Ivy At Great Falls
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Great Falls, Montana.
- Location
- 1130 17th Ave S, Great Falls, Montana 59405
- CMS Provider Number
- 275026
- Inspections on file
- 26
- Latest survey
- April 1, 2024
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 0
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Ivy At Great Falls during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility failed to secure hazardous areas on the secure unit, allowing a resident with dementia and poor safety awareness to enter these areas, leading to a fall in a janitor's closet. Staff were unaware of the resident's entry into hazardous areas, and the care plan did not address the risks of accessing unsafe spaces.
The facility failed to provide adequate pressure ulcer care for three residents, resulting in the development and worsening of pressure ulcers. One resident developed an avoidable Stage IV pressure ulcer due to inconsistent wound care and missed interventions. Another resident's pressure ulcer worsened to a Stage IV due to the facility's failure to follow physician treatment orders. A third resident's ear wound worsened from a Stage II to a Stage III pressure ulcer due to the facility's failure to ensure treatment orders were followed.
The facility nursing staff failed to accurately and safely provide pharmaceutical services, use credible resources for medication identification, and follow the six rights of medication administration. This affected three residents, with staff using Google for medication identification, not wearing gloves, administering medication without proper documentation, and improperly handling narcotic medications.
The facility failed to serve food at a palatable temperature and in an appetizing manner, affecting multiple residents. One resident reported lukewarm food, another mentioned cold and unappealing breakfast, and a third received pureed food instead of minced and moist as per her diet order. Additionally, issues with cracked and dirty dishes were noted.
The facility staff failed to maintain proper infection control measures during a COVID-19 outbreak, including improper use of N95 masks, handling food without hand hygiene, and not covering drinks. Additionally, a resident's refrigerator contained uncovered drinks, and a staff member did not change gloves or perform hand hygiene during incontinence care.
The facility failed to develop and implement a baseline care plan within 48 hours of admission for a resident. The care plan identified several concerns, including risk for falls, pain, need for dialysis for ESRD, and requirement of insulin for diabetes mellitus, but did not include any goals or interventions. A staff member stated it was the responsibility of the staff nurse or unit manager to initiate the care plan and was unaware of the issue with incomplete plans.
The facility failed to implement sufficient interventions and care plans for residents with significant weight loss and those at risk for dehydration. One resident experienced significant weight loss without proper care plan adjustments, while two other residents with limited mobility were unable to access fluids, resulting in inadequate daily fluid intake.
The facility failed to assess the need for and obtain CPAP supplies for a resident diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The resident mentioned that her CPAP machine was in her storage unit and not at the facility, and an observation confirmed the absence of the CPAP machine in her room. Admission orders indicated that CPAP supplies should be provided, but this was not done in a timely manner.
The facility failed to ensure staff had adequate training and competencies for newly admitted residents with behavioral health needs, leading to increased risk of harm. A resident exhibited aggressive behavior, frequently refused medications, and staff were unable to effectively manage or redirect him. The care plan lacked specific interventions and was not updated to reflect the resident's needs.
The facility failed to document a rationale for the continued use of antianxiety medication beyond 14 days for two residents. One resident had an order for clonazepam, and another had an order for lorazepam, both without the required documentation for extended use.
The facility failed to ensure proper communication and documentation of hospice services for a resident. The resident was unaware of the hospice services, and staff indicated limited communication with hospice staff. The hospice care plan and encounter notes were not present in the resident's EMR from the time of hospice admission until the survey, leading to the identified deficiency.
The facility failed to ensure the daily posting of staffing information was updated daily, accurate, and included all required information. The postings were missing for two days and did not include the required census number or reflect changes in staffing hours. A staff member admitted to not being aware of the seven-day posting requirement.
Failure to Secure Hazardous Areas and Provide Adequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to secure hazardous areas on the secure unit, which allowed a resident with dementia and poor safety awareness to enter these areas, increasing the risk of accidents. During an observation, the resident was seen wandering into an unoccupied room cluttered with trip hazards, including extra furniture and a Hoyer lift. The resident's care plan, reviewed on 3/20/23, identified him as a high fall risk but did not address the potential risks of accessing locked or unsafe spaces. Staff interviews revealed that they were unaware of the resident's entry into hazardous areas, including a janitor's closet where the resident had previously fallen. The incident in the janitor's closet was documented in the nursing progress notes dated 2/24/24, which described a loud crash that alerted staff to the resident's fall. The facility's fall training for staff indicated that nursing should complete a risk assessment and document new interventions after a fall, but the resident's care plan lacked specific measures to prevent access to hazardous areas. Staff interviews confirmed that they did not know the resident had entered the janitor's closet, and the facility assumed the door had been left open. Subsequent audits on the secure unit doors were mentioned but not detailed in the report.
Failure to Provide Adequate Pressure Ulcer Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to identify, assess, treat, document, monitor, and implement sufficient interventions for a resident who utilized an immobilizer and developed a wound, which resulted in an avoidable Stage IV pressure ulcer. The resident did not come to the facility with wounds, but the staff did not follow physician orders, communicate effectively with the provider/wound care nurse, or implement necessary interventions such as turning the resident every two hours and encouraging ambulation. The resident's wound care was inconsistent, with missed dressing changes and repositioning, and the wound progressed from a Stage II to a Stage IV pressure ulcer without proper staging or documentation by the staff. Another resident developed a pressure ulcer on the right buttock, which worsened due to the facility's failure to obtain or follow physician treatment orders for wound care. The wound care orders were not entered into the electronic medical record (EMR), leading to inconsistencies in wound measurements and staging. The resident's wound care was not properly documented, and there were missed dressing changes and inaccurate wound measurements, resulting in the wound progressing to a Stage IV pressure ulcer. A third resident had a pressure ulcer on the left ear caused by oxygen tubing. The facility failed to ensure that treatment orders for ear pads were clarified and followed, and the resident did not like and removed the ear pads. The wound worsened from a Stage II to a Stage III pressure ulcer. The facility did not assess the skin risk related to the resident's ears and oxygen tubing prior to the development of the blisters, and the wound care orders were not consistently followed, leading to further deterioration of the wound.
Failure to Follow Medication Administration Protocols
Penalty
Summary
The facility nursing staff failed to accurately and safely provide pharmaceutical services, use a credible resource for medication identification, and ensure staff utilized the professional nursing standards regarding the six rights of medication administration. These failures affected three residents. During an observation, a staff member used Google to identify the medication Buspar for a resident, instead of using a current medication resource. Additionally, the same staff member did not wear gloves while handling a lidocaine patch. Another staff member administered diltiazem 120 mg to a resident without the correct dosage being documented on the MAR, and admitted to giving the medication without verifying the correct dose. Furthermore, a staff member pre-poured a narcotic medication for a resident and placed it in an unlabeled medication cup in the top drawer of the medication cart, rather than in the double-locked narcotic drawer, and did not label the cup. Interviews with staff members revealed that the correct procedures were not followed. One staff member stated that if a medication packet did not match the MAR, the nurse should have contacted the pharmacy for a revised order. Another staff member confirmed that each medication must have a dosage on the MAR and the medication packaging. The facility's policy on medication administration emphasized the importance of following the six rights of medication administration and ensuring that medications are not touched with bare hands. These observations and interviews indicate a failure to adhere to established protocols, putting residents at risk for improper medication administration.
Deficiencies in Food Service and Dietary Management
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food was served at a palatable temperature and in an appetizing manner, affecting multiple residents. Resident #113 reported that hot food was served lukewarm, while resident #59 stated that the food was hardly ever hot enough. Resident #278 mentioned that breakfast often arrived cold and unappealing, with oatmeal being described as a 'big blob.' Additionally, resident #278 reported receiving cracked and leaking glasses, as well as drinking glasses with residue. This resident also noted that juice was no longer offered due to a lack of lids for transport. Furthermore, resident #278's food was not prepared according to her dietary needs, leading to weight loss from 149.2 pounds to 143.6 pounds within a week. Resident #76 received a lunch tray with unidentifiable pureed foods, despite her diet order specifying minced and moist food, and stated that the food did not taste good. The observations and interviews revealed that the facility did not maintain clean and properly repaired dishes, and failed to serve altered food diets in an appealing manner. Resident #278's electronic medical record (EMR) confirmed her dietary requirements, which were not met, contributing to her weight loss. Similarly, resident #76's EMR indicated a minced and moist diet, but she was served pureed food instead. These deficiencies in food service and dietary management were observed to have affected the quality of care for the residents involved.
Infection Control Failures During COVID-19 Outbreak
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to maintain proper infection control measures during a COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, staff members were observed wearing their N95 masks improperly, with masks pulled down under their noses. Additionally, staff members were seen pulling their masks down with their hands and then replacing them without performing hand hygiene. This occurred while they were handling food items and placing meal trays into a cart. Staff acknowledged that they should have washed their hands before continuing with food service. Furthermore, meal trays were observed being carried down the hallway without drink covers, which could potentially lead to contamination. In another instance, a resident's refrigerator contained multiple uncovered and unlabeled drinks, which the resident admitted to leaving until they tasted sour before discarding. Additionally, during incontinence care for another resident, a staff member failed to change gloves and perform hand hygiene after completing a dirty task and before starting a clean task. The staff member continued to handle clean items and operate equipment with dirty gloves. This was confirmed by another staff member who stated that staff had been trained to change gloves and perform hand hygiene when transitioning from dirty to clean tasks.
Failure to Implement Baseline Care Plan
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a baseline care plan within 48 hours of admission for a resident. The baseline care plan, dated 12/4/23, identified several areas of concern, including risk for falls, presence of pain, need for dialysis for ESRD, and requirement of insulin for diabetes mellitus. However, the care plan did not include any goals or interventions for these concerns. During an interview on 3/28/24, a staff member stated that it was the responsibility of the staff nurse or unit manager to initiate the baseline care plan and that it was expected to include goals and interventions. The staff member was unaware of the issue with incomplete baseline care plans for new admissions.
Failure to Provide Adequate Nutrition and Hydration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement sufficient interventions and care plans for residents with significant weight loss and those at risk for dehydration. Resident #94 experienced a significant weight loss of 5.94% over 38 days, with no documented problems, goals, or interventions for nutrition or weight loss in the care plan since readmission. The resident expressed dissatisfaction with the food texture, which was changed without a clear reason or assessment for swallowing difficulties. Staff interviews revealed that the diet orders were based on admission information and had not been reassessed despite the resident's complaints and significant weight loss warnings in the progress notes. Additionally, the facility failed to ensure adequate fluid intake for residents with limited mobility. Resident #35 was observed with dry, peeling lips and unable to reach fluids due to the bedside table's position and the resident's limited range of motion. Staff interviews confirmed that the need to assist the resident with accessing fluids was not care planned, and the resident's average daily fluid intake was significantly below the recommended amount. Similarly, resident #65, who was at risk for dehydration, had an average daily fluid intake well below the care plan's goal, with observations showing the resident unable to reach the water pitcher due to limited range of motion and the bedside table's position.
Failure to Provide CPAP Supplies for Resident with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to assess the need for and obtain CPAP supplies for a resident diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. During an interview, the resident mentioned that her CPAP machine was in her storage unit and not at the facility. An observation confirmed that there was no CPAP machine in the resident's room. The resident's admission orders, dated several months prior, indicated that CPAP supplies should be provided. A staff member later stated that the resident would be assessed by a provider and specialists for sleep apnea, indicating that the necessary equipment had not been provided in a timely manner.
Inadequate Staff Training for Behavioral Health Needs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure staff had adequate training and competencies for newly admitted residents with behavioral health needs. This deficiency was observed in the case of a resident who exhibited aggressive and disruptive behavior. Staff members expressed concerns about their ability to manage the resident's behavior due to a lack of specific training in behavior or de-escalation techniques. The resident frequently refused psychotropic medications and displayed aggressive actions such as pacing the halls, entering other residents' rooms, and physically assaulting staff and other residents. These incidents were documented in nursing progress notes and interviews with staff members, highlighting the staff's inability to effectively redirect or manage the resident's behavior. The resident's care plan included interventions such as administering medications, anticipating needs, and providing positive interactions, but these interventions were not adequately defined or updated to reflect the resident's specific needs and responses. For example, the care plan did not specify which needs should be anticipated, what positive interactions were effective, or how to safely remove the resident from an area. Additionally, the care plan did not identify that the resident responded better to male staff members or that the most severe incidents occurred in the early evening hours. The resident's Medication Administration Record for March 2024 showed multiple refusals of prescribed medications for severe dementia with psychotic disturbance. Despite these refusals and the resident's aggressive behavior, there were no updated interventions in the care plan to address these issues. The lack of adequate training and specific care plan interventions increased the risk of harm or negative outcomes for other residents, staff, and visitors in the facility.
Failure to Document Rationale for Continued Use of Antianxiety Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a rationale for the continued use of antianxiety medication beyond 14 days for two residents. Resident #81 had an order for clonazepam, 0.5 mg every eight hours as needed for anxiety, starting from 2/22/24. The resident took the medication five times between 3/1/24 and 3/27/24. However, there was no documented rationale for the continued use of clonazepam, as confirmed by staff member H during an interview on 3/28/24. Similarly, resident #35 had an order for lorazepam, 0.5 mg every two hours as needed for anxiety, agitation, or air hunger, starting from 2/9/24. Staff member B was unaware that as-needed psychotropic medications ordered by hospice needed to be limited to 14 days. Upon realizing this, staff member B contacted the provider, and a new order was placed with a 14-day limit. However, no documentation for the rationale of continued use was provided before the end of the survey. The facility's policy requires that orders for as-needed psychotropic drugs be limited to 14 days unless a documented rationale is provided by the provider.
Failure to Communicate and Document Hospice Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper communication and documentation of hospice services for a resident receiving hospice care. The resident was admitted to hospice on 2/6/24, but during an interview on 3/26/24, the resident stated he did not know why he was receiving hospice services. Additionally, a staff member indicated that the only communication with hospice staff was on the day they visited the resident, and there was no documentation from hospice in the resident's electronic medical record (EMR). The facility's care plan for the resident, dated 2/10/24, noted that the resident was receiving hospice services but did not specify the services provided or the need to document the resident's response to the hospice care plan. The facility's policy required maintaining communication with hospice and monitoring the resident's response to the hospice care plan, which was not followed in this case. A review of the facility's agreement with the hospice provider showed that the hospice was responsible for furnishing the facility with a copy of the hospice plan of care. A request for the resident's hospice care plan and encounter notes was made on 3/26/24, and the documents were provided on 3/27/24, showing they were faxed to the facility on an earlier date. However, these documents were not present in the resident's EMR from the time of hospice admission until the start of the survey on 3/25/24. This lack of documentation and communication led to the deficiency identified by the surveyors.
Failure to Post Accurate and Timely Nurse Staffing Information
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the daily posting of staffing information was updated daily, accurate, and included all required information. During an observation, it was noted that the Daily Posting of Hours of Nurse Staffing sheet, posted near the front door, was missing postings for two days of the last week. Additionally, the posted information sheets did not include the required facility census number or reflect changes in staffing hours when the schedule changed. During an interview, a staff member responsible for posting the forms admitted that the staffing job was only performed five days a week and was not aware that the postings needed to be updated seven days a week, include the census, and reflect any changes in staffing hours. This resulted in postings that were not timely or accurate, although they were posted with information during the week.
Latest citations in Montana
A resident with a history of hematuria, renal failure, anemia, and recent blood transfusions was readmitted from the hospital with discharge instructions to pause apixaban, but the facility failed to obtain admission orders and did not clarify the incomplete anticoagulant order. The resident’s care plan did not address anticoagulant use or monitoring, and staff administered multiple doses of apixaban after readmission. Nursing notes documented blood in the nephrostomy drainage bag on two days without provider notification or intervention, followed by worsening weakness, poor intake, and hypoxia that led to hospital transfer. Hospital records showed the resident had gross hematuria, hypotension, respiratory distress, acute kidney injury, and a critically low Hgb requiring transfusion, and a late entry note acknowledged that the discharge order to hold apixaban had been overlooked.
A resident who was cognitively intact but dependent for bowel and bladder care and limited in ROM reported that a specific staff member repeatedly left call lights unanswered for extended periods, causing the resident to soil briefs and then be pressured to ambulate to the bathroom and sign refusal-of-care forms. A family member corroborated long call-light waits and rude interactions, and staff noted the resident became anxious and displayed behaviors when care was forgotten or incomplete. Despite verbal reports, emails, and documentation at a care conference describing long call-light waits, incontinence episodes, and refusal forms used at night, no grievance was filed and the alleged neglect was not reported or investigated. The resident also developed unaddressed skin issues on the heels, coccyx, and ears, and +2 pitting edema in both feet and ankles, with offloading devices found unused in the room and no related wound orders or documented weekly skin assessments.
Multiple residents experienced inadequate pressure ulcer and skin care when staff failed to perform timely and accurate skin assessments, obtain and follow wound care orders, and implement appropriate care plan and nutritional interventions. One resident admitted with multiple skin issues developed a large, foul-smelling coccyx ulcer that was not promptly evaluated, lacked early wound orders, and was not reflected in the care plan or consistently documented on the TAR. Another resident with a coccyx pressure injury and a spinal incision had delayed wound measurements, late dietitian notification, missed daily wound treatments, and late addition of protein supplementation to the care plan. A resident using oxygen had painful, reddened ears and heel/eschar issues that were not captured in admission documentation, lacked wound orders, and had no subsequent skin assessments recorded. A further resident with a coccyx pressure ulcer had conflicting MDS staging and "present on admission" coding, along with numerous days where ordered daily wound care was undocumented or absent. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent weekly skin checks, missed admission skin evaluations due to EHR changes, limited dietitian availability, and wound care being performed by staff without formal wound training, all contrary to the facility’s own skin integrity policy.
The facility failed to thoroughly investigate, monitor, and document multiple abuse allegations involving staff-to-resident and resident-to-resident incidents. In one case, a resident reported that a staff member blew marijuana vape smoke in his face, but there was no related nursing documentation or post-incident monitoring. In another case, a resident reported being hit by another resident, was found with a red mark on the head, and was sent to the ER, yet nursing notes for both residents lacked documentation of the incident and follow-up monitoring. In a third case, a cognitively impaired resident with developmental delay was found in another resident’s room while that resident’s hands were being removed from inside the resident’s pants and shirt, after which the resident complained of pain and was sent to the ER; again, nursing notes for both residents contained no documentation of the event or post-incident monitoring, and the investigator did not fully interview or obtain written statements from all involved as required by facility policy.
The facility failed to thoroughly investigate multiple allegations of abuse and neglect, including one resident’s report that a staff member was verbally demeaning and rushed her during oral care, and another resident’s report of inadequate ADL care with prolonged call light response times and being left in a soiled brief. A staff member admitted not reporting or investigating the latter allegation, and no related documentation was produced. In a separate incident, a resident alleged a CNA turned off the call light and refused requested personal care; the facility interviewed only the involved staff and did not interview other residents who might also have experienced call lights being turned off without care being provided, despite a witness stating this was a common practice by multiple staff. Additional requested interviews and information were not provided to surveyors.
Surveyors found that the facility failed to complete timely and comprehensive baseline care plans for three newly admitted residents. One resident with multiple serious conditions and a coccyx wound had no baseline care plan addressing wound care, pain, or chronic conditions for several days after admission. Another resident with dysphagia, dementia, and documented skin issues on the buttocks, heels, and knee had a baseline care plan that did not identify pressure wounds or related treatments. A third post‑surgical resident with a Stage 3 pressure ulcer and a lumbar incision had a baseline care plan that omitted wound management and post‑operative pain control. A staff member reported that baseline care plans are only generated after the admission nursing assessment is completed and locked, and acknowledged they are not always completed on time.
A resident’s long-time friend, a former employee previously terminated over an abuse allegation, was barred from entering the facility when she attempted to visit, and was told law enforcement would be called if she returned. Another individual confirmed awareness of the restriction, expressed no concern about the friend abusing the resident, and stated that the facility did not offer supervised or common-area visits. A staff member reported that any former employee terminated for an abuse allegation was categorically prohibited from returning to the building, without considering the resident’s relationship with the visitor, despite a visitation policy stating residents have the right to receive visitors of their choice and allowing only limited or supervised access when abuse is suspected or found.
The facility failed to follow its grievance policy by not documenting or investigating a grievance request from a resident and family member alleging that a CNA ignored call lights for extended periods, failed to provide timely ADL care, forced ambulation to the bathroom at night, and pressured the resident to sign refusal-of-care forms, causing the resident to feel afraid and neglected. In a separate case, the facility did not adequately investigate or document a grievance from a dependent, mobility-impaired resident who reported that a male CNA was rough and refused to reposition his contracted legs for comfort, and the staff member assigned to the investigation did not identify the CNA involved or record her explanation of the situation on the grievance form.
A resident reported that a former staff member repeatedly left the call light unanswered for extended periods, did not provide needed ADL assistance, and encouraged the resident to sign refusal-of-care forms, resulting in the resident soiling briefs before being asked to ambulate to the restroom. Another staff member stated that no care concerns had been brought to their attention and acknowledged that the alleged abuse and neglect were not reported. When surveyors requested IDT notes, root cause analysis, reporting, and investigation documents related to the staff member and this resident, the facility was unable to provide any documentation, indicating the allegation was not timely reported to the State Survey Agency or investigated.
Surveyors found that several residents did not receive appropriate ADL and hygiene assistance or accurate documentation of those services. A dependent resident reported inconsistent help with meals, only sponge baths instead of showers for several weeks, lack of shaving, and prior grievances about staff not assisting with a urinal or repositioning his legs. Another cognitively intact resident, dependent for oral care and dressing, stated he was not offered mouthwash or a warm washcloth, and staff confirmed they had never offered mouthwash despite charting that personal hygiene was provided. A third resident, largely independent with self-care, reported that washcloths were not available unless requested, and no washcloths were seen in the room, while documentation showed staff performing most of her personal hygiene. These findings showed failures to offer basic hygiene items and to accurately document ADL care provided.
Failure to Clarify Anticoagulant Orders Leads to Unnecessary Drug Administration and Hospitalization
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure a resident’s drug regimen was free from unnecessary drugs when nursing staff did not clarify and correctly implement anticoagulant orders upon the resident’s readmission. The resident had been hospitalized for hematuria, renal failure, and anemia, received multiple blood transfusions, and was discharged back to the facility with an After Visit Summary instructing that apixaban (an anticoagulant) be paused, with no restart date specified. Despite this, the facility’s admission documentation for the readmission date showed no admission orders, and the apixaban order was not clarified with the physician. The medication was restarted and administered after readmission, even though the hospital documentation indicated it was to be paused and later discontinued. Following readmission, the resident’s Medication Administration Record showed that seven doses of apixaban were given. The resident’s care plan, initiated on the readmission date, did not identify any problems, goals, or interventions related to anticoagulant use, safety, or monitoring for side effects. Nursing progress notes documented that the resident had a right-sided nephrostomy with yellow urine drainage on the day of readmission, and then documented blood in the nephrostomy drainage bag on two consecutive days. However, there was no documentation that the provider was notified about the hematuria or that any action was taken in response to this change. Subsequently, nursing notes described the resident as weak, not eating, unable to maintain a sitting position, and having low oxygen saturation that did not adequately improve with increased supplemental oxygen, leading to transfer to the emergency department. Hospital records from that visit showed the resident presented with hypoxia, hypotension, profound weakness, respiratory distress, gross hematuria, acute kidney injury, and a critically low hemoglobin of 6.9 g/dL, and that the resident had received an anticoagulant and required blood transfusions. A late entry nursing note at the facility later documented that the hospital discharge summary had been overlooked, the order to hold apixaban was not implemented, and the resident continued to receive apixaban until readmission to the hospital. The facility’s root cause analysis attributed the event to ambiguity in discharge communication and medication reconciliation workflow and noted that the apixaban order was incomplete and not clarified before administration.
Failure to Identify and Address Neglect, Call-Light Delays, and Skin Concerns
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to identify, report, and address neglect of care concerns for a cognitively intact resident who was dependent on staff for bowel and bladder care and had range of motion limitations in both upper and lower extremities. The resident reported that a specific staff member (NF7) repeatedly left his call light on for extended periods, often over 45 minutes and up to hours at night, resulting in him soiling his brief with bowel and bladder incontinence while waiting for assistance. When staff eventually responded, NF7 would attempt to have the resident ambulate to the restroom despite the resident already being incontinent, and would then encourage him to sign refusal of care forms when he declined. The resident described being upset, anxious, and irritable, and stated he usually “peed” and “soiled” his pants and developed skin issues from sitting so long without being cleaned. A family member (NF6) corroborated concerns about long call light response times, stating the resident’s call light was left on for over an hour, leading to incontinence episodes, and that NF7 spoke to the resident in a rude and angry manner. NF6 reported these concerns in person, by phone, and by email to facility staff, including staff members A and C. Staff member O reported that the resident had anxiety and behaviors that were exacerbated when staff forgot about him or failed to perform all required care. Despite these reports and the resident’s expressed fear and anxiety when NF7 was working, no staff member asked the resident if he felt safe or explored what had occurred on nights with or without NF7, and the alleged neglect was not reported or investigated by facility leadership. The resident also had unaddressed skin concerns and edema that were not properly identified or managed. Staff member B stated weekly skin assessments should have been done but that wound care staff were unaware of any ear or coccyx issues, and the physician orders lacked wound orders for the resident’s left heel. On assessment, staff member P observed eschar on the left heel that appeared to need debridement, redness and cracking on the right heel, pink coccyx, and reddened ears, with delayed capillary refill on one ear, as well as +2 pitting edema in both feet and ankles that had developed during the resident’s stay. Posey boots intended to offload the heels were found in the resident’s cabinet, and staff member P stated she had never seen them used on the resident. Additionally, at a care conference documented and signed by staff member C, the resident reported waiting 20–40 minutes for call lights at night, having accidents while waiting, and being made to sign refusal papers when he declined to go to the bathroom after already being wet. Despite this documentation of neglect-related concerns, no grievance was filed, and staff members B and C stated they were unaware of or did not report or investigate any alleged abuse or neglect for this resident.
Failure to Assess, Document, and Treat Pressure Ulcers and Related Skin Conditions
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to implement and maintain an effective system for pressure ulcer prevention, identification, assessment, and treatment for multiple residents. For one resident admitted with existing skin issues on the buttocks, both heels, and a right knee wound, nursing notes documented a silicone foam dressing on the coccyx that was saturated with foul-smelling brown-yellow drainage, and a non-stageable pressure ulcer with slough, black eschar, and a large reddened border. This was the first detailed description of the coccyx pressure ulcer, and there were no wound care orders in the chart at that time. A subsequent weekly skin evaluation described a large, deep coccyx wound with copious foul-smelling drainage and extensive slough and granulation tissue, but incorrectly listed that date as the first observation despite the wound being identified nine days earlier. Wounds on the left heel, right outer ankle, and right knee were not evaluated until several days after admission, and the right heel was never evaluated during the stay. The resident’s care plan did not identify pressure ulcers as a problem and contained no interventions for pressure ulcer care or nutrition to support wound healing, and the treatment administration record showed wound treatments were not ordered until several days after admission and were then not consistently documented as completed. Another resident was admitted with a coccyx area that was open and possibly caused by pressure, and a late entry note identified a Stage 3 pressure ulcer to the coccyx from admission. However, the nutrition evaluation form later indicated “no” to the presence of a pressure injury and instead listed “other skin condition,” even though coccyx wound care was ordered. The weekly skin evaluation documented the first observation and measurements of the coccyx wound two weeks after admission, and the dietitian was not notified until several days after that. The treatment record showed that daily wound care orders for both the coccyx pressure ulcer and a surgical spine incision were not carried out on at least two days. Nutritional interventions to support wound healing, including a protein supplement, were not added to the care plan until more than two weeks after the wound was identified. Staff interviews revealed that the dietitian was only present in the facility limited hours on two days per week, that residents admitted later in the week might not be assessed nutritionally until the following week, and that a fourteen-day delay in nutritional assessment, while allowed, was acknowledged as not best practice for residents with wounds. A third resident using oxygen reported pain behind both ears, and observation showed that oxygen tubing protectors had slid out of place, leaving the ears unprotected. The right ear was red where the tubing rested, and the left ear was very red with a whitish substance in the crease. Staff later described this resident’s skin as having eschar on the left heel that appeared to need debridement, a red and cracked right heel, a pink coccyx, and reddened ears, with the left ear showing slower capillary refill. The facility’s records contained no wound orders for the left heel, no skin assessments since the most recent readmission, and an admission nursing evaluation that documented the skin as warm, dry, intact, and without wounds. A fourth resident had a coccyx pressure ulcer that was present on admission and gradually decreasing in size according to wound assessments. However, MDS assessments contained inconsistent documentation: one assessment showed no unhealed pressure ulcers on admission, a later discharge assessment documented a Stage IV pressure ulcer present on admission, and a subsequent quarterly assessment documented a Stage III pressure ulcer not present on admission. Treatment administration records showed no coccyx wound treatment in one month, initiation of daily wound care late in the following month with at least one missed documented treatment, and in the next month, daily wound care orders with more than half of the scheduled treatments lacking documentation of completion. In the subsequent month, the TAR failed to show any wound care performed for the coccyx pressure ulcer. Staff interviews indicated that weekly skin checks were the facility practice but were not consistently completed, that nurses were not always coding or documenting wounds correctly, and that admission skin evaluations were sometimes not done due to issues with a new computer system. A staff member performing wound care on one resident’s coccyx reported having no formal wound training and described a wound bed fully covered with thick yellow-tan slough, which, according to the cited National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel guideline, could not be accurately staged, despite the facility’s practice of staging it as a Stage III pressure ulcer. The facility’s own Skin Integrity policy required that upon admission, the licensed nurse establish a plan of care based on risk factors or presence of wounds, conduct ongoing weekly full-body skin audits, document new skin impairments with detailed characteristics and measurements, record qualifying wounds on the weekly skin evaluation form, notify the medical provider and obtain treatment orders, notify the resident or representative, notify the registered dietitian, and implement and document appropriate care plan interventions. The findings across these residents showed that these policy steps were not consistently followed: admission and weekly skin evaluations were missed or delayed, wounds were not accurately or timely documented or staged, treatment orders were delayed or not consistently carried out, nutrition and care plan interventions for wound healing and prevention were not promptly implemented, and staff responsible for wound care sometimes lacked formal wound training.
Failure to Thoroughly Investigate and Document Multiple Abuse Allegations
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to complete thorough investigations, monitoring, and documentation for multiple abuse allegations. In one incident, a resident reported that a staff member blew marijuana vape smoke in his face. The staff member later admitted to vaping marijuana in the resident’s room. Despite this, the resident’s nursing progress notes for the period following the incident contained no documentation of the event or any post-incident monitoring, and the psychosocial impact assessment tool indicated that no ALERT charting had been done by nursing or social services. In a second incident, a resident sitting in a wheelchair by the nurse’s station told a staff member that another resident had hit him; assessment revealed a red mark on the resident’s head, and the resident was sent to the emergency room at the family’s request. However, nursing progress notes for both the alleged victim and the alleged aggressor for the days following the incident contained no documentation of the incident or any post-incident monitoring. The staff member responsible for the investigation stated that he relied on video footage and interviews with the two residents, but these interviews were only documented in the incident report, and no other staff or residents on shift were interviewed. In a third incident, staff found one resident in another resident’s room and observed the second resident removing his hands from inside the first resident’s pants and shirt; the first resident later stated, “It hurts down there,” and was sent to the emergency room. The first resident had diagnoses including unspecified symptoms involving cognitive functions and awareness, anxiety, depression, cerebral infarct, and was described as having a developmental delay with the mentality of an 8-year-old, while the second resident was cognitively intact based on a BIMS score of 14. Nursing progress notes for both residents for the days following the incident contained no documentation of the event or any post-incident monitoring. The staff member overseeing the investigation acknowledged that he did not document his post-incident checks, did not interview staff on shift or other residents, and no abuse education or protective measures for staff were documented, contrary to the facility’s abuse prevention policy that requires interviews with all involved, retrieval of written statements, and documentation of assessments and monitoring.
Failure to Thoroughly Investigate Allegations of Abuse and Neglect
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to fully investigate multiple allegations of abuse and neglect, including not identifying all potentially affected residents. One resident reported that a staff member (NF8) was “nasty and pushy” while assisting with oral care, telling her she should not take so long brushing her teeth because she only had eight teeth and making her hurry without giving her the time she needed. When the facility questioned NF8 about this incident, he resigned from his position. Review of the facility-reported incident showed no staff interviews were completed as part of the investigation, despite the importance of such interviews in understanding the incident and identifying root causes. Another resident reported inadequate ADL care by staff member NF7, including long call light response times and being left in a soiled brief for hours, and stated he had reported these concerns to facility staff. A staff member later stated they were unaware of any concerns from the resident or his family regarding NF7 and acknowledged they did not report or investigate the alleged abuse or neglect. When surveyors requested documentation such as interdisciplinary team notes, root cause analysis, reporting, and investigation related to concerns with NF7, none was provided. In a separate facility-reported incident, a resident alleged a CNA turned off the call light and refused to provide requested personal care. The facility interviewed only the staff involved that night and did not interview other residents who might have been affected by staff turning off call lights without providing care. A witness (NF5) reported that it was the facility’s usual practice to turn off call lights without providing help, that staff often told the resident they would return but did not always do so, and that multiple staff engaged in this behavior. Despite a request from surveyors, the facility did not provide additional resident interviews or information regarding this allegation by the end of the survey.
Failure to Complete Timely Baseline Care Plans for Wounds and Pain Management
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to complete timely and comprehensive baseline care plans that provided instructions for resident-centered care for three residents. One resident was admitted with multiple serious diagnoses, including acute kidney failure, anemia, atrial fibrillation, chronic respiratory failure, hypertension, a right femur fracture, morbid obesity, and muscle weakness. A nurse progress note documented a coccyx wound described as stage I open on the day of admission, yet no baseline care plan was initiated to direct staff in caring for the wound, managing pain, or addressing the resident’s chronic medical conditions. A care plan was not started until several days later, and when it was initiated, it only addressed advanced directives, oral/dental health problems, loneliness, and discharge planning, without including wound or pain management. Another resident was admitted with dysphagia, dementia, behaviors, a history of falls, and a urinary tract infection. Nursing progress notes documented skin issues on the buttocks, both heels, and the right knee, but the baseline care plan initiated the same day did not identify pressure wounds or any treatment for those wounds. A third resident, admitted after surgical repair of a lumbar 4 compression fracture, had a documented Stage 3 pressure ulcer and a lower back incision with intact staples on the admission nursing evaluation. However, the baseline care plan for this resident did not include wound management interventions or pain management for post-operative pain. During an interview, a staff member explained that the baseline care plan is triggered when the admitting nurse completes and locks the admission nursing assessment, and acknowledged that when assessments are not locked, baseline care plans are not completed and are not always done on time.
Failure to Honor Resident’s Right to Chosen Visitor
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to honor a resident’s right to receive visitors of her choosing. A long-time friend of the resident, identified as NF1, reported that when she first attempted to visit the resident after the resident’s admission, staff member B escorted her out of the building and told her that law enforcement would be called if she returned. NF1 had previously been employed by the facility approximately four years earlier and had been terminated due to an allegation of abuse toward a resident. The facility did not allow her to visit the resident in any capacity. Another individual, NF2, stated he was aware that the facility was not allowing NF1 to visit the resident and that he knew about the prior abuse allegation but was not concerned about NF1 abusing the resident. NF2 stated he wanted NF1 to be allowed to visit and that the facility did not offer supervised visits or visits in a common area. He was hesitant to raise the visitation issue with the facility because he was concerned it might change how the resident was treated. Staff member B confirmed that any employee terminated due to an abuse allegation was not allowed to return to the building for any reason, and that this restriction was applied without considering the resident’s history with the visitor. The facility’s visitation policy stated residents have the right to receive visitors of their choice and that limitations may include denying or limiting access to individuals suspected of abuse until an investigation is completed or abuse is found, but the facility applied a blanket prohibition in this case.
Failure to Document and Investigate Resident Grievances Alleging Neglect and Inadequate Repositioning
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow its grievance policy and to ensure residents could voice grievances related to alleged abuse and neglect without discrimination or reprisal. One resident reported that a specific CNA (NF7) left his call light on for hours, did not assist with ADLs, and that this led to bowel and bladder incontinence while he waited for help at night. The resident stated that when the CNA finally responded, the CNA would force him to ambulate to the restroom instead of cleaning him in bed, and when the resident refused to ambulate, the CNA told him to sign a refusal of care form. The resident reported being afraid of this CNA and feeling neglected in his care, and he stated he reported these concerns to staff member C. An external email from NF6 to staff member C documented that the resident was afraid of NF7, described NF7’s statements about his job duties, and explicitly requested to file a grievance and have NF7 kept away from the resident. Additionally, a care conference note signed by staff member C documented the resident’s report of being made to sign refusal sheets at night and waiting 20–40 minutes for call lights to be answered. Despite this, staff member C, identified as the grievance official, stated there were no concerns brought forth from the resident or family regarding NF7, and no grievance was completed for this abuse/neglect allegation as required by the facility’s grievance policy. The deficiency also includes the facility’s failure to thoroughly investigate and document findings for another resident’s grievance regarding care. This resident, who had impaired mobility in both upper and lower extremities and was dependent for all ADLs except eating, reported that a night CNA was rough and refused to reposition his legs, and he stated he had complained to the facility but the issue continued. A written grievance from this resident documented that a male CNA would not readjust his legs for comfort. The grievance form’s investigative findings did not show any attempt to identify the specific night CNA involved or to clarify what care was being refused. Staff member E, who was responsible for investigating this grievance, could not recall details of the investigation and acknowledged she did not attempt to identify the accused CNA, characterizing the issue as a recurrent complaint and a miscommunication about repositioning due to the resident’s leg contractures. She stated she had encouraged the resident to be more specific about the repositioning requested but could not explain why this was not documented on the grievance form. The facility’s grievance policy required that grievances, including those involving abuse or neglect, be documented on a grievance form and investigated, but this was not done in accordance with policy for these residents’ complaints.
Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse and Neglect to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to timely report an allegation of abuse and neglect to the State Survey Agency involving one sampled resident, identified as resident #47. During an interview, resident #47 reported that a specific former staff member, NF7, would leave his call light on for hours, fail to assist with ADL care, and this lack of response resulted in the resident soiling his brief with bowel and bladder because he waited so long for help. The resident further stated that NF7 would encourage him to sign a refusal of care form and then expect him to ambulate to the restroom after he had already gone in his brief. In a separate interview, staff member B stated that no care concerns from the resident or family had been brought to their attention and acknowledged that they did not report the alleged abuse or neglect of care. A request by surveyors for documentation related to resident #47’s interdisciplinary team notes, any identified root causes, reporting, and investigation of concerns involving NF7 and resident #47 yielded no documentation by the end of the survey, demonstrating a lack of evidence that the allegation was reported or investigated as required.
Failure to Provide and Accurately Document ADL and Hygiene Assistance
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to provide and accurately document assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) for multiple residents. One resident, who was assessed on the MDS as dependent for all ADLs except eating (requiring only partial to moderate assistance with eating), reported not always receiving help with meals, having only sponge baths for several weeks instead of showers, and needing a shave while observed lying in bed in a hospital gown with several days of facial hair growth. This same resident had previously filed a grievance stating that a night nurse would not assist with use of a urinal despite his inability to do this himself, and that a male CNA would not readjust his legs for comfort. These findings showed a lack of consistent ADL assistance for a resident documented as dependent. Surveyors also found failures related to personal hygiene supplies and documentation for two other residents. One cognitively intact resident, dependent for oral hygiene and dressing, stated he had not been offered mouthwash or a warm washcloth to wash his face that day, and no mouthwash was present in his room; staff later confirmed they had never offered him mouthwash, despite documentation that personal hygiene was offered and that staff did most of the activity. Another resident, who stated she could wash her face, brush her teeth, and comb her hair mostly independently, reported that washcloths were never available unless she specifically asked staff, and on observation there were no washcloths in her room. Her EHR documentation showed staff did most of her personal hygiene activity, while staff later stated she was generally independent and that they had not been giving her a daily washcloth. These discrepancies demonstrated inaccurate ADL documentation and failure to routinely offer basic hygiene items such as washcloths and mouthwash.
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