Beacon Harbor Healthcare And Rehabilitation
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Rockwall, Texas.
- Location
- 6700 Heritage Parkway, Rockwall, Texas 75087
- CMS Provider Number
- 675579
- Inspections on file
- 42
- Latest survey
- March 24, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 2
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Beacon Harbor Healthcare And Rehabilitation during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Multiple residents with significant medical conditions, including stroke, COPD, heart failure, and muscle weakness, consistently received breakfast oatmeal that was cold, lumpy, thick, and sometimes removable from the bowl in a single solid mass. Several residents refused to eat the oatmeal due to its poor quality, while one cognitively impaired resident ate it despite acknowledging it was cold and lumpy. A CNA reported that the oatmeal was always served this way, that many residents complained, and that she had informed the kitchen without any change, sometimes mixing the cold oatmeal with warm eggs to encourage intake. Another resident reported routinely requesting extra toast instead of eating the oatmeal and stated she had told CNAs about the issue. The Dietary Manager stated the oatmeal left the kitchen warm and was unaware of grievances, and the Administrator and DON reported they were not aware of any oatmeal problems, despite the facility’s policy requiring food to be prepared according to applicable food service regulations.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple comorbidities experienced a significant change in condition when a midline IV was found removed, resulting in a skin tear and abnormal skin findings. Although the physician and a family member were informed, the resident's representative was not notified at the time, contrary to facility policy. Staff interviews confirmed that the RP should have been contacted directly regarding the change in condition.
A resident with dementia in an LTC facility experienced a failure in maintaining a clean and comfortable environment when her stained bed sheets were not changed for several days. Despite the facility's policy on resident rights, staff did not notice or address the need for changing the sheets until a new mattress was provided. Interviews revealed that sheets were typically changed on shower days or as needed, but this need was overlooked.
A facility failed to update a resident's care plan quarterly as required, with the last revision occurring several months prior. The oversight was attributed to the electronic system not prompting staff, and the social worker had not contacted the resident's family to schedule a meeting until much later. Despite this, the administrator believed that resident care was not impacted.
A facility failed to maintain accurate clinical records for a resident with dementia, stroke, and Parkinson's disease. Nursing notes incorrectly documented bruises as old following a fall, which were actually new. This discrepancy was confirmed by the DON, and the facility did not provide a documentation policy when requested.
A resident with multiple health conditions and cognitive impairment was injured during a Hoyer lift transfer when a PT failed to follow facility policy requiring two staff members for the transfer. The PT improperly attached the lift sling, causing the resident to fall and sustain serious injuries, including fractures and a brain hemorrhage.
The facility failed to ensure privacy during incontinence care for several residents, leading to potential exposure due to broken or missing window blinds. A resident with a history of stroke was observed receiving care with inadequate privacy, and other residents reported similar issues with broken blinds. Staff interviews confirmed the expectation to maintain privacy, but the facility's ongoing construction and delay in replacing blinds contributed to the deficiency.
The facility failed to comply with professional standards for food service safety, as observed in their kitchen, refrigerators, freezer, and dry storage areas. Food items were not properly labeled with necessary information, and some were outdated. Additionally, cleanliness and functionality issues were noted with the handwashing sink and eyewash station. These deficiencies could lead to contamination and food safety hazards.
The facility failed to maintain a safe and homelike environment, with issues such as dusty vents, missing blinds compromising privacy, detached baseboards, and broken handrails posing safety risks. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness and communication about these maintenance issues.
Three CNAs failed to perform hand hygiene after serving meals to residents, despite recent training and available hand sanitizer. This non-compliance with infection control protocols involved residents with conditions like dementia and hypertension, potentially risking cross-contamination.
A resident was mistakenly given another resident's medications due to a miscommunication and lack of verification by the staff. The error was discovered after the resident left the facility, and the family confirmed the medications were not taken. The incident involved a mix-up of names and a failure to follow the facility's medication administration policy.
The facility failed to notify a hospice agency of a resident's falls and changes in condition on two occasions. The resident, who had dementia and muscle wasting, experienced falls that were documented by nursing staff but not communicated to the hospice agency immediately. Interviews revealed that the facility staff were aware of the notification protocol but did not follow it, leading to a lapse in communication and documentation.
A resident with multiple medical conditions was readmitted to a facility and was not allowed to choose her attending physician, despite having a primary care physician and specialists listed in her hospital discharge summary. The facility assigned a physician without consulting the resident or her representative, leading to concerns about continuity of care and lack of scheduled follow-up appointments. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of clarity regarding the resident's rights and procedures for coordinating care.
Cold, Unpalatable Oatmeal Served Repeatedly at Breakfast
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced diet that met residents’ daily nutritional and special dietary needs and preferences, specifically related to the breakfast oatmeal served to multiple residents. Surveyors reviewed records for four residents and observed breakfast service on Hall 200. Resident #1, an elderly female with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses including cerebral infarction, chronic respiratory failure, and atrial fibrillation, was observed eating oatmeal in bed; she stated she knew the oatmeal was cold and lumpy but was eating it because she was hungry. The oatmeal appeared sticky, and when the bowl was touched it was cold. Resident #1 later stated she did not mind cold food and would try to eat anything, but acknowledged the oatmeal would taste better if it were warm. Resident #2, an elderly male with cerebral infarction, hypertension, and edema who was alert, oriented, and able to make decisions, was observed in the same room as Resident #1. He had eaten the rest of his breakfast but refused to eat the oatmeal, stating it was sticky, cold, lumpy, and looked disgusting, and that it was always served that way. He demonstrated that the oatmeal could be lifted from the bowl in one whole piece. Resident #3, an elderly male with COPD, heart failure, and congestive heart failure who was also alert and oriented, had finished his eggs and toast but had not touched his oatmeal. He stated he could not eat the oatmeal because it was terrible, always thick and cold, and showed that the entire bowl of oatmeal came out in one piece when he tried to stir it. He reported that he had told staff about the problem but nothing had changed. Resident #4, an elderly female with cerebral infarction, hypertension, and muscle weakness who was alert and oriented, stated during breakfast that she would like her oatmeal to be warm and edible. She reported that the oatmeal was always served cold, sticky, and in one big lump, so she asked for extra toast instead, and said she had told CNAs but did not like to make a fuss. CNA A confirmed during interview that the oatmeal was always served lumpy and cold, that many residents complained, and that although she had informed the kitchen, nothing had changed. CNA A stated she tried to mix the cold oatmeal with warm eggs for Resident #1 and that residents declined offers of fresh oatmeal because they believed it would be the same. The Dietary Manager stated the oatmeal left the kitchen warm and she did not know what happened afterward, and reported no recollection of grievances about cold, inedible oatmeal. The Administrator and DON stated they were unaware of any problems with the oatmeal. The facility’s Dietary Services Meal and Food policy stated that food prepared for residents is to be prepared according to all applicable food service regulations.
Failure to Notify Resident Representative of Change in Condition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to immediately notify a resident's representative (RP) of a significant change in the resident's condition when the resident was found with a removed midline IV from his left arm, resulting in the need for his arm to be elevated and wrapped to manage swelling and bleeding. The resident, an elderly male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple serious diagnoses including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney failure, dementia, and malignant brain neoplasm, was noted to have a new skin tear and abnormal skin findings following the incident. Documentation showed that while the physician and a family member (FM) were informed, the RP was not notified at the time of the incident. Interviews with facility staff, including nurses and administrative personnel, confirmed that the standard protocol was to notify the RP of any change in condition. However, in this case, the nurse involved informed the FM who was visiting, but did not contact the RP directly. The nurse acknowledged that this was not in line with facility policy, which requires direct notification of the RP regardless of whether a family member is present or informed. The RP only learned of the incident later, when contacted about the possibility of inserting a new midline IV. Further interviews with clinical and administrative staff reiterated the expectation that the RP should be notified as soon as possible in the event of a change in condition. The facility's policy, revised in April 2025, also specifies that the resident or their representative must be informed of any change in condition and related changes in care. The failure to notify the RP promptly was confirmed by both staff statements and documentation review.
Failure to Maintain Clean and Comfortable Environment for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for a resident, as evidenced by the presence of stained bed sheets that were not changed in a timely manner. The resident, who has dementia and moderate cognitive impairment, reported that the sheets had been stained for a few days after spilling something on them, and expressed a desire for them to be changed. Despite the resident's condition, the staff did not notice or address the need for changing the sheets until after a new mattress was provided. Interviews with the CNA and the Director of Nursing revealed that the sheets were typically changed on shower days or as needed, but in this instance, the need was overlooked. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that any staff member could change bed linens if they noticed they needed changing, but there had been no prior issues reported with bed linen changes in the facility. The facility's policy on resident rights emphasizes the right to a safe, clean, and comfortable environment, which was not upheld in this case.
Failure to Update Resident Care Plan Quarterly
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the comprehensive care plan for a resident was reviewed and revised by the interdisciplinary team after each assessment, including both the comprehensive assessment and quarterly review assessments. This deficiency was identified for a resident who had been admitted to the facility with diagnoses including dementia, high blood pressure, and heart failure. The resident's care plan, which was last revised in June 2024, was not updated quarterly as required, with the last care plan conference held in May 2024. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the care plan conferences were supposed to be held quarterly, but the social worker had not contacted the resident's family to schedule the meeting until December 2024. The social worker attributed the oversight to the electronic system not prompting her that the care plan was due. The administrator acknowledged the lapse, noting that the system had failed to notify staff, and stated that the social worker was auditing resident files to ensure care plans were current. Despite the deficiency, the administrator believed that resident care did not suffer due to the lack of a formal care plan conference.
Inaccurate Documentation of Resident's Condition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain clinical records in accordance with accepted professional standards and practices, specifically in the documentation of a resident's condition. The nursing notes for a resident indicated that bruises on the bilateral upper arms, chest area, and knees were old, following a fall on the same day. However, these bruises were new and should have been documented as such. This discrepancy in documentation was identified during a review of the resident's incident report and nursing notes. The resident involved was an elderly female with a history of dementia, stroke, and Parkinson's disease, who had experienced multiple falls in the past. The incident report authored by an LVN on the day of the fall inaccurately described the bruises as old, which was later confirmed to be incorrect by the Director of Nursing. The facility's failure to accurately document the resident's condition could place residents at risk for medication and/or treatment errors and omissions in care. Despite a request, the facility did not provide a policy regarding documentation prior to the exit of the surveyors.
Improper Hoyer Lift Transfer Leads to Resident Injury
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the resident environment was free from accident hazards and provided adequate supervision to prevent accidents. This deficiency was identified when a physical therapist (PT) improperly used a Hoyer lift to transfer a resident, resulting in the resident falling and sustaining multiple serious injuries. The PT conducted the transfer alone, without the assistance of a second staff member, as required by the facility's policy. Additionally, the PT incorrectly attached the Hoyer lift sling pad, which led to the resident slipping from the sling during the transfer. The resident involved was a male with a history of diabetes, dialysis, osteoporosis, and a left above-knee amputation. He was assessed as having moderate cognitive impairment and was dependent on two or more staff members for transfers. Despite these needs, the PT attempted the transfer alone, contrary to the care plan that specified the use of mechanical assistance and two staff members for transfers. The improper transfer resulted in the resident suffering a fractured right clavicle, right femoral neck, right proximal tibia, and an intraventricular hemorrhage. The incident was confirmed through a provider investigation report, which revealed that the PT knowingly did not follow the facility's policy for mechanical transfers. The PT admitted to not securing the Hoyer lift sling pad correctly and failing to request assistance from other staff members, despite their availability. This negligence directly led to the resident's fall and subsequent injuries, highlighting a significant lapse in adherence to established safety protocols.
Privacy Breach During Incontinence Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure personal privacy during incontinence care for four residents, leading to potential exposure to view from outside the facility and other windows. Resident #78, a female with a history of stroke and muscle weakness, was observed receiving incontinence care with inadequate privacy due to missing slats in the window blinds, which left her exposed to the outside. The privacy curtain was only partially effective, as it did not cover the window. Interviews with staff and the resident confirmed concerns about privacy and the discomfort it caused. Resident #3 reported that her blinds had been broken since her admission two years ago, and despite requests for repairs, the issue remained unresolved. Her window faced the dining room, and she expressed discomfort with the lack of privacy. Similarly, Resident #38, who is legally blind, was unaware of the privacy issue due to broken blinds in his room, which faced the parking lot. He expressed a lighthearted concern about the potential exposure. Staff interviews revealed that the expectation was to close blinds and use privacy curtains, but broken blinds were a known issue throughout the facility. Resident #71 also experienced privacy issues due to the absence of functional blinds, as her window faced the gazebo and courtyard. She had been requesting blinds since her admission, but the facility had not yet addressed the issue. Interviews with various staff members, including CNAs and LVNs, highlighted the importance of closing blinds and using privacy curtains to maintain residents' dignity during personal care. The facility's policy on incontinence care emphasized the need for privacy, but the ongoing construction and delay in replacing blinds contributed to the deficiency.
Deficiencies in Food Storage and Safety Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food service safety, as observed in their kitchen, refrigerators, freezer, and dry storage areas. Food items were not properly labeled with necessary information such as item description, received by date, opened date, discard by date, or expiration dates. This lack of labeling was noted on various food items, including containers of coffee and tea, leftover breakfast items, oatmeal, bread slices, and cereals. Additionally, large bins containing cornmeal, sugar, and thickener were not labeled with discard by dates, and some items were found to be outdated. The facility also failed to maintain cleanliness and functionality in certain areas, such as the handwashing sink and eyewash station. The handwashing sink's garbage receptacle contained trash other than paper towels, and the eyewash station bowl was found to be dusty, with a substantial crack that could potentially compromise its functionality. These issues could contribute to cross-contamination and pose a risk of food-borne illness to residents. Observations in the walk-in refrigerator and freezer revealed further deficiencies, including improperly labeled and stored food items such as shredded cheese, mixed vegetables, garden salads, deli meats, and chicken with ice crystals. The dry storage room also contained improperly stored and labeled items, such as flour left open to air and cereal bags not securely wrapped. These findings indicate a systemic failure in the facility's food storage and safety practices, which could lead to contamination and food safety hazards.
Deficiencies in Facility's Physical Environment and Maintenance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for residents in three of the six resident halls reviewed. Specifically, the intake vent at the beginning of the 100 hall was observed to be covered in dust, indicating a lack of cleanliness. Additionally, resident rooms 102, 106, and 133 were found to have missing vertical blinds, compromising the privacy of the residents. Interviews with a resident and an LVN confirmed concerns about privacy due to the gaps in the blinds. Further deficiencies were noted in the physical environment, including a detached baseboard in one resident room, which exposed the wall and created an unsightly and potentially unsafe condition. Additionally, broken plastic handrails with sharp edges were observed in the 300 hall, posing a risk of injury to residents. Interviews with staff, including a CNA, LVN, and the Maintenance Director, revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding these maintenance issues, despite the facility undergoing renovations and having a system in place for reporting maintenance requests.
Inadequate Hand Hygiene Practices by CNAs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by the actions of three CNAs who did not perform hand hygiene after direct contact with residents during meal service. Specifically, CNA M, CNA P, and CNA Q were observed serving meals to residents without washing their hands or using hand sanitizer between serving trays. This lapse in protocol occurred despite the availability of hand sanitizer in the hallway and recent in-service training on hand hygiene. The residents involved included individuals with various medical conditions such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation, who required assistance with activities of daily living. The CNAs' failure to adhere to hand hygiene protocols after interacting with these residents could potentially lead to cross-contamination and the spread of infections. Interviews with the CNAs and the DON confirmed awareness of the hand hygiene requirements and the potential consequences of non-compliance.
Medication Error Due to Miscommunication and Lack of Verification
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of a resident, resulting in a medication error. A resident was given the medications intended for another resident when he went on therapeutic leave. This error occurred because the medications were not double-checked before being provided to the resident, and there was a miscommunication between the staff members responsible for preparing and administering the medications. The resident involved in the incident had a history of atherosclerosis, muscle weakness, diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, depression, and pain, requiring a complex medication regimen. The error was discovered when the family member of the resident was contacted by the nurse, who realized the mistake after the resident had already left the facility. The family member confirmed that the resident did not take the incorrect medications, which included drugs for conditions the resident did not have, such as Alzheimer's disease and end-stage renal disease. The incident was reported to the Director of Nursing (DON) and the facility administrator, who acknowledged the miscommunication between the staff members. The error was attributed to a mix-up in the names of the residents, which were similar, and the medications were prepared in a rush without proper verification. The facility's policy on medication administration requires that medications be administered as prescribed by the attending physician, which was not followed in this case.
Failure to Notify Hospice of Resident's Condition Changes
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that hospice care was properly coordinated for a resident receiving hospice services. Specifically, the facility did not immediately notify the hospice agency of significant changes in the resident's condition, including falls that occurred on two separate occasions. The resident, an elderly male with dementia and muscle wasting, experienced falls on 02/22/24 and 02/25/24, which were documented by the nursing staff but not communicated to the hospice agency in a timely manner. The nursing notes indicated that the resident was found on the floor on both occasions, with injuries such as a bruise under the right eye and a skin tear on the right forearm. The nursing staff notified the primary care clinician, the family, and the Director of Nursing (DON) but failed to notify the hospice agency immediately. The hospice agency was only informed of the incidents by the hospice aide and not by the facility staff, which was confirmed through interviews with the hospice supervising nurse and the DON. Interviews with the facility's nursing staff revealed that they were aware of the protocol to notify hospice, the family, the doctor, and the DON in case of any falls or changes in condition. However, this protocol was not followed, and the notifications to hospice were not documented in the nursing notes. The DON admitted that the hospice nurse was verbally informed of the falls two days later, but this was not documented, highlighting a lapse in communication and documentation procedures within the facility.
Failure to Honor Resident's Right to Choose Physician
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor a resident's right to choose her attending physician upon readmission. The resident, an elderly female with multiple medical conditions including anemia, dementia, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes, was readmitted to the facility from a hospital. Despite having a primary care physician (PCP) and other specialists listed in her hospital discharge summary, the facility assigned her a physician provided by the facility without consulting her or her representative. The resident expressed concern about not being able to follow up with her PCP and cardiologist, especially after a recent heart attack. Her representative also voiced concerns about the lack of scheduled appointments and the facility's failure to ensure continuity of care. The representative was informed that a release of information form needed to be completed for each provider before appointments could be scheduled, and transportation arrangements were not adequately addressed by the facility. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of clarity and communication regarding the resident's right to choose her physician. The social services worker and marketing specialist admitted to not being fully aware of the procedures for informing residents of their rights or coordinating follow-up care. The facility's policy on resident rights was not effectively communicated, leading to the oversight in honoring the resident's choice of physician.
Latest citations in Texas
A resident with severe dementia, mobility deficits, and dependence for transfers was provided bed rails without a documented entrapment risk assessment, physician order, or inclusion of bed rail use in the care plan, despite a facility policy requiring alternatives, IDT review, informed consent, and proper installation. Maintenance installed 1/3 bed rails on verbal request from nursing, believing the clinical steps had been completed, and the resident later was found partially out of bed with her head pinned between the rail and a low air loss mattress, unresponsive, and subsequently pronounced deceased. The medical examiner noted neck abrasions, bruising, and muscle hemorrhage consistent with entrapment between the mattress and bed rail and indicated the likely cause of death as strangulation on the rails or asphyxiation on the mattress, and the deficiency was cited as past Immediate Jeopardy.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple pressure injuries received twice-daily wound care without a corresponding pain care plan or documented pain assessments, despite having a PRN acetaminophen order. During an observed wound care attempt, the resident winced, cried out, and showed facial expressions consistent with pain when repositioned, while staff were unsure of her primary language, whether she had been assessed or medicated for pain, or even what pain medications were ordered. CNAs and the treatment nurse noted foul odor and colored drainage from the wounds and that the resident felt warm, but the LVN initially reported no indication of pain or need for vital signs and only checked a temperature after surveyor prompting, without performing a clear pain assessment. The wound care NP later reported the resident had increased necrotic tissue, odor, and frequent combative behavior during prior treatments that had not been considered as possible pain responses, and the resident’s representative stated they were unaware of wound odor, infection concerns, or antibiotic orders and believed the resident was receiving pain medication while video showed wound care being attempted without it.
Surveyors found three mechanical lifts repeatedly parked unlocked and unsecured in a hallway adjacent to the 300 Hall, where they were stored and charged when not in use. An RN and a CNA assigned to the hall both stated they were unaware the lifts were unsecured, despite prior in‑service training on lift safety and storage, and each could not recall when that training last occurred. The DON confirmed that all lifts were expected to be locked when not in use, acknowledged unawareness of the unsecured lifts over several days, and stated that while staff had been educated on lift safety, there was no facility policy addressing accidents and hazards related to mechanical lift safety and storage, and the existing mechanical lift policy lacked such content.
Surveyors found multiple food safety and storage deficiencies in the kitchen, including an unsealed bag of meat, sauce containers with dried drippings on the handle and rim, a container of overripe bananas with black peels, and uncovered whole eggs in an unlabeled, undated bowl. Temperature logs for reach-in refrigerators and a freezer were missing required PM shift temperature checks and staff signatures. In interviews, dietary staff, the Dietary Manager, and the Administrator confirmed that these conditions did not follow facility policies requiring open food to be securely covered, labeled, dated, properly cleaned, and monitored with completed temperature logs.
A resident with lymphedema and multiple comorbidities had physician orders for bilateral lower extremity ace wraps each morning with removal in the evening, along with edema checks every shift. On the survey day, the resident was observed in a wheelchair without leg wraps, while the MAR showed the morning treatment as completed. The resident reported his legs were supposed to be wrapped daily and that they had not been wrapped for about a week, and he described inconsistent staff response to his call light. The charge nurse admitted it was not normal practice to document treatment before completion and stated the resident usually received wraps after a shower, which had not yet occurred. CNAs gave conflicting accounts about how consistently the wraps were applied, and leadership confirmed expectations that treatments be performed per orders and documented only after completion, in line with the facility’s documentation policy prohibiting false entries.
Surveyors found that the facility failed to provide pressure ulcer care consistent with professional standards for three residents. One resident with hemiplegia and vascular dementia had a sacral wound that was omitted from the care plan and repeatedly left off weekly skin assessments, while heel wounds were documented without consistent measurements or staging and ordered treatments were not always recorded as given. A second resident with multiple comorbidities developed a sacral wound that progressed from MASD to an unstageable and then Stage 4 pressure injury with surgical debridement, yet the care plan was not updated to reflect the active pressure ulcer and specific interventions, and weekly skin assessments often lacked complete staging and measurements. A third resident with dementia and incontinence had an unstageable sacral ulcer and MASD, but weekly skin assessments were inconsistent, some ordered wound treatments and topical medications were not documented on the TAR, and nursing notes did not show that care was provided on those dates. Staff interviews revealed that the treatment nurse handled nearly all weekly skin assessments and wound care documentation, relied on the DON or wound physician for staging and measurements, and that facility policies requiring complete wound assessment and documentation were not consistently followed.
The facility failed to ensure call lights were accessible for four residents who were identified as fall risks and required assistance with ADLs or had significant mobility or cognitive impairments. Observations found residents lying in bed with call lights placed at the head of the bed, on the floor, on a roommate’s bed, or on a nightstand, all out of reach, despite care plan interventions requiring call lights to be kept within reach. A CNA, an LVN, and the DON each confirmed that all staff are responsible for keeping call bells within residents’ reach and acknowledged that inaccessible call bells could lead to accidents, falls, avoidable injuries, delayed care, and unmet needs, contrary to the facility’s written call light policy.
Surveyors found that multiple resident rooms and two halls were not maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Bathrooms in several rooms had brown or gray stains in corners and around toilets, and some showers and room floors had dark or built-up dirt along edges, near closets, and by beds and walls. Air conditioning vents and filters in several rooms were observed with black grime or thick dust. Handrails on two halls had debris, including tissue with a red-brown substance, candy wrappers, gum, plastic, and paper wedged between the rails. Sharps containers in several rooms had used gloves and trash placed on top. The Administrator and housekeeping staff confirmed that housekeeping was responsible for cleaning rooms, bathrooms, floors, handrails, and air conditioning units, and staff acknowledged that the observed conditions were a health hazard and could cause infection.
The facility failed to follow its own infection control practices and physician orders for three residents requiring respiratory care. A resident with COPD had a nasal cannula and nebulizer mask connected to equipment that were not bagged or dated when not in use, despite orders for weekly changes. Another resident with asthma had an unbagged, undated nasal cannula and an oxygen humidifier bottle that was partially full, cracked, and dated from a prior week. A third resident with COPD had both nasal cannula and nebulizer mask unbagged and undated, despite orders for weekly equipment changes and monitoring of pulse, O2 sat, treatment time, and lung sounds. Staff, including a CNA, an LVN, and the DON, acknowledged that equipment should always be bagged, dated, and changed per schedule to prevent infection, consistent with the facility’s infection prevention and control policy.
Surveyors found that staff failed to administer multiple residents’ scheduled medications within the facility’s one-hour administration window, despite active orders for numerous drugs treating conditions such as DM, HTN, CHF, dementia, seizures, and hypothyroidism. During a morning med pass, a med tech had not completed 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. medications by late morning, and staff interviews confirmed that medications were required to be given within a defined time range. In addition, staff did not consistently check BP before dispensing medications with BP parameters, did not keep a milk-based Med Pass nutritional supplement refrigerated or on ice as required by manufacturer directions and facility protocol, and failed to date most insulin vials when opened, contrary to facility policy. These actions and inactions showed that pharmaceutical services, including accurate dispensing, administration, and storage of medications and biologicals, were not provided as required for the residents reviewed.
Failure to Assess, Order, and Care Plan Bed Rail Use Resulting in Fatal Entrapment
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow its own policy and regulatory requirements for the assessment, ordering, care planning, and safe use of bed rails for a cognitively impaired resident. The resident was an elderly female with severe dementia, repeated falls, a fractured neck of the left femur, cognitive communication deficit, and a need for assistance with personal care. Her admission MDS showed a BIMS score of 03, indicating severe cognitive impairment, and documented that she required substantial staff assistance with bed mobility and was completely dependent on staff for transfers from bed to chair. Despite these needs, her care plan addressed ADL self-care performance deficits related to dementia and included interventions for bed mobility requiring one staff member to assist with repositioning, but it did not mention bed rails or any risk of entrapment. The facility obtained a bed rail consent form signed by the resident’s family member, which listed multiple potential dangers of bed rail use, including suffocation and various forms of entrapment that could cause injury or death. However, from the time of admission through the date of the incident, there was no documented bed rail safety or entrapment risk assessment for this resident, no physician order for bed rails, and no inclusion of bed rail use in the resident’s care plan. Maintenance staff reported that a charge nurse verbally requested installation of bed rails on the resident’s bed, and he believed the usual clinical steps—assessment, IDT review, consent, and physician order—had already been completed, but he had no documentation of when the rails were installed. The DON later confirmed that, for this resident, the required risk of entrapment assessment, physician order, and care plan focus for bed rails were not completed, and alternatives to bed rails were not attempted prior to installation, contrary to facility policy. On the night of the incident, a CNA observed the resident resting calmly around 2:00 a.m. During a subsequent round close to 5:00 a.m., the CNA found the resident partially out of bed with her head pinned between the assist bar/bed rail and the mattress, and notified the LVN. The LVN’s written statement described finding the resident seated on the floor on the right side of the bed, off the mattress, with her head resting between the side rail and the mattress, unresponsive. CPR was initiated and EMS was called, but the resident was later pronounced deceased. The county medical examiner reported that the resident had bruising and abrasions around the neck and jawline and hemorrhaging in the neck muscles, injuries consistent with being trapped between the mattress and bed rails, and indicated that the likely cause of death would be strangulation on the bed rails or asphyxiation on the mattress. Subsequent observation of the bed showed 1/3 bed rails of the same make and model as the bed frame and a low air loss mattress; while the rails were not loose and there was little space when the mattress was fully inflated, the air mattress could be compressed enough to create significant space between the mattress and rails. The facility’s failure to conduct a bed rail entrapment risk assessment, obtain a physician order, and incorporate bed rail use into the care plan prior to installation led to the resident’s entrapment and death, and constituted noncompliance identified as past Immediate Jeopardy. The facility’s written bed rail policy required that appropriate alternatives be attempted before installing bed rails, that the IDT assess each resident for entrapment risk, that risks and benefits be reviewed with the resident or representative, that informed consent be obtained prior to installation, and that manufacturer instructions and compatibility of bed, mattress, and rails be verified. It also required updating the care plan to reflect the need or choice for bed rails. In this case, staff interviews and record review showed that these steps were not followed for the resident involved. The DON acknowledged that the process did not occur as required, that the IDT did not meet to assess the resident for entrapment risk, and that the bed rails were installed based on the responsible party’s request without the mandated clinical review and documentation. This sequence of omissions and deviations from policy directly preceded the resident’s fatal entrapment between the bed rail and mattress.
Removal Plan
- Notify Medical Director
- Notify Ombudsman
- Conduct ad hoc QAPI
- DON to provide education to trainers regarding abuse and neglect
- Review admissions processes regarding bed rails and complete in-service with DON, ED, and IDT
- Provide in-service to all nurses involved with admissions process regarding bed rails
- Audit bed rails currently in use
- Inspect bed rails currently in use
- Verify consent on file for all bed rails in use
- Verify order and care plan for all bed rails
- Complete bed rail safety evaluation for all residents with bed rails
- Audit low air loss mattresses currently in use
- Verify order and care plan for all low air loss mattresses in use
- Complete fall risk assessment for all residents with low air loss mattress
- Provide staff education regarding use of enabler/bed rail
- Provide staff education regarding false safety
- Provide staff education regarding low air loss mattress
- Audit admissions for completion
- Audit low air loss mattresses and bedside rails
- Conduct ongoing monitoring for improvement to be reviewed at QAPI
Failure to Assess and Manage Pain During Wound Care for a Nonverbal Resident
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide safe, appropriate pain management consistent with professional standards of practice and the resident’s needs during wound care. A female resident with severe cognitive impairment (BIMS score of 00) was admitted with multiple pressure-related skin conditions, including a left heel deep tissue injury (DTI), right heel DTI, an unstageable sacral pressure injury, a left heel ulcer, a right bunion DTI, and other bruising/discoloration. Her MDS Care Area Assessment did not trigger for pain and no care planning decision for pain was documented. The resident’s care plan contained detailed entries for her multiple wounds but did not include any care plan for pain, despite the presence of significant pressure injuries and ongoing wound care orders. Record review showed the resident had an active PRN order for acetaminophen 500 mg every 6 hours as needed for pain and an order for Doxycycline for the sacral wound, as well as twice-daily wound care orders for the unstageable sacral pressure injury. The MAR for the month showed that no acetaminophen had been administered since early in the month, even though wound care was being performed twice daily. During an observed attempt to perform wound care, the resident was dependent for mobility and required staff to roll and reposition her. When staff attempted to roll her for treatment, she winced, cried out "Oh my God" in Spanish, and displayed furrowed eyebrows and facial expressions consistent with pain. CNAs assisting with care noted that she appeared to be lying on the wound, that her wounds often drained, and that there was a foul odor and visible brownish-green drainage on her brief and positioning towels. Despite these signs, the treatment nurse could not confirm whether the resident had been assessed for pain or medicated prior to the procedure and was unsure of the resident’s primary language. During this same encounter, the resident was noted by the surveyor and CNAs to feel warm to the touch, and her wounds and dressings showed green, brown, or red drainage. The treatment nurse and CNAs acknowledged the resident felt warm, but the charge nurse (LVN) initially stated there was no indication the resident was in pain or needed vital signs assessed and only checked the resident’s temperature after being prompted by the surveyor. The LVN reported a normal temperature using a contactless thermometer, was unsure if the resident had any pain medication orders, and did not initially perform a direct pain assessment. Subsequent interviews revealed that the wound care NP had observed increased necrotic tissue and odor in the sacral wound the prior week and that the resident had been frequently combative, refusing wound care by kicking and biting, but this behavior had not been considered as a possible reaction to pain. CNAs later described the resident’s facial expressions and reactions during repositioning as indicating pain, while the LVN reported feeling pressured and nervous during the surveyor’s questioning and could not clearly describe having assessed the resident for pain during her shift. The resident’s responsible party stated they had not been informed of wound odor, infection concerns, or antibiotic orders and believed the resident was receiving pain and fever medications, later expressing shock upon reviewing video that showed wound care being attempted without medication. The facility’s own pain assessment and management policy stated that residents should be assessed for pain at admission and ongoing, monitored for pain with changes in condition, and that procedures such as moving or wound care can cause pain. It also directed that pain management interventions be consistent with the resident’s goals and documented in the care plan, and that underlying causes of pain, including skin/wound conditions like pressure ulcers, be addressed. In this case, the resident with multiple pressure injuries and ongoing wound care had no pain care plan, no documented pain assessment using appropriate tools for severe dementia, and no administration of ordered PRN pain medication in the weeks preceding the observed event, despite clear non-verbal signs of pain during wound care attempts. These actions and omissions led surveyors to determine that the facility failed to ensure pain was assessed and treated prior to wound care, resulting in the resident crying out and exhibiting pain behaviors when touched or moved.
Removal Plan
- Amend treatment orders to require pain evaluation prior to treatments and medication if indicated upon re-admission.
- Provide additional 1:1 education to CNA A, CNA B, LVN A, and the facility treatment nurse specific to issues identified in the preliminary fact analysis.
- Nursing leadership (DON/designees) to conduct facility rounds on all residents to ensure no unreported or undocumented changes in pain levels; audit all wound care orders to ensure pain management orders are present as indicated.
- Complete house-wide pain assessments; communicate any reported pain to the charge nurse for medication administration if indicated and complete follow-up assessment to ensure effectiveness.
- Re-educate licensed nurses on change in condition, pain assessment and management, administering pain medications, and the pain-clinical protocol (including identifying situations where increased pain may be anticipated such as wound care, ambulation, repositioning, and reviewing the critical element pathway for pain recognition and management).
- Re-educate all non-licensed nursing staff on recognizing change in condition/status including changes in pain levels and proper reporting using STOP AND WATCH Alert in PCC/point-of-care documentation and/or direct communication to the charge nurse; re-educate staff not working prior to their next scheduled shift.
- Educate the Facility Administrator and DON by the Divisional President of Operations on standards of care, pain management, and quality oversight.
- Validate staff education via completion of a quiz and acknowledgement covering recognition of changes in condition, proper notification procedures, and pain assessment and management.
- Review and validate the pain assessment and management policy to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements (no changes required).
- Implement monitoring: change in condition/pain assessment audits (review 24-hour summary report and nurse progress notes; ensure changes are reported to the provider and documented; ensure pain assessments are completed prior to treatments); review audit results in IDT/QAPI meetings and address issues immediately, including provider communication.
Unsecured Mechanical Lifts Left Unlocked in Resident Hallway
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to keep the environment as free of accident hazards as possible in the hallway adjacent to the 300 Hall, specifically related to unsecured mechanical lifts. Surveyors repeatedly observed three mechanical lifts parked in this hallway that were unlocked and unsecured on multiple occasions over three consecutive days at various times. These observations showed that the lifts remained in an unsecured state while not in use, in an area used for storing and charging them. During interviews, an RN assigned to the 300 Hall stated she was unaware that the three mechanical lifts parked in the adjacent hallway were unlocked and unsecured, despite being stationed at the nearby nurses’ station. She reported having received in‑service training on mechanical lift safety and storage but could not recall when the training occurred. The RN acknowledged that mechanical lifts were supposed to be locked when not in use and confirmed that the three lifts observed were the only ones she used for residents and that they were stored in that hallway to be charged when not in use. She also stated that she typically did not check the parked lifts to verify they were locked and secured. A CNA assigned to the same hall similarly reported being unaware that the three mechanical lifts were unlocked and unsecured, despite also having received in‑service training on mechanical lift safety and storage and being unable to recall when that training last occurred. The DON stated she was unaware that the three lifts had been left unlocked and unsecured over the three days of observation and confirmed her expectation that all mechanical lifts be locked when not in use. The DON stated that all staff had been educated on proper mechanical lift usage and safety but could not recall when the last in‑service training occurred. The DON and Administrator both reported that the facility did not have a policy addressing accidents and hazards related to mechanical lift safety and storage, and the existing “Total Mechanical Lift” policy did not contain information on accidents and hazards related to lift safety and storage.
Food Storage, Labeling, and Temperature Monitoring Deficiencies in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s food storage and handling practices in the main kitchen. During an observation of the walk-in refrigerator, they found a zip-top bag containing meat slices that was not fully sealed and exposed to air. They also observed one gallon container of sauce with black drippings on the handle and one jar of sauce with yellow, dried drippings around the rim. A container held approximately ten overripe whole bananas with black peels, and three whole eggs were left uncovered and exposed to air in an unlabeled and undated bowl. Additionally, temperature logs for two reach-in refrigerators and one reach-in freezer were missing the PM shift temperature checks and signatures for a specific date. In interviews, dietary staff, the Dietary Manager, and the Administrator confirmed that these conditions were inconsistent with facility policies and expected practices. Dietary staff stated that temperature logs were to be completed at the start and end of each shift by cooks and dietary aides, and that the Dietary Manager was responsible for ensuring completion. They explained that eggs should be returned to their original container or stored sealed, labeled, and dated; overripe bananas should be discarded; zip-top bags should be fully sealed; and jars and gallon containers should be wiped down after each use. The Dietary Manager and Administrator reiterated that all open food must be securely covered, labeled, and dated, and that fruits and vegetables showing visible damage or rot should be discarded, consistent with written facility policies on food storage and dietary food service personnel responsibilities.
Failure to Follow Physician Orders for Lymphedema Leg Wraps and Accurate Documentation
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide treatment and care in accordance with physician orders and professional standards of practice for one resident with lymphedema. The resident was an adult male with multiple diagnoses including cardiac arrhythmia, musculoskeletal symptoms, osteitis deformans of multiple sites, eye and adnexa disorder, lymphedema, major depressive disorder, prostate disorder, chronic pain, hypokalemia, COPD, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, epilepsy with complex partial seizures, unsteadiness on feet, and other gait and mobility abnormalities. His Quarterly MDS showed a BIMS score of 15, indicating intact cognition, and he was dependent for toileting hygiene, showering/bathing, and personal hygiene. Physician orders on the March MAR included ace wraps to both lower extremities every morning and removal every evening, along with edema checks every shift. On the survey date, record review of the March MAR showed that the charge nurse had documented completion of the resident’s morning leg wrap treatment, but when the surveyor reviewed the resident at 11:21 a.m., he was observed sitting in his wheelchair with his legs not wrapped. At 11:50 a.m., the MAR still reflected that the treatment was completed, despite the wraps not being in place. The resident reported he had severe leg swelling due to lymphedema and stated his legs were supposed to be wrapped daily, but the last time they had been wrapped was about a week prior. He stated that whether his call light requests for treatment were answered depended on who responded, and that staff sometimes did not return to complete his care, which made him feel bad. In interviews, Charge Nurse A acknowledged that it was not normal nursing practice to document treatment before completion and stated that the resident normally received leg wraps after his shower, but that morning the resident had not yet had a shower. CNAs provided differing accounts: one CNA stated the wraps were always on during bed baths but did not bathe the resident that day; another CNA stated that sometimes the resident’s legs were wrapped and sometimes not, that his legs were not wrapped that day, and that she had given him a bed bath that morning; a third CNA stated she had never seen his legs unwrapped. The NP explained that the purpose of the wraps was to enhance circulation due to lymphedema. The DON confirmed the resident had bilateral leg wrap orders in the morning and removal in the evening, and that she was informed around midday that his legs were not wrapped. The Administrator stated she knew the resident’s legs were wrapped but did not know why, and both the DON and Administrator stated that documentation of treatment should occur after the treatment is performed, consistent with the facility’s documentation policy, which prohibits false information in the medical record.
Failure to Accurately Assess, Care Plan, and Treat Pressure Ulcers for Multiple Residents
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide pressure ulcer care consistent with professional standards, including accurate assessment, staging, measurement, care planning, and implementation of ordered treatments for multiple residents with pressure injuries. For one resident with hemiplegia, vascular dementia, incontinence, low body weight, and an admission Braden score indicating risk, the facility did not consistently identify and document all existing wounds. Her care plan listed only a left heel pressure wound and omitted a sacral wound. Weekly skin assessments from late January through March repeatedly failed to document the sacral wound after its initial identification, and heel wounds were inconsistently documented without required measurements or staging. On several dates, the weekly skin assessment was left blank or lacked measurements, despite physician documentation that the left heel wound progressed from Stage 3 to Stage 4 with increasing size. The treatment administration record (TAR) also showed missing documentation of ordered wound treatments to the sacrum and left heel on multiple dates, with no corresponding nursing notes indicating that care was provided. A second resident with hemiplegia, vascular dementia, diabetes, malnutrition, peripheral vascular disease, incontinence, and significant weight loss was identified as at risk for pressure ulcers but initially had no documented pressure wounds. Her care plan, last updated the previous year, addressed only potential for pressure ulcer development and other skin integrity risks, and did not reflect a current sacral pressure wound. However, physician orders and TAR entries showed daily treatment to a sacral wound, and weekly skin assessments documented a sacral wound beginning in mid-February. These assessments frequently lacked staging and, at times, lacked complete measurements. Over several weeks, documentation showed the sacral wound increasing in size and evolving from MASD to an unstageable wound and then to a Stage 4 pressure injury requiring surgical debridement of devitalized tissue, including subcutaneous tissue, muscle fascia, and tendon. Despite this progression and ongoing wound physician involvement, the resident’s care plan was not updated to reflect the current pressure injury and specific wound care interventions. A third resident with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, muscle weakness, incontinence, and an initially non-risk Braden score that later declined to moderate risk had an unstageable sacral pressure ulcer present on admission and MASD. Her care plan included potential for pressure ulcer development, an unstageable sacral pressure ulcer related to immobility, and a wound infection requiring oral antibiotics. Physician orders directed weekly skin assessments and specific daily and evening wound treatments to the sacral area. However, the March TAR showed multiple dates where ordered sacral wound treatments and topical medication for left upper buttock redness were not documented as given, and nursing progress notes did not show that wound care was provided on those dates. Weekly skin assessments for this resident were inconsistent, with several assessments in early January documented as refused or limited, alternating between noting arm discoloration and no skin issues, and later assessments intermittently omitting the sacral wound or lacking measurements and staging. Wound physician notes documented an unstageable sacral pressure injury with rapid clinical decline and later a Stage 3 pressure injury that had increased in size, but these changes were not consistently mirrored in the facility’s weekly skin assessment documentation. Interviews with nursing staff and leadership further described systemic issues contributing to the deficiency. The treatment nurse stated she could not stage wounds and relied on the DON or wound physician for staging, and that she was responsible for updating care plans when new pressure injuries were identified, though she was unsure of the required timeframe. She also reported that she performed nearly all weekly skin assessments for approximately 96 residents Monday through Thursday, with no assessments scheduled on Fridays unless there was a new admission, and that wound measurements were typically taken only when the wound physician visited, after which she transferred his measurements into the weekly skin assessments. The DON and ADON indicated that the treatment nurse was responsible for all wound care planning, weekly skin assessments, and ensuring documentation, and acknowledged that missing or inconsistent wound measurements and documentation on weekly skin assessments would prevent the facility from determining whether wounds were improving or worsening. Facility policies required full assessment and documentation of pressure ulcers, including location, stage, length, width, depth, exudate, and necrotic tissue, as well as complete wound care documentation, but the records for these three residents showed repeated omissions and inconsistencies in assessment, staging, measurement, care planning, and documentation of ordered treatments.
Failure to Ensure Accessible Call Lights for Multiple Residents
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s failure to reasonably accommodate resident needs and preferences by not ensuring that call lights were accessible to four residents reviewed. For one male resident with a skull fracture, a baseline MDS showing he was a fall risk and unable to complete the BIMS interview, and a care plan indicating he required assistance with ADLs, observation showed he was lying in bed with his call light positioned at the head of the bed, out of his reach. A second male resident, with diagnoses including need for assistance with personal care, stroke, and dysphagia, and a quarterly MDS indicating he was unable to complete the BIMS interview, had a care plan intervention specifying that his call light should be within reach; however, observation found him lying in bed with his call light on the floor, out of reach. A third resident, a female with lack of coordination, unsteadiness on her feet, repeated falls, and severe cognitive impairment (BIMS score of 1), had a care plan intervention to ensure her call light was within reach, yet she was observed lying in bed with her call light placed on her roommate’s bed. A fourth male resident with right-sided paralysis, intact cognition (BIMS 14), and a care plan identifying him as a fall risk with an intervention to keep his call light within reach, was observed lying in bed with his call light on the nightstand, out of reach. During interviews, a CNA, an LVN, and the DON each stated that call bells should always be within residents’ reach and that all staff are responsible for ensuring this, and acknowledged that lack of accessible call bells could result in accidents, falls, avoidable injuries, delayed care, and unmet needs. The facility’s written policy on call lights required staff to place the call device within the resident’s reach before leaving the room.
Failure to Maintain Clean Resident Rooms and Hallway Handrails
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s failure to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, as required by the facility’s Resident Rights policy. During observations on the 300 and 400 halls, surveyors noted that handrails contained debris, including a piece of tissue with a red and brownish substance on the 300 hall and candy wrappers, gum, clear plastic materials, and large pieces of paper wedged between the rails on the 400 hall. Multiple resident rooms on these halls were found with unclean and unsanitary conditions. Several bathrooms had brownish or grayish stains in the corners of the floors and around toilets, as well as dark stains along floor edges, in corners, and in showers. Room floors showed built-up dirt near closet doors, door frames, and along floor edges, with brownish or dark stains near beds and walls. Additional observations revealed that air conditioning unit vents and filters in several rooms had black grime or thick dust accumulation. In multiple rooms, sharps containers used for needle disposal had used, dirty or disposable gloves and pieces of trash placed on top of them. During interviews, the Administrator stated that housekeeping services were provided seven days a week, with cleaning in the morning and evening, and that housekeeping was expected to thoroughly clean resident rooms and facility areas. A housekeeper assigned to the 300 and 400 halls confirmed responsibility for cleaning entire rooms, bathrooms, floors, and wiping down handrails, stating that handrails were wiped at least once a week and acknowledging that the observed conditions were a health hazard. The Housekeeping Supervisor confirmed that housekeeping and floor technicians were responsible for cleaning hallways, floors, handrails, entire rooms, bathrooms, and air conditioning units, and acknowledged that not thoroughly cleaning rooms and handrails could cause an infection.
Improper Storage and Maintenance of Oxygen and Nebulizer Equipment
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to provide respiratory care consistent with professional standards, physician orders, and the infection prevention and control program for three residents receiving oxygen and nebulizer treatments. For a male resident with COPD, record review showed physician orders to change tubing, clean filters, and change the O2 water bottle and nebulizer kit weekly on night shift every Saturday. However, observation revealed that his nasal cannula connected to the oxygen concentrator and his nebulizer mask connected to the nebulizer machine were not bagged or labeled with a date when not in use. For a female resident with asthma, physician orders directed weekly changes of tubing, filter cleaning, and O2 water bottle changes, but observation showed her nasal cannula connected to the oxygen concentrator was not bagged or labeled, and an oxygen humidifier bottle left on the nightstand was only one-quarter full, cracked, and dated from an earlier date. A female resident with COPD had physician orders to change tubing, clean filters, and change the O2 water bottle and nebulizer kit weekly, as well as orders to obtain and record pulse, O2 saturation, treatment minutes, and lung sounds in relation to nebulizer treatments. Observation found that her nasal cannula connected to the oxygen concentrator and nebulizer mask connected to the nebulizer machine were not bagged or labeled with a date when not in use. Staff interviews with a CNA, an LVN, and the DON confirmed that facility practice and expectations were for oxygen tubing and nebulizer masks to be bagged and dated when not in use, with bags changed weekly or as needed, and for humidifier bottles to be changed regularly. The DON stated that failure to follow these practices could be an infection control issue leading to serious health consequences. The facility’s written Infection Prevention and Control Program policy emphasized decreasing infection risk, recognizing infection control practices during care, and ensuring compliance with infection control regulations, which was not followed in these observed instances.
Medication Administration, Monitoring, and Storage Failures During Med Pass
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide pharmaceutical services that ensured accurate acquiring, receiving, dispensing, and administering of medications and biologicals for all 10 residents reviewed for pharmacy services. Record reviews showed that multiple residents had active physician orders for medications to treat conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, dementia, end-stage renal disease, hypertension, heart failure, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, hypothyroidism, seizures, neuropathy, and pain. These medications included antihypertensives (such as amlodipine, hydralazine, metoprolol, benazepril, nifedipine), anticoagulants (Eliquis), antidiabetics (metformin, insulin), antipsychotics (olanzapine, quetiapine), anticonvulsants (levetiracetam), thyroid replacement (levothyroxine), heart failure medications (furosemide, carvedilol, isosorbide dinitrate), and others such as gabapentin, baclofen, galantamine, and lidocaine patches. During observation of a morning medication pass, surveyors noted that Med Tech F had not finished passing morning medications on two hallways between 10:15 a.m. and 11:14 a.m., even though those medications were scheduled for 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. This meant that residents’ medications were administered more than one hour after their scheduled administration times, contrary to the facility’s stated one-hour before or after administration window. Interviews with Med Tech F, LVN A, and the DON confirmed that facility practice and policy required medications to be given at the ordered times within that window to maintain effectiveness and comply with physician orders. The facility also failed to follow required procedures related to medication parameters and storage. Med Tech F and LVN A stated that medications with blood pressure check parameters required a blood pressure reading before dispensing the medication into a cup, but the report states the facility failed to check one resident’s blood pressure before dispensing medication. Additionally, observations and interviews revealed that the Med Pass liquid nutritional supplement, described as milk-based, was not kept refrigerated or on ice during medication administration, despite manufacturer directions and facility protocol requiring it to be refrigerated or kept on ice. Further, review of insulin storage on three halls showed that 12 of 14 insulin vials were not dated with the date of first use, even though LVN A, LVN B, and the DON stated that facility policy required insulin vials to be dated when opened and discarded after a specified period (generally 28–30 days). These failures placed residents at risk for receiving medications outside ordered time frames and using insulin vials without a known open date. Facility policy and procedure for medication administration (Policy Number 7C) required that medications be administered as prescribed by the resident’s physician, in accordance with written orders and the resident’s service plan, and that routine medications be administered per facility time ranges unless otherwise specified. The policy also required that medications be recorded on the MAR, that resident identification be verified prior to administration, and that medications be administered according to the dosage schedule on the MAR. Staff interviews confirmed awareness of these requirements, including the need to date insulin vials upon opening and to maintain proper storage conditions for nutritional supplements. Despite this, the observed late medication administration, failure to check blood pressure before dispensing certain medications, failure to keep Med Pass on ice or refrigerated, and failure to date insulin vials demonstrated noncompliance with the facility’s own medication administration and pharmaceutical services procedures for the residents reviewed.
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