times prior to the elopement event. Despite their known patterns of wandering, severe cognitive impairment, and prior door-approach behavior, the residents were able to exit the facility unnoticed and unsupervised when the visitor held the door open. Staff ultimately located the residents across a four-lane high-capacity highway approximately 528 feet from the exit door and returned them to the facility, where body audits and assessments documented no injuries and intermittent confusion. The State Agency determined that the facility’s failure to provide adequate supervision to prevent the elopement of these residents, who had exhibited exit-seeking behaviors, placed them and other residents at risk for wandering and elopement in a situation likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment, or death and cited the facility at F689 with Immediate Jeopardy and Substandard Quality of Care. The residents’ medical records and elopement reports documented that both were confused, had impaired memory, and were identified as wanderers. One resident had a BIMS score of 3 and the other a BIMS score of 0, both indicating severe cognitive deficits. Progress notes and elopement reports recorded that staff were notified when the residents were not on the unit and could not be located, that all staff were engaged in searching, and that the residents were ultimately found outside and assisted back into the building. Interviews with CNAs and an LPN described hearing a Code W called, running outside, and seeing the residents across the street after they had crossed the four-lane highway. The DON acknowledged that the residents were always walking in the facility, often together, and that they had wandered to doors and looked out, and agreed that increased monitoring and not allowing visitors to have door codes could have prevented the residents from leaving the building.
Removal Plan
- Conducted a facility search.
- Notified police of missing residents.
- Director of Nursing interviewed staff and residents.
- Notified the Medical Director and residents’ families.
- Administrator and Director of Nursing checked the wander guard system and facility doors to ensure proper functioning.
- Returned Resident #1 and Resident #2 to the facility.
- Completed an incident report.
- Completed an emergency Quality Assurance meeting.
- Initiated in-service training for all staff on the elopement policy, including a quiz to validate comprehension, and required staff (including contract staff) to complete the in-service before working their next scheduled shift, with Administrator monitoring compliance.
- Responded immediately to the door alarm by sending staff outside to locate residents and notifying additional staff to assist with the search.
- Reviewed video surveillance and confirmed a visitor held the door open allowing residents to exit.
- Held an emergency Quality Assurance meeting with the Medical Director, Director of Nursing, Administrator, Regional Director, involved staff, and Infection Preventionist.
- Changed the main entry door code.
- Verified entrance door signage was in place instructing not to allow residents to exit unaccompanied.
- Identified residents at risk for elopement and ensured elopement bracelets/transmitters were functional and doors were locking appropriately.
- Reviewed care plans for residents at risk for elopement.
- Completed body audits on Resident #1 and Resident #2.
- Conducted audits verifying resident location, elopement risk, and wander guard bracelet function.
- Medical Records updated care profiles of residents at risk for wandering.
- Assistant Administrator began audits of all doors for function and security.
- Provided in-services on elopement policy and procedure, Resident Rights, and incident and accident reporting.
- Conducted elopement drills on each shift.
- Implemented monitoring systems to sustain compliance.
- Director of Nursing to monitor wander guard system checks three times weekly for four weeks or until substantial compliance is attained.
- Director of Nursing to monitor resident behavior for elopement attempts via incident reports, observations, and communications weekly for four weeks or until substantial compliance is attained.
- Quality Assurance Committee to meet for four weeks to review compliance with the plan of action, then continue routine Quality Assurance monitoring if no further concerns are noted.
- Administrator to hold follow-up Quality Assurance meetings monthly for two months then quarterly thereafter to ensure sustained compliance.
- Updated entry screening kiosk to include an additional reminder and attestation to ensure resident safety, requiring visitors to agree that no resident comes in or out with them and triggering a staff alert if the visitor refuses.
- Administration spoke directly with the visitor to confirm visitor policies and procedures.
Elopement of Cognitively Impaired Resident Due to Inadequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate supervision to prevent a cognitively impaired resident with a history of wandering from exiting the building unattended. The resident had diagnoses including dementia with agitation and a BIMS score of three, indicating severe cognitive impairment. The resident had been readmitted from a geriatric psychiatric hospitalization and was known by the DON to have a history of wandering. Despite this, the interdisciplinary team had previously determined that the resident was not at risk for elopement, and no elopement interventions such as a wander guard were in place at the time of the incident. On the day of the event, a visitor observed the resident standing near the front door and exited the facility without realizing the resident followed him outside. Staff later became aware that the resident was missing, and an LPN assisted in locating the resident. A CNA ultimately found the resident outside on the front porch and returned the resident to the facility, with the investigation determining the resident had been outside unattended for approximately five minutes. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident ambulated in the halls and had not previously attempted to exit the building, and that the resident was only reassessed and provided with a wander guard after the incident.
Failure to Care Plan for Pressure Injuries and Treatment Orders
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop a comprehensive person-centered care plan for a resident with pressure injuries. The facility’s undated Care Plan Policy and Procedure stated that each resident’s care plan would remain current and inform staff of needs, strengths, goals, and approaches, and that a comprehensive person-centered care plan would be completed as needed. Record review showed that the resident was admitted with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with ketoacidosis without coma and, per the Discharge MDS with an ARD of 1/19/26, had a BIMS score of 12 indicating moderately impaired cognition. Section M of the MDS documented two unstageable pressure injuries presenting as deep tissue injuries (DTIs). Physician orders dated 12/10/25 directed treatment to right and left DTI pressure ulcers. Despite these documented DTIs and treatment orders, review of the resident’s comprehensive care plan revealed no care plan addressing the DTIs on the left and right heels, which was inconsistent with the physician orders. During interviews, two LPNs responsible for MDS and care plan completion confirmed that the care plan did not include the DTIs and stated that care plans are developed based on the MDS and physician orders, and that audits comparing orders to care plans are done periodically but this had been missed. The DON stated her expectation that the wound care nurse update the care plan with new wound care treatment orders. An RN reported she could update care plan interventions but had not been trained to develop a new focused care plan and had not added the physician’s DTI treatment orders to the care plan, and she was not aware it was her responsibility to do so.
Unsecured Controlled Medication Left Unattended and Lost
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to prevent misappropriation of resident property when a controlled substance prescribed for a resident was left unattended and subsequently went missing. Facility policies on abuse and neglect defined misappropriation of resident property to include missing prescription medications or diversion of resident medications, including controlled substances, and the Medication-Controlled Substances policy required that only authorized licensed nursing and pharmacy personnel have access to controlled medications, that all controlled substances be stored in a locked cabinet or compartment, and that accurate accountability of all controlled drugs be maintained. Despite these policies, a pharmacy courier delivered thirty Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablets for a resident with a left femur fracture, and the medication was signed for by an LPN but was not signed onto the narcotic accountability record, was not documented on the narcotic box package count, and could not be located. The resident, who was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15 and had a physician’s order for Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen, was later informed that the tablets delivered had been lost. Interviews revealed that one LPN received the blister pack of thirty Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen tablets from another LPN and placed it on the nurses’ station before leaving the area, leaving the controlled medication unattended. Both LPNs reported being in the medication room while the medication remained unattended at the nurses’ station. The DON reported being notified that the medication was missing and that an investigation confirmed the medication could not be located and had been left unattended, and the Administrator confirmed staff failed to ensure controlled medications were secured and accessible only to authorized personnel and that the facility was unable to determine the location of the missing medication.
Failure to Secure Controlled Drugs and Follow Refrigerated Storage Requirements
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to store and secure medications, including controlled substances, in accordance with professional standards and manufacturer instructions. For Resident #1, who was admitted with a left femur fracture and was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15, the physician ordered Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablets. A facility investigation documented that a pharmacy courier delivered 30 tablets of this controlled medication, which were received and signed for by an LPN but were never documented in the narcotic count system and were later unable to be located. One LPN reported that after receiving the Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen from another LPN, she left the medication unattended at the nurses’ station while she completed other tasks instead of immediately securing it in the locked medication cart. The LPN who initially received the medication from the courier confirmed that the controlled medication had not been immediately secured in the locked cart following delivery. For Resident #3, who was admitted with heart disease and had a BIMS score of 10 indicating moderately impaired cognition, the physician ordered Lorazepam (Ativan) oral concentrate. The narcotic record showed that two containers of Lorazepam were signed into the narcotic record on the date of admission. Manufacturer prescribing information for the Lorazepam oral concentrate specified that it must be protected from light and stored refrigerated at 36–46°F. During a controlled drug count, surveyors observed that two bottles of Lorazepam oral concentrate for this resident were stored in the locked medication cart rather than in a refrigerator, despite the label instructions requiring refrigeration. One LPN confirmed the manufacturer’s storage instructions on the label but was unsure why the medication had not been refrigerated, and another LPN acknowledged awareness that the medication required refrigeration but confirmed it had been stored in the medication cart instead of the designated medication refrigerator.
Failure to Provide Required Involuntary Discharge Notice and Appeal Rights
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide required written notice of an involuntary discharge, including appeal rights, and to obtain a physician’s discharge order before refusing readmission of a resident following a hospital transfer. Facility policy titled “Transfer Form” stated that it is the policy of the facility to provide a completed and accurate transfer form to residents transferred or discharged from the facility, and the policy titled “Appealing a Transfer or Discharge Notice” stated that residents have the right to appeal transfer or discharge notices and, upon notice of transfer or discharge, will be provided with a statement of their right to appeal. Record review showed that the resident, admitted with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following cerebral infarction, left the facility by facility van to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. Progress notes dated several days after the transfer documented that the resident had been discharged from the facility due to aggressive behavior and that, per conversation with the psychiatric hospital, the Administrator and Social Services Director would assist in finding alternative placement and home health if needed. Documentation further indicated that, due to threats made, the facility stated it was unable to meet the resident’s needs and communicated with the resident’s family that the resident would not be allowed to return. During interview, the Administrator confirmed that neither the resident nor the family was provided a formal involuntary discharge notice or information on appeal rights and that no physician order for discharge could be located, acknowledging that the formal notice, appeal rights, and physician order should have been obtained prior to discharge.
Failure to Investigate and Resolve Ongoing Food-Related Grievances
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that grievances voiced through the Resident Council regarding food quality and temperature were thoroughly investigated, addressed, and resolved. Resident Council minutes over multiple months documented repeated complaints that weekend food was "bad," tasted sweet, and that food was cold by the time it reached residents. Additional concerns included insufficient ice in water and tea, hard breakfast biscuits and toast, and cold grits. Although the facility’s grievance policy stated that residents and families could voice grievances without reprisal and that the facility would make prompt efforts to resolve grievances, there was no documentation that the initial complaint about weekend food quality was addressed, and subsequent complaints continued without evidence of thorough investigation or resolution. Resident Council Department Response Forms showed limited actions, such as placing food in containers to maintain temperature, conducting an in‑service for dietary staff, sending food out faster, and instructing staff to pass trays promptly, but there was no documentation of monitoring, follow‑up, or evaluation of whether these measures were effective. Residents interviewed, all cognitively intact per their MDS BIMS scores, consistently reported that the food remained cold and did not taste good, with one resident noting that staff would reheat food only if requested. The Dietary Manager acknowledged awareness of the complaints and stated he had spoken with weekend staff and made changes like replacing tray carts and providing guidance on food preparation, but confirmed there was no documentation of ongoing monitoring or additional interventions. Social Services and the Administrator both acknowledged awareness of the complaints and that additional follow‑up and resolution efforts should have occurred, yet no evidence of such follow‑up was present in the records.
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