St Andrews Operator, Llc
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Columbia, South Carolina.
- Location
- 3514 Sidney Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29210
- CMS Provider Number
- 425129
- Inspections on file
- 28
- Latest survey
- July 17, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 8
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at St Andrews Operator, Llc during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Surveyors found that the facility did not ensure proper storage, labeling, dating, and discarding of food items in the kitchen, with multiple opened and unsealed food items lacking required dates and labels, some stored on the floor or past expiration, and spoiled produce present. Despite facility policies and staff expectations for food safety, these deficiencies were observed during kitchen inspections.
The QAPI committee did not implement or sustain effective corrective actions for previously identified deficiencies, resulting in ongoing failures to label and date tube feeding bags, opened medications, and food items. These issues were observed again during follow-up, affecting all residents, despite the committee's belief that their audits were effective.
The facility did not maintain required infection surveillance documentation for 2024 and early 2025, as infection control records were missing after the previous ADON/infection preventionist left and took the data. As a result, there was no evidence of systematic infection tracking or reporting for that period, despite ongoing clinical meetings and antibiotic reviews.
Surveyors found expired and discontinued medications, as well as opened medications lacking required labeling, on multiple medication carts. An LPN confirmed the presence of an expired tube feeding formula, an opened insulin pen without an open or expiration date, and a loose unidentified pill. Additional expired and discontinued medications were found on other carts, with staff unsure of proper disposal procedures. The DON stated that nurses are responsible for disposing of such medications and that Unit Managers should audit carts weekly, but these procedures were not consistently followed.
A resident was readmitted with a sacral pressure ulcer that was not consistently documented in skin assessments or the MDS, despite being noted in initial assessments and provider communications. Nursing staff, without a dedicated wound care nurse, failed to accurately record the wound's presence, leading to incomplete and inaccurate documentation of the resident's condition.
A resident with multiple medical conditions, including a history of stroke, hyperglycemia, aphasia, and gastrostomy, was admitted with pressure and non-pressure areas but did not have a baseline care plan developed within 48 hours as required. The care plan was completed weeks later and failed to include the resident's tube feeding needs, as confirmed by the MDS Coordinator.
A resident with a gastrostomy and dysphagia did not receive the physician-ordered tube feed rate, as the feed was administered at 45 mL/hr instead of 50 mL/hr, and the feeding bag was not labeled or dated. Staff interviews revealed that the LPN did not verify the correct rate during shift change, contrary to facility policy requiring verification of tube feed orders.
A resident did not receive safe and appropriate respiratory care when needed, as required by facility protocols.
A cognitively impaired male with a history of behavioral disturbances repeatedly entered female residents' rooms and was found in the room of a non-verbal, dependent female, with reports of inappropriate touching. Despite prior documentation of unsafe behaviors and multiple staff and resident reports, the facility did not implement timely interventions or notify responsible parties, resulting in a failure to protect a vulnerable resident from non-consensual sexual contact.
A facility failed to promptly report and investigate an allegation of potential non-consensual sexual abuse involving two residents. Despite staff and resident reports of inappropriate behavior, management did not notify authorities, the resident's representative, or the Ombudsman in a timely manner. Documentation and interviews revealed incomplete assessments and a lack of thorough investigation, with staff being directed to follow administrative instructions rather than escalate the incident.
Water temperatures in several resident rooms and a shower room were found to be above the facility's policy limit of 120°F, with readings as high as 132°F. The Plant Operations Director increased water temperatures during the winter and did not reduce them after installing water boosters, resulting in excessively hot water. Staff noted the hot water, but no formal complaints were made by residents. The Facility Administrator was unaware of the temperature monitoring process, and the mixing valve was set above the facility's threshold, placing residents at risk for scalding.
Three cognitively intact residents were not treated with dignity or provided a sense of safety after reporting or witnessing a potential non-consensual sexual encounter involving a vulnerable resident. Despite facility policy requiring respect for resident well-being and privacy, staff failed to notify law enforcement or the responsible representative, did not send the affected resident for evaluation, and did not address ongoing concerns of retaliation and insecurity among residents.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and behavioral disturbances was prescribed Depakote and later Seroquel for behavioral management, but the facility did not implement required monitoring for psychotropic medication use as outlined in its policy. This resulted in a lack of documented oversight for adverse effects and medication effectiveness during the period after Depakote was started.
The facility failed to follow its abuse prevention and investigation policies after two residents were involved in an alleged sexual abuse incident. Staff observed a male resident repeatedly entering female residents' rooms without consent, but the facility did not conduct a thorough investigation, notify law enforcement, or assess all potentially affected residents. Leadership did not interview other residents for safety concerns or implement additional interventions, resulting in inadequate protection and support for those involved.
Failure to Properly Store, Label, and Discard Food Items in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure proper storage, labeling, dating, and discarding of food items in the kitchen, including the freezer, refrigerator, and dry storage areas. During multiple observations, opened food items were found without open dates or use-by dates, and some were not properly sealed. Specific findings included boxes stored on the floor, opened bags and containers of food without required labeling, and food items past their manufacturer expiration dates. Additionally, some cans were covered with a white powdery substance, and rusted shelves were noted in the walk-in cooler. Perishable items such as cut onions and baby spinach were improperly labeled or visibly spoiled, and several containers of seasonings and other dry goods lacked open or use-by dates. Interviews with the Dietary Manager and Administrator confirmed that the facility's policy requires all food items to be labeled with the name, date of preparation or opening, and a use-by date, and that items past their expiration or use-by date should be discarded. The Dietary Manager stated that daily rounds are conducted in the kitchen, and the Administrator indicated that walkthroughs are performed weekly or monthly. Despite these stated expectations and policies, the observed deficiencies in food storage and labeling practices were not addressed, resulting in noncompliance with professional standards for food safety.
QAPI Committee Failed to Sustain Corrective Actions for Labeling and Storage Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility's QAPI committee failed to implement effective corrective actions to address previously identified deficiencies, as evidenced by ongoing issues with labeling and dating of tube feeding bags, medications, and food items. During a recertification and complaint survey, the facility was cited for not labeling and dating a tube feeding bag, not labeling opened medications, and not ensuring food was sealed, labeled, and dated with a use-by date. These deficiencies were observed again during follow-up, including an unlabeled tube feeding bag for a resident, opened vials of insulin on two medication carts without opened dates, and unsealed, unlabeled food items in the kitchen. Review of the facility's QAPI meeting minutes showed that while the committee discussed the plan of correction and audit tools, the only documentation was a copy of the CMS-2567 attached to the minutes. During an interview, the Administrator stated that the committee believed the audits were effective, but was unable to explain the continued presence of the same deficiencies. The lack of effective follow-through and sustained corrective action by the QAPI committee contributed to the ongoing noncompliance affecting all residents in the facility.
Failure to Maintain Infection Surveillance and Documentation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and maintain a comprehensive infection prevention and control program as required. Specifically, there was no documentation of a surveillance plan for tracking or monitoring infections, communicable diseases, and outbreaks among residents and staff for the entire year of 2024 and the months of January and February 2025. The facility's policy required routine monitoring and surveillance, including the use of standardized assessment tools and regular reporting to the QAPI committee. However, interviews revealed that the infection preventionist identified infections based on resident symptoms and physician input, but there was no evidence of systematic infection tracking or trending prior to April 2025. Further investigation found that the previous Assistant Director of Nursing, who also served as the infection preventionist, left the facility in March 2025 and took the infection control records with her. As a result, the facility was unable to produce any infection control data for the period before April 2025, despite attempts to retrieve the information. While clinical meetings and antibiotic reviews were conducted, and infection numbers were presented in QAPI meetings after April 2025, there was a lack of documented infection surveillance and reporting for the earlier period, constituting noncompliance with infection control requirements.
Failure to Remove Expired and Discontinued Medications and Properly Label Opened Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were properly labeled, stored, and removed when expired or discontinued, as required by policy and professional standards. During observations of three medication carts, surveyors found an expired box of Nutren 2.0 tube feeding formula, an opened Novolog FlexPen injector without an open or expiration date, and an unidentified loose white pill. Additionally, opened bottles of Sorbitol 70% solution and Robitussin DM were found to be expired and had been previously discontinued. Nursing staff confirmed these findings and acknowledged that the required labeling and removal procedures had not been followed. Interviews revealed that nursing staff were either unaware of or did not follow proper procedures for labeling opened medications and disposing of expired or discontinued drugs. The DON stated that all nurses have the authority to dispose of such medications using a Drug Buster, which is available on each cart, and that Unit Managers are responsible for weekly audits to ensure expired medications are removed. However, the presence of expired, discontinued, and improperly labeled medications on multiple carts indicated a failure to consistently implement these procedures.
Failure to Accurately Document Pressure Ulcer on Assessment and MDS
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that resident assessments accurately reflected the status of a pressure ulcer for one resident. Upon readmission, the resident returned with a sacral pressure ulcer, which was noted in the initial head-to-toe skin check and provider communication log. However, subsequent weekly skin assessments failed to document the presence of the wound, and the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment did not indicate the existence of a pressure ulcer, despite physician orders for wound care being in place. The MDS Coordinator relied on nursing documentation, which incorrectly showed the resident's skin as intact during the lookback period, leading to inaccurate reporting on the MDS. Interviews revealed that the facility did not have a dedicated wound care nurse, and wound care responsibilities were shared among nursing staff, with oversight from a wound care provider and nurse practitioner during weekly rounds. The Director of Nursing stated that unit managers are responsible for admission assessments, while floor nurses are expected to document ongoing skin issues. The deficiency resulted from incomplete and inaccurate documentation of the resident's pressure ulcer status in both the skin assessments and the MDS, despite clear evidence of the wound in other records.
Failure to Timely Develop Baseline Care Plan After Admission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop a baseline care plan within 48 hours of admission for one resident, as required by its own policy. The resident was admitted with a medical history including cerebral infarction, hyperglycemia, aphasia, and gastrostomy status, and presented with pressure areas on several parts of the body and non-pressure areas on the back and left ear. The baseline care plan was not completed until several weeks after admission and did not address the resident's need for tube feeding. The MDS Coordinator confirmed that the baseline care plan was delayed and incomplete, omitting necessary interventions for the resident's care during the initial period after admission.
Failure to Administer Ordered Tube Feed Rate and Label Feeding Bag
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident receiving continuous tube feeding was administered the correct ordered amount and rate of tube feed, as well as failed to properly label and date the tube feed bag. Specifically, the resident, who had diagnoses including gastrostomy status, dysphagia, and adult failure to thrive, was observed to have their tube feed infusing at 45 mL/hr instead of the physician-ordered rate of 50 mL/hr. The facility's policy required verification of the enteral nutrition label against the order before administration, including documentation of the date, time, and initials on the formula label, but this was not followed. During multiple observations, the tube feed was found running at the incorrect rate and without a label or date. Interviews with staff revealed that the LPN did not verify the correct rate with the off-going nurse during shift change, and the Director of Nursing confirmed that both off-going and incoming nurses are required to check tube feed orders during shift changes. The resident's medical record and nutrition notes confirmed the prescribed feeding regimen, which was not adhered to during the observed period.
Failure to Provide Safe and Appropriate Respiratory Care
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified regarding the provision of safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed. The report indicates that the facility failed to ensure that a resident received necessary respiratory care, but does not provide further details about the specific actions or inactions that led to this deficiency, nor does it include information about the resident's medical history or condition at the time.
Failure to Protect Cognitively Impaired Resident from Sexual Abuse
Penalty
Summary
A cognitively impaired male resident with a history of frontal lobe and executive function deficit, impulse disorder, and dementia with behavioral disturbances was documented to have repeatedly entered the rooms of female residents without consent. Despite prior documentation of his inappropriate and unsafe behaviors, including wandering, entering female residents' rooms, and being redirected multiple times, the facility did not implement timely or adequate interventions to prevent further incidents. On one occasion, the resident was found in the room of a non-interviewable, vegetative female resident, with staff and other residents reporting that he touched her inappropriately. Multiple staff and residents reported previous similar incidents, and concerns were raised about the lack of effective action to prevent recurrence. The female resident involved was in a vegetative state, fully dependent on staff for all activities of daily living, and unable to protect herself or report abuse. There was no documentation in her medical record related to the incident, and a required head-to-toe skin check assessment was left incomplete. The resident's representative was not informed of the incident by facility staff and only learned of it from another resident. Staff interviews revealed that some were instructed by administration to alter documentation to downplay the incident, and law enforcement was not notified. The male resident was sent to the hospital for evaluation but returned the same day and was placed back in proximity to the female resident. Multiple interviews with staff and residents confirmed that the male resident's behaviors were known and had been reported prior to the incident, but interventions such as room changes or increased supervision were not implemented in a timely manner. Staff expressed concerns that the facility did not take appropriate steps to protect vulnerable residents, failed to notify responsible parties, and did not follow abuse reporting protocols. The facility's inaction and lack of adequate interventions resulted in a failure to protect the female resident from a non-consensual sexual encounter.
Failure to Timely Report and Investigate Alleged Sexual Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of potential non-consensual sexual abuse involving two residents to the proper authorities and state agency within the required timeframes. According to the facility's own policy, all alleged violations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment must be reported immediately, but not later than two hours if the alleged violation involves abuse or has resulted in serious bodily injury. In this case, a resident was observed entering another resident's room without consent, and there were reports from both staff and other residents of similar behavior. Despite these observations and reports, management was only notified for a possible room change, and there was no immediate notification to authorities or the resident's representative. Documentation in the electronic medical record showed that the resident who entered the room had a history of altered mental status and was redirected multiple times from female residents' rooms. Staff, including an LPN, reported concerns about the resident's sexually inappropriate behavior to the Administrator and DON, but were instructed to follow administrative directives rather than escalate the matter to law enforcement or ensure a thorough evaluation of the potentially affected resident. The resident's representative was not formally notified of the incident, and the facility did not complete a timely or thorough investigation, as evidenced by incomplete documentation of a head-to-toe skin check and lack of interviews with other potentially affected residents. Interviews with staff and the resident's representative revealed that law enforcement and the Ombudsman were not notified promptly, and the Medical Director was also not informed of the potential abuse. The facility administration failed to ensure that all required parties were notified, did not conduct comprehensive resident interviews or assessments to rule out further harm, and did not document or communicate the incident as required by policy and regulation. The deficiency was identified as Immediate Jeopardy due to the failure to report and investigate the allegation of sexual abuse in a timely and appropriate manner.
Unsafe Water Temperatures Exceeding Policy Limits
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain water temperatures within safe limits, as required by its own policy and federal guidelines, which state that tap water should not exceed 120°F to prevent scalding. During observations, water temperatures in multiple resident rooms and a shower room were found to be significantly above this threshold, with readings ranging from 122.1°F to 132°F. The Plant Operations Director (POD) acknowledged that the water was excessively hot and admitted to increasing the temperature during the winter in response to resident complaints about cold water. However, the temperatures were not reduced after the installation of water boosters, nor were they adjusted back to safe levels until after the surveyor's findings. Interviews with staff revealed that no formal resident complaints about hot water had been made, but an LPN noted that the sinks became very hot during handwashing. The Facility Administrator (FA) was unaware of the specific process used by the POD to check water temperatures and confirmed that the mixing valve had been set above the facility's threshold. The facility's failure to monitor and maintain water temperatures within the safe range placed residents at risk for scalding injuries in all three halls reviewed.
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity and Safety After Reported Sexual Incident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that three cognitively intact residents were treated with dignity and maintained a sense of safety after reporting or witnessing a potential non-consensual sexual encounter involving a non-interviewable resident. The facility's policy requires that residents be cared for in a manner that promotes their well-being, self-worth, and respect for their private space, but this was not upheld. Multiple residents reported that a resident with a history of wandering and inappropriate behavior entered another resident's room, closed the door, and was found in a potentially sexually inappropriate situation. Staff were observed yelling at the resident to leave the room and calling for assistance, but there was no evidence that law enforcement or the responsible representative was notified, and the affected resident was not sent for evaluation. Residents who witnessed or reported the incident described feeling unsafe and expressed concerns about retaliation from staff. One resident reported being told by staff not to "spread false rumors" and to "shut my mouth," leading to fear about future care. Another resident, who was the roommate of the resident involved in the incident, stated that he avoided his room due to discomfort and observed staff being retaliative. This resident also described the resident in question bragging about the incident to others, with staff present but not intervening appropriately. A third resident reported that the same resident had previously attempted to enter her room and had entered the room of the vulnerable resident on multiple occasions, including at night. She stated that her reports to nursing staff were dismissed and that she did not feel safe, as the resident remained on the same hall and close to the affected resident. The lack of appropriate response to these reports and the ongoing proximity of the resident in question contributed to a continued sense of insecurity and lack of dignity among the residents involved.
Failure to Monitor Psychotropic Medication Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure appropriate monitoring for the use of psychotropic medications for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and behavioral disturbances. The resident, who had diagnoses including dementia with behaviors, impulse disorder, and psychoactive substance dependence in remission, was prescribed Depakote and later Seroquel to manage behavioral symptoms. Despite facility policy requiring monitoring for efficacy and adverse consequences when psychotropic medications are used, there was no documented antipsychotic monitoring for the resident after Depakote was initiated. The care plan indicated that monitoring, including observation for side effects and the use of the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), should be conducted, but this was not implemented as required. Interviews with the consultant pharmacist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, and medical director confirmed that behavior and antipsychotic monitoring should have been in place when the resident began receiving Depakote. The lack of monitoring persisted until after Seroquel was started, leaving a gap in oversight for potential adverse effects and effectiveness of the psychotropic medication. This failure to follow established protocols for psychotropic medication management led to the identified deficiency.
Failure to Implement Abuse Prevention and Investigation Policies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its abuse prevention and investigation policies in response to allegations of sexual abuse involving two residents. According to the facility's own policies, the administrator is responsible for ensuring prevention of further abuse, and investigators are required to interview all relevant staff, residents, and witnesses, as well as review all events leading up to the alleged incident. However, the facility did not conduct a thorough investigation, did not report the incident to law enforcement, and did not ensure that all potentially affected residents were interviewed or assessed. Documentation shows that a male resident repeatedly entered female residents' rooms without consent, and staff observed and redirected him on multiple occasions, but no comprehensive investigation or protective measures were implemented as required by policy. Nursing notes and staff interviews revealed that the male resident was seen entering a female resident's room while a CNA was providing care, and another female resident reported similar behavior the previous night. Staff educated the male resident about not entering other residents' rooms, but there was no documentation of assessment or follow-up for the female resident involved in the incident. Multiple staff members, including CNAs and LPNs, reported the male resident's inappropriate behavior and expressed concerns about the lack of action taken by facility leadership. The facility did not notify the resident representative, did not interview other potentially affected residents, and did not implement additional interventions after repeated incidents. Interviews with facility leadership, including the unit manager, assistant director of nursing, and facility administrator, confirmed that no residents were interviewed regarding safety concerns after the incident, and there was no clear plan to ensure resident safety. The administrator was unaware of the documented behavioral concerns prior to the incident, and staff reported being instructed not to contact law enforcement or send the female resident for evaluation. The facility's failure to follow its own abuse prevention and investigation policies resulted in a lack of protection and support for residents involved in or potentially affected by the alleged abuse.
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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