Briarcliff Health Center Of Greenville
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Greenville, Texas.
- Location
- 4400 Walnut St, Greenville, Texas 75401
- CMS Provider Number
- 675666
- Inspections on file
- 31
- Latest survey
- March 27, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 13 (1 serious)
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Briarcliff Health Center Of Greenville during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with Type II DM and multiple comorbidities was readmitted from the hospital with orders for Insulin Glargine and regular insulin, and instructions to discontinue Tresiba. Facility staff failed to accurately reconcile the hospital discharge medications, did not transcribe the new insulin orders, and continued a prior Tresiba order. An LVN acknowledged the reconciliation and transcription error, and an RN later administered 40 units of Tresiba at HS per the incorrect MAR, after which the resident’s blood glucose dropped to 35. During this hypoglycemic episode, the RN could not locate the emergency kit containing glucagon, despite glucagon being present in the kit later found by the DON, resulting in delayed access to ordered emergency hypoglycemia treatment.
A resident with multiple pressure ulcers, surgical wounds, and MRSA was admitted with these conditions clearly documented in the MDS assessment, but subsequent skilled evaluation forms completed by nursing staff failed to identify or document any skin issues or infection control precautions. Interviews confirmed that staff did not accurately complete required documentation, resulting in incomplete and inaccurate medical records.
A resident admitted with multiple wounds and a history of MRSA did not have Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) implemented until six days after admission, despite facility policy and staff expectations. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent understanding and application of EBP, with reliance on posted signs or direct communication rather than systematic assessment at admission. The DON confirmed EBP should have been initiated upon admission for residents with open wounds, but this was not done.
A resident with significant mobility limitations was found with ants in her bed and on her body, despite the facility's ongoing pest control program. Staff observed ants on the bed, nightstand, and bed rail, and noted the presence of snacks in the room. The resident was sent to the hospital after being found with bleeding and ants present, and family members reported possible ant bites. The facility's pest control technician responded after the incident, but the deficiency occurred due to the failure to keep the resident's room free from pests.
The facility failed to update comprehensive care plans for four residents, omitting critical information such as diagnoses and medication interventions. This included missing details about anticoagulant use, C-diff precautions, and oxygen therapy. The omissions were acknowledged by the MDS nurses and the DON, who cited a lack of awareness and experience. The facility's policy requires timely updates to care plans, but these were not completed, potentially leading to inadequate care.
The facility failed to update comprehensive care plans for three residents, leading to outdated interventions being listed. A resident's care plan still included a PICC line and antibiotics that were no longer ordered, while another's listed melatonin and shingles-related care that had been discontinued. A third resident's plan included antibiotics and IV fluids no longer needed. The MDS nurses responsible were unaware of these omissions, which could result in unnecessary or inappropriate care.
The facility failed to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, with staff not adhering to proper protocols. A resident with C-diff was not isolated properly, and staff did not use PPE as required. Another resident with a pressure wound was not managed under enhanced barrier precautions, and hand hygiene was neglected during medication administration. These deficiencies were acknowledged by the facility's DON and Administrator.
A facility failed to respect the dignity and privacy of two residents when a laundry aide entered their rooms without knocking or introducing herself. One resident, with moderate cognitive impairment and multiple health issues, and another with intact cognition and quadriplegia, both expressed feeling disrespected. The aide admitted to not following protocol, and the facility's policy requires staff to knock and introduce themselves to ensure residents' comfort and respect.
A facility failed to ensure a resident's call light was within reach, risking unmet needs. The resident, with Alzheimer's and severe cognitive impairment, was observed multiple times with the call light on the floor. Staff acknowledged the oversight, which contradicted the facility's policy requiring call lights to be easily reachable.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions was observed with black material under her fingernails on three consecutive days, indicating a failure in providing necessary nail care. The resident required assistance for personal hygiene, but the facility staff did not adhere to the policy of cleaning and maintaining fingernails, potentially risking bacterial infections.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and a history of falls was found without a required fall mat beside his bed on multiple occasions, despite a physician's order for its use. Staff interviews confirmed the importance of the mat in preventing falls, and the facility's policy highlighted the need for such interventions, yet the mat was not consistently placed, resulting in a deficiency.
A facility failed to follow a physician's order to change a resident's oxygen tubing weekly, as required for safe respiratory care. The resident, who was receiving continuous oxygen therapy due to congestive heart failure, had undated oxygen tubing, and staff were unaware of the last change. Interviews revealed that charge nurses were responsible for this task, but the care plan lacked specific instructions for oxygen management, leading to the deficiency.
The facility failed to secure a medication cart, leaving it unlocked and unattended while LVN R provided treatment to a resident. This oversight allowed potential access to medications by residents, visitors, or staff. Interviews with the DON and Administrator confirmed that the expectation was for carts to be locked when not in use, aligning with the facility's policy.
The facility failed to maintain food safety standards, as dietary staff did not wear hair restraints properly, risking hair contamination in food. Additionally, the microwave was not kept sanitary, with brown debris observed inside. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness about these issues, despite facility policies requiring proper hair restraint use and microwave cleanliness.
A Treatment Nurse failed to change gloves and perform hand hygiene after handling a dirty napkin and oxygen tubing before starting wound care on a resident. This lapse in protocol was confirmed by both the nurse and the DON, highlighting a failure to adhere to the facility's Handwashing/Hand Hygiene policy.
Significant Insulin Reconciliation Error and Failure to Access Glucagon for Hypoglycemia
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure a resident was free from significant medication errors related to insulin administration and emergency hypoglycemia treatment. The resident, an older male with Type II diabetes mellitus and multiple comorbidities including COPD, chronic kidney disease, atherosclerotic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, gout, and dysphagia, was originally admitted and later discharged following a hypoglycemic episode with a blood glucose level of 35. Upon readmission from the hospital, the discharge instructions included an order for Insulin Glargine 12 units once daily and regular insulin on a sliding scale before meals, with explicit instructions to stop Insulin degludec (Tresiba) 40 units once daily. The facility’s March 2026 MAR showed that these new insulin orders were not transcribed and that the prior order for Tresiba 40 units at bedtime was continued. On the readmission date, LVN A completed admission assessments but did not review the hospital discharge medication list, stating that two nurses typically split admission tasks and that the charge nurse handled the medication review. LVN B, the charge nurse on the readmission date, reported that he completed the medication reconciliation but acknowledged he failed to accurately reconcile the medications and transcribe the correct insulin orders, resulting in continuation of Tresiba instead of initiating Insulin Glargine and regular insulin per hospital instructions. The attending physician later stated he had instructed the facility to follow hospital orders and expected nurses to accurately review discharge instructions and call with accurate information when verifying orders. On the night of the incorrect insulin administration, RN C, who was aware the resident had been readmitted but relied on the prior shift’s reconciliation, followed the existing physician orders and administered 40 units of Tresiba at bedtime after a blood glucose reading of 135. At approximately 5:10 a.m. the following morning, RN C obtained a blood glucose reading of 35. The resident was alert, able to sit upright, and had no difficulty swallowing. RN C administered sugar dissolved in peach juice and water while awaiting EMS. RN C reported being unable to locate the facility emergency kit containing glucagon injection or gel at that time. The DON later confirmed that glucagon gel and an injection were present in the emergency kit in the medication room but required 45 minutes of searching to locate it. The facility’s own policies on medication reconciliation and medication errors defined the need for accurate reconciliation of pre- and post-discharge medications and identified wrong-drug administration as a medication error, which was not followed in this case.
Removal Plan
- Notified the Medical Director of the Immediate Jeopardy.
- Completed a chart audit of all residents with diabetes mellitus to ensure orders were in place for glucagon injection or gel PRN for low blood sugar and signs of hypoglycemia.
- Implemented a Glucagon Audit Sheet to be completed daily by the charge nurse to ensure glucagon is available in the emergency kit.
- Established daily monitoring of the Glucagon Audit Sheet by the DON/ADON during the clinical meeting and by the weekend supervisor/designee on weekends.
- Completed an audit to confirm emergency glucagon orders were in place for all residents with diabetes mellitus.
- Located glucagon medication in the emergency kit in the medication room and re-labeled it with a large red label to allow it to be easily located.
- Implemented a policy requiring two nurses to review medication reconciliation for all new admissions and readmissions.
- Conducted an in-service for DON/ADON regarding the diabetes protocol and medication reconciliation on all admissions.
- Conducted an in-service for all full-time and part-time nurses on accurate medication reconciliation for new admissions/readmissions, the location of the emergency kit glucagon, and hypoglycemia/diabetes protocols.
- Established that DON/ADON will educate all new nursing staff on these trainings before they are allowed to work.
- Conducted an in-service for the weekend supervisor on reviewing medication reconciliation for all new admissions/readmissions and the location of the emergency kit glucagon.
- Implemented monitoring that the DON or designee will review each new admission physician order for accurate transcription at the daily clinical meeting.
- Implemented monitoring that the weekend supervisor or designee will monitor physician orders on weekends.
- Implemented weekly monitoring by the Regional Clinical Nurse during Quality Improvement reviews to ensure the plan of removal education remains in place.
- Implemented oversight by the Administrator to ensure IDT members review physician orders for all new admissions/readmissions at the clinical meeting and review effectiveness at the monthly QAPI meeting.
- Completed a QAPI meeting and implemented a Performance Improvement Plan in conjunction with the Plan of Removal.
Incomplete and Inaccurate Documentation of Resident Skin Conditions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain complete and accurate medical records for a resident with multiple complex medical conditions, including a right femur fracture, several pressure ulcers, MRSA, right lung cancer, post-operative anemia, and osteoporosis. Upon review, the resident's admission MDS assessment documented the presence of surgical wounds and multiple pressure ulcers. However, subsequent Skilled Evaluation assessments completed by nursing staff did not identify or document any skin issues, surgical wounds, or infection control precautions, despite the resident's known conditions. Interviews with nursing staff confirmed that the skilled evaluation forms should have reflected these active skin concerns and infections, but they were not properly documented. Further interviews with the Director of Nursing and the Administrator revealed an expectation that nursing staff accurately identify and code current skin issues and infection control concerns on daily skilled charting. The facility had recently changed assessment forms, which was noted as a possible contributing factor to the documentation errors. The facility's policy requires that medical records be complete and accurately document residents' medical conditions, but this was not followed in this instance, resulting in incomplete and inaccurate records for the resident.
Failure to Timely Implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions for Resident with Wounds
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and maintain an effective infection prevention and control program for a resident who was admitted with multiple wounds and a history of MRSA. Upon admission, the resident had a right femur fracture, several pressure ulcers, a deep tissue injury, and a recent surgical history, including a hip replacement and right lung lobectomy. Despite these risk factors, Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) were not implemented until six days after admission, as evidenced by the Medication Administration Record and order summary. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent understanding and implementation of EBP, with several nursing assistants and licensed nurses relying on posted signs or direct communication to determine when EBP was required, rather than a systematic approach at admission. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that EBP should have been initiated upon admission for residents with open wounds, and could not explain the delay in this case. The facility's infection control policy required transmission-based precautions when standard precautions were insufficient, but this protocol was not followed for the resident in question. The deficiency was identified through record review and staff interviews, which confirmed that the lack of timely EBP implementation placed the resident and others at risk for cross-contamination and infection spread.
Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control Resulting in Ants in Resident's Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in a resident's room not being free from ants. The resident, a cognitively intact female with significant mobility limitations and dependent on staff for transfers and bed mobility, was found with ants in her bed and on her body. Staff observed ants on the resident's nightstand, bed rail, and bed, and noted that the resident had snacks in her room. The presence of ants was first reported on the facility's insect report sheet, and staff interviews confirmed that ants were seen on and around the resident during care. Nursing notes documented that the resident was found with medium bleeding from the perineal area and ants present on her bed and thigh. The resident was subsequently sent to the hospital, where EMS reported that she had been lying in a bed covered with ants. Hospital records indicated blood in the resident's urine and stool, and family members reported that the resident stated she had been bitten by ants. Observations at the hospital revealed small red areas on the resident's hand that could have been ant bites, although no definitive bites were confirmed by staff. Facility records showed that pest control services were provided monthly, and the pest control technician responded after the incident, finding one dead ant and placing bait in the room. Staff interviews indicated that the room was cleaned and sprayed after the resident was sent to the hospital, and that the presence of snacks may have contributed to the ant activity. Despite regular pest control measures, the facility did not prevent the occurrence of ants in the resident's room, leading to the deficiency.
Failure to Update Comprehensive Care Plans
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement comprehensive person-centered care plans for four residents, which included measurable objectives and timeframes to meet their medical, nursing, mental, and psychosocial needs. Resident #90's care plan did not include his diagnosis and interventions for the medication Eliquis, an anticoagulant. This omission placed him at risk for not being monitored for side effects. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator both acknowledged the expectation for accurate care plans, especially for medications like anticoagulants. Resident #95's care plan did not include her diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile (C-diff) and the necessary precautions. This oversight could have led to inadequate infection control measures. Similarly, Resident #98's care plan was missing information about his use of Eliquis for atrial fibrillation, and Resident #203's care plan lacked details about her oxygen use for congestive heart failure. These omissions were acknowledged by the MDS nurses responsible for updating the care plans, who cited a lack of awareness and experience as contributing factors. Interviews with the MDS nurses and the DON revealed that care plans were expected to be updated promptly, ideally within a week of any changes. The facility's policy emphasized the importance of comprehensive, person-centered care plans that include measurable objectives and timeframes. However, the failure to update these care plans as required could have resulted in staff not being fully informed about the residents' care needs, potentially leading to inadequate care.
Failure to Update Comprehensive Care Plans
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that comprehensive care plans were reviewed and revised by the interdisciplinary team after each assessment for three residents. Resident #90's care plan was not updated to reflect the discontinuation of a PICC line and antibiotic administration, which were no longer ordered. This oversight could lead to the resident receiving unnecessary care. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator both acknowledged the expectation for care plans to be accurate and updated within a week of any order changes. Resident #203's care plan was not updated to remove interventions related to melatonin and a rash from shingles, both of which were no longer applicable as the orders had been discontinued. The MDS nurse responsible for updating care plans was unaware of these omissions, which could result in staff providing care that is no longer needed. The facility's policy requires care plans to be revised as residents' conditions change, but this was not adhered to in this case. Resident #8's care plan included outdated interventions for antibiotics and IV fluids, which were no longer ordered. The MDS nurse responsible for this resident's care plan was new to the position and missed updating these changes. The Administrator emphasized the importance of accurate care plans to ensure residents receive appropriate care. The facility's policy mandates that care plans be updated with any new orders or changes, but this was not consistently followed, leading to potential risks for the residents involved.
Infection Control Deficiencies in LTC Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by multiple instances of staff not adhering to proper infection control protocols. For Resident #95, who was diagnosed with Clostridium difficile (C-diff), staff members, including a CNA, LVN, and a therapist, did not follow contact isolation procedures. Despite signs indicating the need for personal protective equipment (PPE), staff entered the resident's room without wearing the required PPE. The resident herself was under the impression that she was no longer on contact isolation, although the facility physician confirmed she was still being treated for C-diff and should have been in isolation. Resident #203, who had a Stage 3 pressure wound, was supposed to be under enhanced barrier precautions (EBP). However, a CNA and a treatment nurse failed to adhere to these precautions. The CNA did not wear PPE while assisting the resident, and the treatment nurse did not perform hand hygiene between glove changes during wound care. This lack of adherence to infection control protocols was also observed with Resident #64, where a CNA did not change gloves or perform hand hygiene during incontinent care. Additionally, CMA S failed to perform hand hygiene before and after administering medications to Residents #20, #21, and #74, including eye drops for Resident #21. LVN A also did not follow EBP while administering IV medication to Resident #98, as she did not wear a gown. These deficiencies in infection control practices were acknowledged by the facility's DON and Administrator, who recognized the risk of infection due to improper care practices.
Failure to Respect Resident Dignity and Privacy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to uphold the residents' rights to dignity and respect, as evidenced by the actions of a laundry aide who did not knock, introduce herself, or explain her presence when entering the rooms of two residents. Resident #20, a female with moderate cognitive impairment and multiple health issues, including type 2 diabetes and heart failure, expressed dissatisfaction with staff entering her room without knocking. Similarly, Resident #74, a male with intact cognition and conditions such as quadriplegia and sick sinus syndrome, felt disrespected by the staff's failure to knock before entering his room. The laundry aide admitted to not following protocol, acknowledging the importance of knocking and introducing herself to ensure residents' comfort and respect. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator both confirmed that staff are expected to knock, introduce themselves, and explain their actions to residents, as per the facility's policy on dignity. The facility's policy emphasizes respecting residents' private space and property by knocking and requesting permission before entering their rooms.
Failure to Ensure Call Light Accessibility for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident had the right to receive services with reasonable accommodation of her needs and preferences. Specifically, the treatment nurse did not ensure that the resident's call light was within reach from 11/17/24 to 11/19/24. This oversight could have resulted in the resident's needs going unmet. The resident, who was an elderly female with Alzheimer's, high blood pressure, a history of falling, and anxiety, was observed multiple times with her call light on the floor, out of reach. Despite her severe cognitive impairment, she was usually able to understand others and make herself understood, and she required substantial assistance with transfers and toileting. During observations, the resident was found in her bed with the call light on the floor, and she expressed difficulty in calling for help. Staff, including an LVN and the DON, acknowledged that the call light should have been within reach and that all staff entering the room were responsible for ensuring this. The facility's policy on the resident call light system, revised in June 2023, stated that the call light should be easily reachable by the resident to respond to their requests and needs. The failure to adhere to this policy placed the resident at risk of not receiving timely assistance.
Failure to Provide Adequate Nail Care for a Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate nail care for a resident who was unable to perform activities of daily living independently. The resident, a female with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions, was observed on three consecutive days with black material under her fingernails. The resident required assistance from two persons for dressing, bathing, and personal hygiene, as indicated in her care plan. Despite this, the necessary nail care was not provided, which could potentially lead to hygiene-related issues. Interviews with facility staff, including CNAs and the DON, revealed that it was the responsibility of the CNAs to clean residents' fingernails during showers or as needed. The staff acknowledged the importance of maintaining clean fingernails to prevent bacterial infections, especially since the resident could put her hands in her mouth. The facility's policy on nail care emphasized cleaning the nail bed, trimming nails, and preventing infections, but this was not adhered to in the case of the resident in question.
Failure to Implement Fall Prevention Measures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the environment for a resident remained free of accident hazards, specifically by not placing a fall mat beside the resident's bed as required. The resident, an elderly male with severe cognitive impairment and a history of falls, was observed on multiple occasions without the fall mat, despite having a physician's order for it to be in place every shift. This oversight was noted on three separate days, during which the resident was found in bed without the protective mat. Interviews with staff, including an LVN and the DON, confirmed that the fall mat was a necessary intervention to prevent falls and injuries. The staff acknowledged the importance of the mat and the responsibility of all staff members to ensure it was in place. The facility's policy on falls emphasized the need for identifying residents at risk and implementing interventions, yet the required intervention for this resident was not consistently followed, leading to a deficiency in care.
Failure to Adhere to Oxygen Tubing Change Protocol
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate respiratory care for a resident, specifically by not adhering to the physician's order to change oxygen tubing weekly on Saturday nights. This oversight was identified for a resident who was receiving continuous oxygen therapy via nasal cannula due to congestive heart failure. The resident's medical history included conditions such as atrial fibrillation, stroke, high blood pressure, and anxiety, and she was severely cognitively impaired. Observations revealed that the oxygen tubing was not dated, and staff were unaware of when it had last been changed, indicating a lapse in following the prescribed schedule for changing and dating the tubing. Interviews with facility staff, including an LVN, the DON, and the Administrator, confirmed that the responsibility for changing and dating the oxygen tubing lay with the charge nurses, who were expected to follow the physician's orders. The facility's policy on oxygen administration emphasized the importance of verifying physician orders and reviewing the resident's care plan. However, the care plan for the resident in question did not include specific instructions for oxygen management, contributing to the deficiency. The failure to change and date the oxygen tubing as required could lead to infection control issues, as acknowledged by the staff.
Medication Cart Left Unlocked and Unattended
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all drugs and biologicals were stored in locked compartments under proper temperature controls, and that only authorized personnel had access to the keys. Specifically, LVN R left the Hall 100 medication cart unlocked and unattended in the hallway while providing a treatment to a resident. This oversight occurred when LVN R was distracted and forgot to lock the cart, which was left with the door closed. LVN R acknowledged the risk this posed, as it allowed the possibility for residents, visitors, or staff to access the cart and potentially ingest medications. Interviews with the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator revealed that their expectations were for medication carts to be locked when not in direct vision or use. Both acknowledged that the failure to secure the cart posed a risk for wandering residents to access harmful medications or supplies, as well as the potential for drug diversion or theft. The facility's policy, revised in April 2019, clearly stated that drugs and biologicals should be stored in locked compartments and that unlocked medication carts should not be left unattended.
Deficiencies in Food Safety Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food safety in its kitchen, as observed during a survey. Specifically, dietary staff did not wear hair restraints appropriately, which could lead to hair contaminating the food. During observations, one staff member was seen with hair visible outside of the hairnet, and another staff member was not wearing a hairnet at all while in the kitchen. Interviews with the staff revealed that they were unaware of their non-compliance with hair restraint policies, although they acknowledged the importance of wearing hairnets to prevent hair from getting into the food. Additionally, the facility did not maintain the microwave in a sanitary condition, as it was observed to have brown debris inside. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the microwave should be cleaned daily to prevent cross-contamination and acknowledged that the current microwave had some damage, necessitating the order of a new one. The facility's policies on employee sanitation and microwave maintenance, dated 2018, require hair restraints to prevent hair from contaminating food and mandate that the microwave be kept sanitary to minimize food hazards.
Infection Control Lapse by Treatment Nurse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by the actions of a Treatment Nurse. During an observation, the Treatment Nurse was seen grabbing a dirty napkin off a bedside table and picking up oxygen tubing from the floor without changing gloves or performing hand hygiene before starting wound care on a resident. This lapse in protocol was confirmed during an interview with the Treatment Nurse, who acknowledged that his gloves would have been contaminated after handling the napkin and tubing. The Director of Nursing (DON) also confirmed that staff are expected to perform hand hygiene and change gloves after touching potentially contaminated items to prevent cross-contamination. The facility's Handwashing/Hand Hygiene policy, revised in December 2023, emphasizes the importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infections. The policy specifies that hand hygiene should be performed before and after direct contact with residents, before handling clean or soiled dressings, and after contact with objects in the immediate vicinity of the resident. The policy also states that the use of gloves does not replace hand hygiene. Despite this policy, the Treatment Nurse's failure to follow proper hand hygiene protocols could place residents and staff at risk for cross-contamination and the spread of infection.
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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