Magnolia Manor - Greenwood
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Greenwood, South Carolina.
- Location
- 1415 Parkway Drive, Greenwood, South Carolina 29646
- CMS Provider Number
- 425172
- Inspections on file
- 25
- Latest survey
- December 30, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 2 (1 serious)
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Magnolia Manor - Greenwood during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with a history of wandering and cognitive impairment eloped from the facility despite having a wander guard and an active care plan. The resident was last seen by staff in the hallway and later found outside by first responders. Although the door alarm was triggered, a CNA assumed another resident caused it and did not fully investigate, resulting in the resident leaving undetected. Staff only became aware of the elopement after being contacted by police, highlighting a lapse in supervision and monitoring.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions experienced a fall resulting in a fracture. The facility did not update the comprehensive care plan to include new interventions or fall-prevention strategies after the incident, despite policy requiring care plan revisions following significant changes in condition. Staff interviews confirmed the care plan was not revised after the fall.
A resident with nicotine dependence was able to smoke and possess smoking materials on a smoke-free campus without staff awareness, while another resident with mobility and cognitive risks left the facility without proper sign-out or elopement procedures being followed. Staff were unaware of these residents' actions and did not enforce or follow facility policies, resulting in deficiencies in supervision and accident prevention.
Surveyors observed that food items in dry storage, the walk-in cooler, and the freezer were not consistently sealed, labeled, or dated as required by facility policy. Opened items such as corn meal, lasagna noodles, churros, and meatballs were found without proper labeling or with expired dates. Facility leadership confirmed expectations for proper food handling, but acknowledged that mislabeling sometimes occurs.
A resident with impaired decision-making and mobility needs was found missing after being last seen with family outside the facility. Staff searched the premises and attempted to contact the resident and her representative, but were unsuccessful. The incident was reported internally to the DON, but was not reported to the State Survey Agency as required by policy, and no leave of absence documentation was completed.
The facility did not provide required bed-hold notifications to two residents or their representatives during hospitalizations, as confirmed by record reviews and staff interviews. Documentation of bed-hold notifications was missing, and staff were unclear about the process and responsibilities, resulting in residents and their representatives not being informed of their rights and policies related to bed-hold status.
A medication administration error rate of 8 percent was observed when a nurse handled medications with bare hands, failed to follow procedures for missing medications, and did not properly discard a dropped pill. Two residents were directly involved in these incidents, and the nurse did not adhere to established medication management policies.
Surveyors found expired medications, loose unidentified pills, and expired biologicals on two medication carts and one treatment cart. Despite facility policy requiring immediate removal of such items, expired Vitamin D3, Iron, Bisacodyl suppositories, Humalog insulin, Albuterol inhaler, a non-sterile valve, and povidone iodine solution were present. Nursing staff interviews confirmed responsibility for checking carts, but expired and loose items remained.
Staff did not use gowns as required during catheter and wound dressing changes for two residents with wounds and indwelling devices, and EBP signage was not posted outside rooms as per facility policy. The DON indicated that signs were kept inside closets to maintain confidentiality, leading to inconsistent use of required PPE during high-contact care activities.
A resident with a history of falls and requiring substantial assistance was left unattended in the shower by a CNA, resulting in a fall. The resident, who was high risk for falls, was found on the floor with redness to the knees. The incident highlighted a lack of supervision and adherence to care needs, as the resident's care plan did not specify the required assistance level for bathing.
The facility failed to update care plans for three residents after multiple falls, despite recommendations for new interventions. The Care Coordinator was responsible for updating the plans but only did so when instructed, which did not occur. Residents had severe cognitive impairments and experienced falls, some with injuries, but care plans were not revised to include appropriate interventions.
The facility failed to follow its fall management policy by not conducting neurological evaluations and post-fall documentation for 72 hours for three residents who experienced unwitnessed falls. Despite having a policy in place, the facility did not complete necessary evaluations and documentation, as revealed through staff interviews and record reviews. The lack of oversight and accountability among staff, including the use of agency nurses, contributed to this deficiency.
The facility failed to conduct and document fall risk assessments for three residents with severe cognitive impairments and histories of falls, despite multiple incidents. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness and responsibility for completing these evaluations, leading to a deficiency in fall management.
The facility failed to notify the physician and responsible party of falls for two residents, despite policy requirements. One resident with severe cognitive impairment experienced multiple falls without physician notification, even when a fall resulted in significant injury. Another resident's fall was not reported to the physician or responsible party, leading to a grievance. Interviews confirmed that the responsibility to notify was not fulfilled by the nursing staff.
A resident with a history of altered mental status and unsteadiness experienced an unwitnessed fall, which was not accurately documented in the MDS assessment. The Care Coordinator failed to review the falls investigation worksheets, leading to the omission of the fall in the quarterly MDS. The facility's policy requires comprehensive assessments, but the oversight was acknowledged during interviews.
Two residents were verbally abused by an LPN who used inappropriate language while instructing one resident to keep his door closed and when another resident requested his medication. The LPN admitted to the behavior, attributing it to lack of sleep and exhaustion. The facility's Administrator took immediate action by suspending and terminating the LPN.
Failure to Prevent Elopement Due to Inadequate Supervision and Alarm Response
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with a documented history of wandering, psychosis, anxiety disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and epilepsy was not adequately supervised to prevent elopement. The resident was identified as being at risk for elopement and wandering, with an active care plan in place that included interventions such as a wander guard device, comfort measures, and environmental modifications. Despite these interventions, the resident was last seen by staff at approximately 5:30 PM and was later found outside the facility by first responders at 6:06 PM, indicating a lapse in supervision and monitoring. The resident's care plan and medical records indicated daily wandering behaviors and cognitive impairment, with a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 9. On the day of the incident, the resident was observed ambulating in the hallway and did not exhibit exit-seeking behaviors at that time. However, the door alarm was activated at approximately 5:15 PM, and a CNA responded but assumed another resident with a wander guard had triggered the alarm. The CNA looked outside but did not see anyone and did not further investigate, resulting in the resident leaving the facility undetected. Staff did not become aware of the resident's absence until contacted by police, at which point a Code White/elopement was initiated. The resident was located approximately 700 feet from the facility and was transported to the hospital for evaluation. Interviews with staff confirmed that the wander guard was functioning, but no alarms were heard by the assigned nurse during the relevant time period. The incident revealed a failure to ensure adequate supervision and response to alarm systems for a resident at high risk of elopement.
Removal Plan
- Resident transported to hospital ER per EMS. Upon reentry, assigned nurse verified resident wander guard bracelet was in place, intact and functioning on right wrist.
- Assigned nurse performed body audit with no injury noted and documented body audit results in resident's medical record.
- Elopement Risk Observation repeated.
- Intervention: Wander guard bracelet to wrist and checked weekly.
- Maintenance Director/Designee performed an audit to ensure facility exits alarms were functioning.
- Wander guard audits completed.
- Residents at risk of elopement identified; placement and function of wander guards verified by DON for each.
- Elopement Risk Observations done in the past 90 days on current residents reviewed by nursing managers for accuracy; residents identified at risk will be reviewed for appropriate interventions.
- Educate facility staff regarding Wander guard System with emphasis on determining cause of alarm if sounding.
- New admissions will be reviewed in morning meeting daily as part of the clinical morning meeting process.
- Elopement Risk Observations will be reviewed for accuracy and interventions validated if indicated.
- Quarterly assessments will be reviewed as part of the MDS/Care planning process.
- The Director of Nursing will randomly audit a minimum of 5 Elopement Risk Observations weekly for 4 weeks then monthly for 2 additional months to validate accuracy.
- The Maintenance Director/designee will inspect facility doors with wander guard system 3 times weekly for 4 weeks then weekly for 2 additional months.
- The Facility Administrator will make rounds weekly for 4 weeks then monthly for 2 additional months with maintenance director to validate that doors are functioning properly.
- Ad hoc QAPI held to discuss the resident elopement and plan for improvement.
- This process will be reviewed in QAPI for a minimum of 3 months.
Failure to Revise Care Plan After Resident Fall with Fracture
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that appropriate post-fall interventions were developed and implemented through care plan revision for one resident following a fall that resulted in a fracture. According to the facility's policy, care plans must be updated when a resident experiences a significant change in condition, such as a fall. Review of the resident's electronic medical record and care plan revealed that after the resident experienced a fall with a fracture, there were no updates or revisions made to the care plan to address new or revised interventions, identification of causative or contributing factors, enhanced supervision, environmental modifications, or individualized fall-prevention strategies. The resident involved had multiple diagnoses, including a fracture of the neck of the right femur, encephalopathy, bone density disorders, rhabdomyolysis, dysphagia, and cognitive communication deficit, and was assessed as having severe cognitive impairment. Despite the resident's return from the hospital and a significant change assessment being completed, the care plan was not updated to reflect the fall and subsequent fracture. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that the care plan was not revised as required following the incident.
Failure to Prevent Smoking and Elopement Hazards
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, nicotine dependence, and cognitive communication deficit was observed smoking a cigarette in the facility courtyard, despite the facility's policy prohibiting smoking and possession of smoking materials on the premises. The resident had a BIMS score indicating intact cognitive function and was on a nicotine patch, but staff were unaware she was actively smoking. The resident admitted to smoking since admission, keeping cigarettes, a lighter, and a vape in her personal bag, and stated that other residents also smoked without detection. Multiple staff members, including nursing and social work, were unaware of her smoking status or possession of smoking materials, and the facility's policy requiring all smoking materials to be surrendered was not enforced. Another deficiency involved a resident with muscle wasting, atrophy, and an abdominal aortic aneurysm, who required partial to moderate assistance for mobility and was at risk for falls. The resident left the facility without signing out or completing the required leave of absence documentation. Staff did not confirm the resident's whereabouts for several hours, and when the resident was found missing, the response did not follow the facility's elopement policy, which required immediate notification, a prompt search, and contacting authorities if the resident was not located. The resident's ability to make healthcare decisions was not documented, and the required risk assessments and sign-out procedures were not completed. In both cases, the facility failed to ensure a safe environment free from accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents. Staff were not consistently aware of residents' behaviors or risks, and policies regarding smoking and elopement were not effectively implemented or followed, resulting in deficiencies related to resident safety and supervision.
Failure to Properly Label, Date, and Store Food Items
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food items stored in the freezer, refrigerators, and dry food storage areas were properly sealed, labeled, and dated according to facility policy and professional standards. During observations, surveyors found several food items, including a bag of self-rising corn meal and a box of lasagna noodles in dry storage, that were opened but not labeled with an open or use by date, and the noodles were not properly sealed. In the walk-in cooler, a container of dill pickle chips and a container of ham base were found with either expired or illegible dates. In the walk-in freezer, open bags of churros were not properly sealed or labeled, and a bag of meatballs was found with an open date and use by date that had passed. Interviews with the Dietary Manager and Administrator confirmed that it is the facility's expectation that expired foods are discarded and that all opened foods in storage should be dated. However, the Administrator acknowledged that sometimes items are mislabeled with dates that exceed the required timeframe. These findings indicate that the facility did not consistently follow its own policies regarding food safety, labeling, and storage, which had the potential to affect all residents receiving meals from the kitchen.
Failure to Report Resident's Unexplained Absence to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report to the State Survey Agency an incident involving a newly admitted resident who was no longer present in the facility and whose whereabouts were unknown to staff. According to facility policy, any suspected abuse, neglect, or unexplained absence must be reported immediately or within specified timeframes depending on the severity. The resident, who had diagnoses including muscle wasting, atrophy, and abdominal aortic aneurysm, was assessed as not having safe decision-making capabilities and required assistance for mobility. On the day of the incident, the resident was last seen outside with family, and later could not be located during routine rounds. Staff searched the facility and attempted to contact the resident and her representative without success, and the incident was reported internally to the DON. Despite these actions, there was no documentation that the resident was capable of making her own healthcare decisions, and no completed leave of absence form was found for her. The administrator and staff interviews revealed that the resident did not sign out as required, and there was confusion regarding her cognitive status and risk for elopement. The incident was not reported to the State Survey Agency as required by facility policy, and there was no evidence that external authorities were notified about the resident's unexplained absence.
Failure to Notify Residents or Representatives of Bed-Hold Policies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify two residents or their resident representatives of bed-hold policies and bed reserve payments when the residents were transferred out of the facility for hospitalizations. According to the facility's policy, residents or their representatives must be provided with a copy of the bed-hold policy before a temporary leave or within 24 hours in the case of emergency hospitalization. Record reviews for both residents did not show evidence of bed-hold notifications, and interviews with staff and a resident representative confirmed that no written or verbal notification was provided regarding bed-hold status. One resident had multiple hospitalizations with bed-hold status, and another had moderate cognitive impairment and was admitted with several medical conditions, including dementia and diabetes. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent practices and a lack of clarity regarding responsibility for bed-hold notifications. The social worker was unaware of the requirement to provide notice, and the business office and nursing staff described informal or incomplete notification processes, with no documentation found in the residents' records.
Medication Administration Error Rate Exceeds Acceptable Threshold
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a medication administration error rate below 5 percent, as required by policy, resulting in an observed error rate of 8 percent during the survey. Observations revealed that a registered nurse (RN) handled medications with bare hands before placing them in a medication cup, contrary to facility policy, and expressed reluctance to follow the correct procedure, citing inconvenience. Additionally, the RN proceeded with a medication pass despite some prescribed medications being unavailable in the cart, and did not follow the policy for contacting the pharmacy or physician regarding the missing medications. Further observations included the RN offering medication to a resident in the hallway, during which a pill was dropped on the floor. The RN initially suggested the resident could take the dropped pill, only replacing it after surveyor intervention. The RN then discarded the dropped pill in the medication cart's trash can without following the facility's destruction policy and was unsure about the correct procedure for discarding non-opioid medications. These actions were confirmed through interviews with the RN and the Director of Nursing, who stated that the RN was familiar with facility policies.
Failure to Remove Expired and Unidentified Medications from Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to ensure proper storage and removal of expired and unidentified medications and biologicals from medication and treatment carts. During observations, expired medications such as Vitamin D3, Iron, Bisacodyl suppositories, Humalog insulin, and Albuterol inhaler were found on two medication carts. Additionally, several loose, unidentified pills were present in the carts. The facility's policy requires that expired, contaminated, or deteriorated medications be immediately removed from stock and disposed of according to procedures, but these requirements were not followed as evidenced by the presence of expired and loose medications. Further, an open and expired non-sterile valve and expired povidone iodine solution were found on a treatment cart. Interviews with nursing staff revealed that floor nurses, managers, and agency staff are responsible for checking the carts, but expired and loose items were still present. The facility's procedures for checking and removing expired items were not effectively implemented, resulting in the continued storage of expired and unidentified medications and biologicals.
Failure to Implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions During High-Contact Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the use of gowns during high-contact resident care activities, specifically during catheter and wound dressing changes for two residents. According to the facility's own policy on Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP), gowns and gloves are required for all residents with wounds or indwelling medical devices during high-contact care activities. Observations revealed that staff performed catheter care and wound dressing changes for two residents without donning gowns, despite both residents having conditions that required EBP. One resident had stage 4 pressure ulcers, and the other had a urethral catheter, both of which meet the criteria for EBP according to facility policy. Further, EBP signage was not posted outside the residents' rooms as required by policy. Instead, the signs were kept inside closet doors with supplies, and staff interviews indicated inconsistent understanding and implementation of gown use and signage requirements. The Director of Nursing stated that signage was not posted on doors to maintain confidentiality, which resulted in staff not being properly reminded of the need for EBP during high-contact care activities. These actions and omissions led to non-compliance with the facility's infection prevention and control program.
Failure to Supervise High-Risk Resident During Shower
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adequately supervise a resident, identified as high risk for falls, during a shower. The resident, who had a medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unsteadiness on their feet, and repeated falls, was admitted to the facility for rehabilitation. The resident required substantial assistance with daily activities, including bathing, as indicated by their care plan and assessments. However, the care plan did not specify the level of assistance needed for bathing or showers. On the day of the incident, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) left the resident unattended in the shower room to retrieve clothing and linens. During this time, the resident fell from the shower chair, resulting in redness to the knees. The CNA returned to find the resident on the floor and called a Registered Nurse (RN) for assistance. The RN assessed the resident and found no immediate injuries, but the resident was later transferred to the emergency department for further evaluation due to changes in vital signs. Interviews with staff revealed that the resident was left unsupervised in the shower, which was against the facility's expectations for residents at high risk of falls. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator both stated that residents should be afforded safe bathing opportunities based on their capabilities, but the incident demonstrated a lapse in supervision and adherence to the resident's care needs.
Failure to Update Care Plans for Fall Interventions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that resident care plans were updated to include revised appropriate fall interventions for three residents reviewed for falls. The care plans were not updated despite multiple falls and recommendations for interventions. The Care Coordinator (CC) was responsible for updating the care plans but only did so when instructed, which did not occur for the falls experienced by the residents in question. Resident 1 was admitted with multiple diagnoses, including altered mental status and muscle weakness. The resident experienced several falls, some resulting in injury, but the care plan was not updated to reflect new interventions recommended after each fall. The CC stated that interventions were discussed weekly with the interdisciplinary team (IDT), but she was not instructed to update the care plan for the falls that occurred. Resident 2 had severe cognitive impairment and was unable to use the call light or understand others, making some care plan interventions inappropriate. Despite falls and recommendations for increased staff rounds, the care plan was not updated. Resident 3, with severe cognitive impairment and a history of falls, also had a care plan that was not updated after a fall with injury. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator acknowledged that the CC was responsible for updating care plans, but this was not consistently done.
Failure to Conduct Neurological Evaluations and Post-Fall Documentation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to its fall management policy, specifically in conducting neurological evaluations and post-fall nursing documentation for 72 hours for three residents who experienced falls. The policy required neurological evaluations for unwitnessed falls and post-fall documentation every shift for 72 hours to monitor for late effects or complications. However, the facility did not complete these evaluations and documentation for the residents involved. Resident 1, admitted with multiple diagnoses including dementia and muscle weakness, experienced several unwitnessed falls. The facility's records showed incomplete neurological evaluations and missing post-fall documentation for these incidents. Similarly, Resident 2, who also had cognitive impairments and muscle weakness, had unwitnessed falls without documented neurological evaluations or consistent post-fall documentation. Resident 3, with a history of falls and severe cognitive impairment, also lacked documented neurological evaluations and post-fall documentation after an unwitnessed fall. Interviews with facility staff, including unit managers and the Director of Nursing, revealed a lack of oversight and accountability in ensuring compliance with the fall management policy. The use of agency nurses and unclear responsibilities among staff contributed to the failure in completing necessary evaluations and documentation. The facility's leadership acknowledged the deficiencies but did not have a system in place to audit and ensure compliance with the policy.
Failure to Conduct Fall Risk Assessments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that fall risk assessments were conducted and accurately coded for three residents, leading to a deficiency in fall management. The facility's policy required qualified staff to evaluate residents for fall risk upon admission, quarterly, with significant changes, and post-fall. However, the review revealed that fall risk evaluations were not documented for several falls experienced by the residents, indicating a lapse in adherence to the policy. Resident 1, admitted with multiple diagnoses including severe cognitive impairment and physical impairments, experienced multiple falls between May and July 2024. Despite these incidents, fall risk evaluations were not documented post-fall as required by the facility's policy. Similarly, Resident 2, with severe cognitive impairment and a history of falls, also experienced multiple falls without documented fall risk evaluations. Resident 3, with severe cognitive impairment and a history of falls, had falls in March and June 2024, yet no fall risk evaluations were documented post-fall. Interviews with facility staff, including the Assistant Director of Nursing, Unit Managers, and the Director of Nursing, revealed a lack of awareness and responsibility regarding the completion of fall risk evaluations. The Assistant Director of Nursing acknowledged the difficulty in getting agency nurses to document properly, while the Unit Managers were either unaware of their responsibilities or did not verify the completion of fall risk evaluations. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the evaluations were not completed per policy, attributing the responsibility to the Unit Managers.
Failure to Notify Physician and Responsible Party of Resident Falls
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the resident's physician and/or responsible party (RP) of falls for two residents, leading to a deficiency in communication and adherence to policy. The facility's policy on Fall Management, revised on 05/05/23, mandates prompt notification of the physician and family following a fall. However, for Resident 1, who was admitted with severe cognitive impairment and multiple physical impairments, there were multiple instances where falls occurred, and the physician was not notified. On 05/25/24, 05/28/24, and 06/02/24, documentation failed to show that the physician was informed, despite the resident experiencing falls, one of which resulted in a large discoloration and pain, prompting a family request for emergency room evaluation. Similarly, Resident 3, also with severe cognitive impairment and a history of falls, experienced an unwitnessed fall on 06/30/24. The documentation did not indicate that the resident's physician or RP was notified. The resident was later sent to the emergency room due to back pain, following a verbal report of the fall from the off-going nurse. The grievance report from the RP highlighted the lack of notification, and interviews confirmed that the nurse on duty did not fulfill the responsibility of notifying the physician or RP, instead passing the task to the next shift, which also failed to act. Interviews with facility staff, including the Director of Nursing (DON), Administrator, Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Medical Director (MD), revealed a reliance on nursing staff to notify providers of falls. The NP and MD expected staff to use the available on-call provider service for such notifications. The Administrator confirmed that it was the duty of the nurse on duty during the fall to notify the physician and RP, which was not done in these cases, leading to the deficiency.
Inaccurate MDS Coding for Resident Fall
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the accurate coding of a Minimum Data Set (MDS) for a resident who was reviewed for falls. The facility's policy requires a licensed nurse to conduct or coordinate each assessment with the interdisciplinary team, ensuring a comprehensive and accurate assessment using the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) process. The policy also mandates a thorough review of the resident's medical record, including pre-admission activities, current care plans, and various medical notes and records. However, the Care Coordinator did not review the falls investigation worksheets and missed documenting a fall that occurred on 01/06/24 in the quarterly MDS with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 03/17/24. The resident in question was admitted to the facility with diagnoses including altered mental status, muscle wasting and atrophy, dementia, and unsteadiness on feet. An unwitnessed fall occurred on 01/06/24, as noted in the resident's progress notes, but this incident was not reflected in the subsequent MDS assessment. During interviews, the Care Coordinator acknowledged the oversight, stating that she had reviewed the progress notes but failed to include the fall in the MDS. The facility administrator expressed the expectation that MDS assessments should be accurate, highlighting the deficiency in the assessment process for this resident.
Verbal Abuse of Two Residents by LPN
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that two residents, R1 and R2, were free from verbal abuse. R1, who had moderate cognitive impairment and was COVID positive, was verbally abused by LPN1 who used inappropriate language while instructing R1 to keep his door closed. This incident was witnessed by two CNAs who heard LPN1 use offensive language towards R1. R2, who is cognitively intact, also experienced verbal abuse from LPN1, who used inappropriate language when R2 requested his medication. R2 expressed his dissatisfaction with the way he was treated to the Social Services Director (SSD) and during an interview with surveyors. LPN1 admitted to speaking inappropriately to both residents and attributed his behavior to lack of sleep and exhaustion. The facility's Administrator was informed of the incident and took immediate action by suspending and subsequently terminating LPN1. The facility's policy on abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment prohibits all forms of abuse, including verbal abuse, and emphasizes the importance of treating residents with dignity and respect. The failure to adhere to this policy resulted in the verbal abuse of R1 and R2, causing distress to both residents. The facility's leadership is expected to ensure that all staff members comply with the policy and maintain a safe and respectful environment for all residents. The incident highlights the need for ongoing staff training and monitoring to prevent future occurrences of abuse and to ensure the well-being of all residents. The facility must take corrective actions to address the deficiencies identified in the report and to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Latest citations in South Carolina
A resident with dementia, severe cognitive impairment, wandering behavior, and documented elopement risk eloped after staff failed to adequately respond to an exit-door alarm and did not promptly recognize the resident was missing. The resident, who required close supervision and was on 30-minute checks for wandering, was last seen ambulating in the facility before a dining room/fire exit alarm sounded; dietary staff briefly checked, saw no one, silenced the alarm, and returned to work without initiating a facility-wide missing-resident response. Later, when the resident did not appear for dinner, staff began searching and learned from a staff member driving home that someone resembling the resident was seen near a nearby store. Police, responding to a report of a suspicious person with a hospital bracelet, found the resident disoriented at a nearby intersection and arranged EMS transport to a hospital. Interviews showed that some CNAs lacked elopement training, one CNA was newly assigned to 1:1 care, and leadership acknowledged uncertainty about how long the alarm had been sounding and how the resident exited, supporting the finding of inadequate supervision and failure to prevent elopement.
A resident with traumatic brain injury, moderate cognitive impairment, wheelchair dependence, and documented wandering behaviors eloped from the facility after being able to exit through a door without an active alarm. Despite physician orders and a care plan requiring wander guard checks every shift, MAR/TAR review showed these checks were largely undocumented prior to the incident. Staff notes described frequent redirection needs, room-to-room wandering, and impulsive behavior, yet the resident was still able to leave the building and was later found in the parking lot. The State Agency determined this failure to supervise and to implement ordered wander guard monitoring constituted Immediate Jeopardy under F689 (Quality of Care).
A cognitively impaired resident with dementia and depression, who was usually independent with toileting, became involved in an altercation with a CNA while the CNA was assisting with cleaning a soiled bathroom. The resident became agitated, spit on the CNA, and struck the CNA in the face with a BM-soiled washcloth. In retaliation, the CNA held the resident’s hands and struck the resident in the face with an open hand, later describing the action as a slap or “smudging” the resident’s face. The CNA admitted to multiple staff and law enforcement that she had put her hands on and slapped the resident. Staff assessments noted the resident was visibly upset but without visible injuries, and the resident could not recall the incident due to severe cognitive impairment. Surveyors determined this constituted non-compliance with abuse regulations and cited the facility for failure to ensure freedom from physical abuse.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment, a history of falls, and documented need for a gait belt and walker during transfers was ambulated from the bathroom by a CNA without a gait belt in place. The CNA reported holding the resident’s pants while walking, during which the resident’s feet became twisted and she fell in her room. Facility documentation showed the resident had been assessed as requiring a gait belt, but gait belt use was not included in physician orders or the care plan and was instead communicated via door name tags. The resident sustained a left hip fracture requiring surgical repair and was later readmitted for rehab and strengthening.
A resident with Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension, treated with Benazepril and enrolled in PACE, had multiple significantly elevated BP readings over two consecutive days. Facility policy required prompt physician notification for significant changes in condition, and the care plan directed staff to contact PACE for medical needs. However, there was no documentation in nursing notes that the physician or PACE was notified, and the patient liaison and weekend supervisor reported not being informed. A CNA stated she reported the elevated BP to an RN, but the RN later indicated that if no progress note existed, the notification was not documented, resulting in a failure to notify the physician of the resident’s elevated blood pressures.
A resident with epilepsy, paranoid schizophrenia, and dementia did not receive 11 ordered doses of Lacosamide 100 mg, prescribed as 1.5 tablets PO BID for seizures, because the facility failed to obtain and administer the medication and did not develop a care plan addressing epilepsy, seizure risk, or seizure medications. Review of the MAR showed repeated omissions, and interviews revealed that although there was a protocol for handling missing medications—requiring nurses to call the pharmacy, notify the MD for alternatives, and check Omnicell—this process was not effectively followed or documented. The DON reported being unaware that there was no prescription for the medication, and the PCP stated she was never notified of the missed doses and that any missing medication should have been communicated to the NP and then to her by direct, immediate means.
Surveyors found that washer filters were heavily soiled with lint and debris on all observed machines, despite manufacturer instructions and a label on the equipment requiring daily cleaning. The Laundry Supervisor stated that laundry staff did not maintain the filters and that maintenance was responsible, while the Maintenance Supervisor reported the filters were typically cleaned three times per week and that no documentation was kept to verify cleaning in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
A resident with multiple medical conditions and decreased ability to perform ADLs was found with two white tablets in a medication cup on the bedside table, which the resident identified as Imodium saved from a prior medication pass. Facility policy requires staff to remain with residents until oral medications are swallowed and prohibits leaving medications in a room without a self-administration order. Record review confirmed there was no such order for this resident. An LPN verified that medications had been left at the bedside contrary to policy, and the DON stated that nurses are not to leave medications at the bedside and must observe residents swallowing medications.
An LPN pre-poured medications for more than one resident and failed to follow required resident-identification and "five rights" checks, resulting in a resident with dementia and multiple comorbidities receiving another resident’s ordered regimen, including oxycodone 30 mg, multiple antihypertensives, an antiarrhythmic, and gabapentin, none of which were prescribed for her. After receiving the wrong medications mixed in pudding, the resident developed hypotension, bradycardia, somnolence, and hypoxia, with documented very low BP and HR, and was transferred to the hospital where she required IV fluids, naloxone, atropine, and vasopressor support and was diagnosed with drug-induced hypotension, accidental drug overdose, bradycardia, respiratory insufficiency, sepsis with acute hypoxic respiratory failure, and pneumonia. Surveyors found that this failure to adhere to the facility’s medication administration policy and to ensure residents were free from significant medication errors constituted non-compliance at F760, rising to Immediate Jeopardy.
The facility failed to report a serious medication error that led to a resident’s hospitalization to the Administrator and State Agency within the required two-hour timeframe. An LPN pre-pulled medications for more than one resident, became distracted, and administered another resident’s medications, including multiple cardiac and pain medications, to a resident with dementia, atrial fibrillation, dysphagia, and depression. The resident subsequently developed hypotension, bradycardia, and decreased respirations and was transferred to the hospital. Although the LPN notified supervisory nursing staff and the NP, the incident was not entered on the reportable incident log, the Administrator was not promptly informed, and the State Agency was not notified, in part because the ADON was unaware of the reporting requirement and the DON was on leave.
Failure to Supervise High-Risk Wanderer Resulting in Elopement
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide adequate supervision and prevent an elopement for a resident with known cognitive impairment and wandering behaviors. The resident had dementia with severe cognitive impairment, a BIMS score of 7/15, generalized muscle weakness, unsteadiness on feet, and abnormal gait and mobility. The admission MDS and care plan identified the resident as at risk for falls and elopement, with documented wandering throughout the facility and a recent elopement. An elopement risk observation completed shortly before the incident documented that the resident did not have safe decision-making capabilities. Nursing staff reported that the resident remained ambulatory with good strength and endurance, had impaired judgment and poor safety awareness, and required close supervision due to ongoing exit-seeking behaviors. On the day of the incident, staff last observed the resident in a safe environment ambulating in the facility between approximately 5:30 PM and 5:40 PM, which was described as baseline behavior. Around this same time frame, the alarm on a dining room/fire exit door near the dietary department sounded. Dietary staff responded, visually checked the area, reported not seeing anyone, re-engaged or disarmed the alarm, and returned to the kitchen. Multiple staff later acknowledged that it was difficult to hear the alarm in the kitchen and that they were unable to determine how long the alarm had been sounding before it was noticed. The facility’s elopement policy required immediate notification of all employees and a prompt, thorough search process when a resident was considered missing, but there is no indication that a facility-wide code or missing resident procedure was initiated at the time the door alarm sounded. Subsequently, between approximately 5:50 PM and 6:05 PM, the resident’s CNA noticed the resident was not in the room to receive a dinner tray and began looking for the resident, prompting a census head count. Staff were unable to locate the resident in the building, and a search was initiated. Around 6:08 PM to 6:39 PM, an employee leaving work by car believed they saw the resident near a nearby Dollar General store and called the facility. A nurse drove to the store but did not find the resident. During this period, the local police were notified by Dollar General about a suspicious person with a hospital bracelet. Police located the resident at a nearby intersection; the police report described the resident as delirious, disoriented, and unable to provide coherent responses. EMS was requested, and the resident was transported to a hospital emergency department. The facility later confirmed that the resident had eloped from the building and was found with a wander guard still in place, and staff, including the administrator and DON, were unable to state exactly how the resident exited the building, though they believed it may have been through the dining room door whose alarm had sounded earlier. Interviews with staff revealed additional gaps related to supervision and elopement procedures. One CNA assigned to 1:1 care for the resident stated it was her first day in that role and could not confirm how long the resident had been on 1:1 care. Another CNA, who had recently completed orientation, reported not receiving any in-service training related to elopements and stated that the survey interview was the first time she heard about the resident’s exit from the building. The LPN on duty reported that the resident had been on 30-minute checks due to wandering, last saw the resident around 5:25 PM–5:30 PM, and assumed the resident was doing usual laps in the facility. The DON and administrator both acknowledged that staff could not determine how long the door alarm had been sounding before it was heard and that staff responded by looking outside, not seeing anything, and shutting off the alarm. These actions and inactions, in the context of a known high-risk, cognitively impaired, exit-seeking resident, led to a successful elopement and formed the basis of the cited deficiency under 42 CFR 483.25 for failure to keep the environment free of accident hazards and provide adequate supervision.
Removal Plan
- Evaluate resident at emergency room; confirm no injuries.
- Initiate and continue 1:1 supervision for the resident.
- Assess each exit door to validate doors are working properly.
- Update the resident’s elopement risk assessment to reflect current status.
- Update the resident’s care plan and resident profile.
- Complete an elopement drill.
- Administrator will notify the charge nurse, Director of Nursing, and Social Service designee that a resident is missing as part of drill procedure.
- Director of Nursing/designee will announce Code [NAME] to signal the elopement drill procedure.
- Director of Nursing/designee will organize an immediate and thorough search of the center and surrounding grounds; complete the entire search process within 30 minutes.
- If search fails to locate resident within allotted time, Administrator/designee will place a mock telephone call to appropriate community agencies, resident's legal representative, and attending physician; staff will provide mock police with physical identifying information.
- Continue the search if resident not located, including having staff search surrounding streets by car for a 2 mile radius.
- When the volunteer resident is located, the charge nurse will complete a head-to-toe assessment.
- Social Services designee will assess the resident for emotional distress.
- Director of Nursing will notify appropriate community agencies, attending physician, and resident's legal representative.
- Facility Quality Assurance Committee will investigate the incident and implement interventions to prevent reoccurrences.
- When missing resident is found, make an announcement: Code [NAME] all clear.
- Update elopement risk assessments for all residents.
- Place residents identified as elopement risk in the elopement binder and update their care plans and profiles.
- Reeducate facility staff on the elopement policy and Abuse, Neglect & Misappropriation policy.
- Provide education to any staff not receiving this education prior to their next scheduled shift.
- Review new admission elopement risk assessments in Clinical Morning Meeting to validate accuracy and interventions if indicated.
- Review quarterly elopement risk assessments to validate accuracy and interventions if indicated.
- Maintenance Director/designee will inspect facility exit doors to validate doors are functioning properly.
- Administrator will round with the Maintenance Director validating doors are functioning properly.
- Hold an Ad Hoc QACPI.
- Notify the Medical Director of the incident and plan.
- Present results of audits in the QAPI Committee meeting for review and recommendations.
Failure to Monitor Wander Guard and Supervise Resident Resulting in Elopement
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure adequate supervision and prevent a successful elopement for one resident identified as at risk for wandering and elopement. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including traumatic subdural hemorrhage, muscle weakness, difficulty in walking, and need for assistance with personal care. An admission MDS showed a BIMS score of 9/15, indicating moderate cognitive impairment, and documented that the resident used a wheelchair and required substantial assistance for most ADLs. The facility’s own policy defined wandering and elopement, required staff training on elopement prevention, and called for interventions and care plan documentation for residents at risk of elopement. Physician orders were in place directing staff to check the resident’s wander guard for effectiveness and function every shift beginning shortly after admission. However, review of the MAR/TAR for the period from admission through the date of elopement showed that this order was not consistently documented as completed. For the period 01/30/26–02/19/26, there was an order to check the wander guard every shift, but it was only signed once on the date of the elopement for the first shift. There was no documentation on the MAR/TAR for January related to checking the wander guard, despite the order being in effect. The resident’s care plan, initiated on admission and revised on 02/19/26, identified behavioral symptoms of wandering and elopement related to impaired cognition and impulsivity, and included an intervention to equip the resident with a wander guard upon admission for 48 hours and to check the device’s proper functioning every shift, but the documented implementation of these checks was lacking. In the days leading up to the elopement, progress notes documented that the resident needed frequent redirection due to wandering in and out of other residents’ rooms, and that staff discussed with the resident’s representative the possibility of obtaining a sitter because of these behaviors. Another note described the resident being found seated on a fall mat after getting out of bed to remove pictures from the wall and pack his bag, indicating ongoing impulsive and wandering behavior. On the night of the elopement, a CNA reported that the resident had been described as hard to redirect and constantly pacing the unit in his wheelchair. Later that night, the resident was found wandering in the parking lot and brought back inside by a CNA; the nurse documented that the door alarm was not going off at the time the resident was found outside. The resident’s representative later stated that he had been informed that the front door was not working properly and that the resident had a wander guard device that should have locked the door when he left, but the door did not function correctly, allowing the resident to exit the building. Based on these findings, surveyors determined that the facility failed to provide adequate supervision and accident prevention, resulting in a successful elopement and an Immediate Jeopardy determination at F689. The State Agency determined that the facility’s non-compliance with federal health and safety regulations caused or was likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment, or death, and identified the Immediate Jeopardy as related to 42 CFR 483.25, Quality of Care. The Immediate Jeopardy was determined to have existed as of the date of the elopement. The survey findings emphasized the lack of documented adherence to physician orders and care plan interventions for checking the wander guard device, the presence of documented wandering and impulsive behaviors, and the fact that the resident was able to leave the building without triggering a door alarm. These combined actions and inactions led to the conclusion that the facility did not ensure the environment was free from accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision to prevent the resident’s elopement.
Removal Plan
- Resident was immediately located and safely returned to the facility.
- Full nursing assessment completed by licensed nurse; no injuries noted.
- Physician/Medical Director and responsible party notified by administrator.
- Resident placed on increased monitoring immediately.
- Wandering/elopement risk reassessed.
- Care plan updated to include enhanced interventions.
- Wander guard applied and verified functioning.
- Staff education initiated by administrator.
- Incident reported per facility policy and state requirements.
- Facility conducted a 100% audit of all residents for elopement risk.
- Verified wander guard placement and function for all residents.
- Verified accuracy of assessments and care plans for all residents.
- Updated care plans to include individualized interventions such as secured unit placement/discharge plan and structured activities to reduce wandering.
- Conducted environmental safety checks.
- All exit doors secured and alarmed and verified by maintenance department weekly.
- Wander guard system tested by maintenance department weekly with a log.
- All staff education completed by DON/Administrator on policy/protocol for wandering and elopement and immediate response procedures if a resident is missing.
- Results reviewed in QWAPI meetings monthly for 3 months, with corrective actions implemented as needed.
Failure to Protect Cognitively Impaired Resident From Physical Abuse by CNA
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves a failure to protect a resident from physical abuse by a CNA. The facility’s abuse policy defines physical abuse as including hitting, slapping, and controlling behavior through corporal punishment. The resident involved was admitted with major depressive disorder and dementia with agitation, and a recent MDS showed a BIMS score of 7/15, indicating severe cognitive impairment. The resident was generally independent with toileting and transfers. On the day of the incident, the resident was on a locked dementia unit and had experienced bowel incontinence, leaving the bathroom soiled. A CNA entered the resident’s room to assist with cleaning the bathroom. During this interaction, the resident became agitated and combative, reportedly spitting on the CNA and striking the CNA in the face with a wet washcloth containing bowel movement. The CNA later reported that she responded by holding the resident’s hands above her head and then making contact with the resident’s face with an open hand, described as a slap or “smudging” the resident’s face. The CNA admitted to multiple staff, including the charge nurse, DON, Administrator, and Social Services, that she had put her hands on the resident and struck the resident in the face with an open hand in retaliation for the resident’s actions. A police report documented that the CNA admitted to assaulting the resident with an open-hand slap during a physical altercation. Staff who assessed the resident after the incident noted that the resident appeared visibly upset but had no visible injuries, and the resident was unable to recall the specific events due to severe cognitive impairment. The State Agency determined that the facility’s non-compliance with abuse regulations caused or was likely to cause serious harm and cited the facility under 42 CFR 483.12 for failure to ensure the resident was free from physical abuse.
Removal Plan
- Removed CNA3 from the resident care area after the incident.
- Interviewed CNA3 regarding the incident.
- Terminated CNA3 by the Administrator and DON.
- Notified law enforcement of the incident.
- Submitted a report to the Regional Ombudsman.
- Completed a nursing assessment and body audit of R1; no injuries found.
- Notified R1's family/responsible party of the incident.
- Monitored residents for psychosocial distress or changes by nursing staff and Social Services.
- Provided 1:1 re-education for staff working in skilled nursing on abuse and appropriate response/intervention and workplace fatigue.
- Conducted an investigation and determined there was no physical evidence of abuse.
- Social worker interviewed all residents on Unit 3 regarding abuse, whether any abuse had been witnessed/experienced, and whether residents felt safe.
- Social worker interviewed residents on other skilled units regarding abuse and whether residents felt safe.
- Arranged for MD and PA to evaluate R1; MD issued new medication orders and PA checked on the resident.
- Obtained family consent for a psychiatric evaluation.
- Social worker contacted the family and obtained updates; family visited and reported no changes in mood/behavior/psychosocial status.
- Social worker checked in on R1 and monitored for changes.
- Initiated in-house education for all staff working in Skilled Nursing on types/definitions of abuse, dementia with abuse prevention, de-escalation of behaviors, and how to appropriately avoid these situations.
- Re-educated staff on who the Abuse Coordinator is and how to notify the Abuse Coordinator of concerns.
- Reviewed the abuse policy with staff.
- Obtained statements from all staff who work in Skilled Nursing.
- Continued education ongoing.
- Nursing management (DON, ADON, Unit Managers) to conduct rounding and audits for signs of abuse.
- Held QAPI and updated it regarding this issue.
Failure to Use Required Gait Belt During Ambulation Resulting in Hip Fracture
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident was free from accident hazards and received adequate supervision during ambulation, resulting in a fall and left hip fracture. The facility’s Fall Management Program policy included staff education and interventions to prevent unsafe transfers and ambulation. The resident had severe cognitive impairment, as evidenced by a BIMS score of 3/15, and used a walker and wheelchair. A Safe Resident Handling Data Collection form documented that a gait belt and walker were required for transfers with staff and that the resident continued to require use of a gait belt. The resident’s care plan included assistance with transfers and ambulation and provision of adaptive equipment, but there was no physician order for a gait belt, and gait belt use was not listed on the care plan. Instead, the Administrator stated that transfer methods, including gait belt use, were communicated via name tags on residents’ doors and that the resident had a history of tripping over her own feet and falling. On the day of the incident, the resident was being assisted by a CNA from the bathroom when the resident’s feet became twisted and she fell to the floor. The CNA reported she was holding the resident’s pants while walking her from the bathroom and acknowledged that the fall was her fault. Documentation indicated the resident fell in her room while being transferred/ambulated from the bathroom with the CNA present, wearing shoes at the time. The Administrator confirmed that the resident had been assessed for gait belt use and that the resident did not have a gait belt on when she fell. The Administrator stated that, in situations where a resident is already in motion without proper equipment, staff should hold the resident and call for help rather than continue ambulation. The resident sustained a subcapital femoral neck fracture of the left hip, required surgical repair at a hospital, and was later readmitted to the facility for rehabilitation and strengthening, with documentation noting she had been confined to a wheelchair prior to the fall and was unlikely to progress beyond her previous level of activity.
Failure to Notify Physician of Resident’s Elevated Blood Pressures
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to notify a resident’s physician of significantly elevated blood pressures as required by facility policy. The facility’s policy on Change in a Resident’s Condition or Status, revised February 2021, states that the nurse will promptly notify the attending or on-call physician when there is a significant change in the resident’s physical condition, defined as a major decline or improvement that will not normally resolve without intervention. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including Alzheimer’s disease, essential hypertension, and hypothyroidism, and had an active order for Benazepril 5 mg daily for hypertension with instructions to hold the medication if systolic blood pressure (SBP) was less than 110. The admission MDS showed the resident was unable to complete the BIMS interview and had an active diagnosis of hypertension. Blood pressure records showed multiple elevated readings, including 172/102 and 172/101 on one day and 171/119 on the following day. Review of the nurse’s notes revealed no documentation that the physician or PACE program was notified of these elevated blood pressures. The care plan indicated the resident was a PACE participant and directed staff to contact PACE for any medical needs. During interviews, the UM stated all medication orders came from PACE, and the DON acknowledged that 171/119 was an elevated blood pressure and that a call should have been made to the on-call PACE medical director, with family also to be notified of the change in condition. The patient liaison and weekend supervisor both reported not being informed of the elevated blood pressures, and CNA staff reported notifying an RN of the elevated readings but was unsure what occurred afterward. The RN stated she did not recall the patient but indicated that if there was no progress note, the notification would not have been documented anywhere else.
Failure to Obtain and Administer Ordered Seizure Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to obtain and administer Lacosamide, an ordered seizure medication, for one resident, resulting in 11 missed doses over the period from 1/7 to 1/13. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including epilepsy, paranoid schizophrenia, and dementia. Review of the care plan showed no care plan addressing epilepsy, seizure risk, or seizure medications. Review of the MAR for 1/7/26 through 1/14/26 showed that the resident did not receive Lacosamide 100 mg, ordered as 1.5 tablets by mouth twice daily for seizures, for a total of 11 missed doses. The facility’s policy on Adverse Consequences and Medication Errors defined a medication error to include omissions when a drug is ordered but not administered. During interviews, an LPN stated that if a progress note about Lacosamide not being given was scratched out, it meant the medication was administered, and that when waiting for a medication, the nurse keeps a running list and calls the pharmacy for status updates. The Staff Development Coordinator reported that the protocol for missing medications requires nurses to call the pharmacy and document the call, notify the MD for alternatives, and check the Omnicell if the medication is not a narcotic. The DON stated that on admission, floor nurses should send all prescriptions to the pharmacy and, if a prescription is missing, contact onsite/on-call providers to obtain one so the pharmacy can send the medication stat, and reported being unaware that there was no prescription for Lacosamide. The resident’s PCP stated she had no memory of being notified about any missed Lacosamide doses and explained that the NP should be notified first and work with the pharmacy, and if issues persist, the PCP should be contacted; she also stated that missing medication should be communicated immediately by direct means, not by a note left in a book.
Failure to Maintain Washer Filters per Manufacturer Instructions
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s infection prevention and control program related to the maintenance of laundry equipment. Review of the Alliance Laundry Systems washer manufacturer guidelines showed that, as part of end-of-day maintenance, the AC invert drive filter was to be cleaned by removing the external plastic cover, taking out the foam filter, and washing it with warm water and allowing it to air dry, or by vacuuming the filter. During an observation of the laundry area, the filter located on the front of the washing machine was found to be heavily soiled with lint and debris, despite a metal manufacturer label directly beneath the filter stating, "Clean Daily." Three of three washing machines observed had this issue. In an interview conducted at the time of the observation, the Laundry Supervisor acknowledged the condition of the filter and stated that laundry personnel did not maintain the filter, indicating that maintenance staff were responsible for cleaning it. In a subsequent interview, the Maintenance Supervisor reported that maintenance staff usually cleaned the filter about three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, rather than daily as directed by the manufacturer. The Maintenance Supervisor also stated there was no log or record maintained to verify that the filter was cleaned as required.
Medications Left at Bedside Without Self-Administration Order
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the resident environment remained free of accident hazards when medications were left at the bedside for one resident. The facility’s “Oral Medication Administration Procedure” policy states that staff must administer oral medications in an organized and safe manner, remain with the resident while the medication is swallowed, and never leave medication in a resident’s room without an order for self-administration. Review of the resident’s orders showed there was no order for self-administration of medication. The resident involved had diagnoses including post hemorrhagic anemia, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, irritable bowel syndrome, and osteoarthritis, and had a BIMS score of 15/15, indicating no cognitive impairment. The baseline care plan documented decreased ability to perform ADLs/self-care related to debility/generalized weakness. During observation, two white tablets were found in a medication cup on the resident’s bedside table. An LPN confirmed the medications should not have been left in the room and that the resident did not have an order to self-administer. The resident stated that a nurse had brought the medications the previous night and that she was saving them to use when needed, identifying them as Imodium. The DON stated that nurses are not to leave medications at the bedside and should remain with the resident to ensure medications are swallowed safely, and that anyone could take medications left at the bedside.
Significant Medication Error When Wrong Resident Received Another Resident’s Medications
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves a failure to ensure that a resident was free from significant medication errors when an LPN administered another resident's medications. Facility policy required that medications be administered safely and as prescribed, including verifying the resident's identity before administration using methods such as checking an identification band, reviewing a photograph on the medical record, and, if necessary, confirming identity with other staff. The policy also required the person administering medications to check the label three times to verify the right resident, medication, dosage, time, and route, and prohibited administering medications ordered for one resident to another. Despite these requirements, the LPN pre-poured medications for more than one resident at a time and did not correctly verify the resident's identity before administration. The resident who received the wrong medications, identified as R2, had been admitted with diagnoses including cognitive communication deficit, dementia with mild anxiety, atrial fibrillation, dysphagia, and major depressive disorder. Another resident, identified as R3, had diagnoses including heart failure, high blood pressure, chronic pain syndrome, and lumbar spondylosis, and had active orders for multiple medications: oxycodone 30 mg three times daily, amlodipine 5 mg (two tablets once daily), losartan 50 mg twice daily, dofetilide 250 mcg twice daily, gabapentin 600 mg four times daily, and metoprolol 50 mg once daily. R2 did not have physician orders for these medications. On the morning of the incident, the LPN labeled a medication cup with a resident's name, poured medications into the cup, mixed whole pills in pudding, and administered them to R2 in her room. The LPN later discovered that R2's medication cup was still on the cart and realized that the medications given to R2 were actually those prescribed for R3. Following the administration error, staff documented that R2 had received oxycodone 30 mg, amlodipine 5 mg, losartan 50 mg, dofetilide 250 mcg (also documented once as 520 mcg), gabapentin 600 mg, and metoprolol 50 mg, none of which were ordered for her. Progress notes and vital sign records showed that R2 subsequently experienced low blood pressure and slow heart rate, with multiple blood pressure readings in the 70s and 80s systolic and 40s diastolic, and heart rates in the 40s and 50s. A nurse practitioner assessed R2 shortly after the error and initially noted no acute distress, but within an hour R2 became symptomatic. Later documentation indicated that R2 was transferred to the hospital, where she was evaluated for somnolence, hypotension, bradycardia, and hypoxia after receiving the incorrect medications. Hospital records described that she required interventions including IV fluids, naloxone, atropine, and vasoactive medications due to persistent hypotension over several days, and she was diagnosed with hypotension due to drugs, drug overdose (accidental or unintentional), confusion caused by a drug, bradycardia, respiratory insufficiency, sepsis with acute hypoxic respiratory failure, and pneumonia. The state survey agency determined that the facility's non-compliance with pharmacy services requirements caused or was likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment, or death, and cited the facility at F760.
Removal Plan
- The Administrator notified the Medical Director of the Immediate Jeopardy.
- R2 was assessed by the Nurse Practitioner, and new orders were written for vital signs every 30 minutes and Midodrine stat.
- R2 was sent to the emergency department for a higher level of care.
- The Assistant Director of Nursing began the investigation into the medication error.
- The Assistant Director of Nursing counseled LPN1 related to the medication error and failure to follow the five rights of medication pass, including prepulling medication that resulted in the medication error; the licensed nurse was placed on a process improvement plan.
- The Assistant Director of Nursing provided 1:1 education with LPN1 related to types of medication errors, causes, and prevention.
- The Assistant Director of Nursing began a medication pass in-service related to the 5 rights of medication administration.
- The Assistant Director of Nursing or designee began education with the licensed nurses on the 5 rights of medication pass and medication administration.
- The Assistant Director of Nursing or designee began education on the medication administration policy to include how to verify the medications are correct for all licensed nurses on or before their next scheduled shift.
- The Assistant Director of Nursing or designee began competency checks on medication pass on all licensed nurses.
- The Administrator, the Director of Nursing, and the Assistant Director were re-educated on Medication Pass, including medication errors, by the Regional Assistant Director of Clinical Services.
- The Director of Nursing completed a review of hospitalizations to determine if any were related to medication error.
- The Director of Nursing completed a medication error review to ensure proper documentation, appropriate corrective action, and reporting compliance.
- Nurse management will randomly select each nurse daily to observe medication passes for 7 days, then weekly for 4 weeks, then monthly for 2 months.
- The nurse involved in the deficiency will complete medication pass competency daily for 7 days, weekly for 4 weeks, monthly for 2 months, and quarterly for 2.
Failure to Report Serious Medication Error Resulting in Resident Hospitalization
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to timely report a significant medication error that resulted in serious bodily injury to the Administrator and the State Agency within two hours, as required by its own abuse, neglect, exploitation, and misappropriation reporting policy. The policy, last revised in September 2022, states that suspicions of abuse, neglect, exploitation, misappropriation, or injury of unknown source must be reported immediately to the Administrator and appropriate authorities, defining "immediately" as within two hours for allegations involving abuse or resulting in serious bodily injury. Despite this, the medication error involving Resident 2, which led to hospitalization, was not entered on the facility’s reportable incident log and was not reported to the State Agency or Administrator as required. Resident 2 was admitted with diagnoses including cognitive communication deficit, dementia with mild anxiety, atrial fibrillation, dysphagia, and major depressive disorder. On the morning of 12/04/25, LPN1 pre-pulled medications for more than one resident at a time and prepared medications for Resident 2 and Resident 3. When Resident 3 requested pain medication, LPN1 retrieved oxycodone for Resident 3 but then became distracted and administered Resident 3’s medications to Resident 2 instead. Witness statements from the Unit Manager and ADON documented that Resident 2 received multiple medications not prescribed for them, including oxycodone 30 mg, amlodipine 5 mg, losartan 50 mg, dofetilide, gabapentin 600 mg, and metoprolol 50 mg. Progress notes show that Resident 2’s blood pressure remained low despite ordered midodrine and fluids, with documented hypotension, bradycardia, and decreased respirations, and the resident was ultimately transferred to the hospital for further evaluation. Following the error, LPN1 reported the incident to her supervisor, and the ADON and NP were notified; however, the Administrator and State Agency were not notified as required by policy. The DON, who was on maternity leave at the time, later stated that the incident should have been reported to the State Agency but confirmed that no report was submitted and that the ADON was unaware the incident needed to be reported. The ADON stated she was unsure if the Administrator had been notified and acknowledged she did not know she was required to report the incident to the State Agency. The Facility Administrator reported that he only became aware of the medication error recently, after speaking with another resident, and confirmed that no report had been sent to the State Agency and that he had not been informed of the incident when it occurred.
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