Del Rio Nursing And Rehabilitation Center
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Del Rio, Texas.
- Location
- 301 W Martin St, Del Rio, Texas 78840
- CMS Provider Number
- 675677
- Inspections on file
- 20
- Latest survey
- May 2, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 0
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Del Rio Nursing And Rehabilitation Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Two residents admitted under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service were kept in shackles at the wrists, ankles, and abdomen, under constant armed guard, without medical justification or physician orders for restraints. Nursing staff monitored skin integrity but did not have authority over restraint use, which was dictated by law enforcement. The facility's restraint policy, which requires restraints only for medical symptoms, was not followed in these cases.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment was given an antipsychotic medication without proper informed consent, as the signed consent form lacked information about the medication's risks and benefits. The resident's representative was unaware of potential side effects and the method of administration, and facility staff confirmed the required information was not provided prior to medication administration.
Two residents admitted under the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service were continuously shackled at the wrists, ankles, and abdomen, and supervised by armed guards, without physician orders or consents for the restraints. Facility records and staff interviews confirmed that the restraints were not based on medical necessity, and the facility's restraint management policy requiring a restraint-free environment and proper documentation was not followed.
A resident was discharged without the required MDS discharge assessment being completed or transmitted to CMS, due to human error by the MDS Nurse who missed the process when the resident left sooner than expected. The facility's policy requires timely completion and transmission of such assessments, but this was not followed.
A resident with a physician's order for blood pressure medication requiring pre-administration BP checks did not have blood pressure results documented in the electronic medical record prior to medication administration. The CMA was aware of the order's parameters but did not record the BP readings, citing a lack of a designated area in the system and did not report this issue. Other staff confirmed this documentation lapse, which was not in accordance with facility policy.
The facility failed to maintain the cleanliness of the ice maker in the kitchen storage room, as mold was found within the walls of the ice maker. Despite expectations for weekly and monthly cleanings, the ice machine appeared dirty, although no residents had reported GI issues. The facility's policy and the US FDA Food Code require routine cleaning to prevent microorganism accumulation.
A resident with type 2 diabetes was administered expired insulin lispro 11 times over a period of several days. The insulin pen was not discarded after 28 days as required, leading to multiple LVNs administering the expired medication. The DON and Administrator confirmed the error and acknowledged the risk of not following proper medication labeling and discarding protocols.
A resident's representative reported an incident where the resident's call light for incontinent care was not answered promptly. The RN documented the event but did not initiate a grievance report, contrary to the facility's policy. The Administrator confirmed that no grievance report was received, emphasizing the importance of documenting and addressing all complaints to ensure timely resolution.
A facility failed to report an allegation of neglect within the required 24-hour timeframe. A resident's representative reported that the resident did not receive timely incontinent care, but the RN did not document or report the complaint to the Administrator. This lapse in reporting could place residents at risk of not having their grievances heard and investigated.
A facility failed to remove an expired insulin lispro injection pen from the medication cart for a resident with type 2 diabetes. The pen was found to be 8 days past its expiration date, and the oversight was acknowledged by the LVN and DON. The resident was at risk of not receiving the intended therapeutic effects of her prescribed medication.
The facility failed to provide a minimum of 80 square feet per resident in two multiple resident rooms. The Administrator acknowledged the need for a waiver due to the unchanged room sizes. Room #14 had no occupants, while Room #21 had one occupant.
Failure to Ensure Resident Rights: Use of Restraints Without Medical Necessity
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that two residents admitted under the custody of the United States Marshals Service were able to exercise their rights as residents, specifically their right to be free from physical restraints not required to treat medical symptoms. Both residents were admitted while shackled at the wrists, ankles, and abdomen, and were under constant armed guard supervision. The use of these restraints was not based on medical necessity or physician orders, but rather on law enforcement requirements, as indicated in the residents' care plans and confirmed by facility staff and law enforcement personnel. Record reviews showed that both residents had significant medical diagnoses, including cerebral infarction, epilepsy, chronic pulmonary disease, and heart failure. Despite these conditions, there was no documentation of medical justification for the use of restraints, nor were there any consents or physician orders for their application. Nursing staff monitored the residents' skin integrity under the restraints but did not participate in decisions regarding the use or removal of the restraints, deferring instead to the directives of the U.S. Marshals Service. Interviews with facility staff, law enforcement, and the residents themselves confirmed that the restraints were applied and maintained by the Marshals Service, with the facility accepting the residents under these conditions. The facility's own restraint management policy emphasizes a restraint-free environment and the use of restraints only when ordered to treat medical symptoms, which was not the case for these residents. The residents remained restrained at all times, with only temporary removal of a handcuff during meals upon approval from the Marshals.
Failure to Obtain Informed Consent for Antipsychotic Medication
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with severe cognitive impairment and a diagnosis of dementia and anxiety was administered ziprasidone, an antipsychotic medication, without proper informed consent. The resident's medical record showed she was admitted for long-term care, had a BIMS score of 0 indicating severe cognitive impairment, and required total assistance with most activities of daily living. The care plan documented the use of psychotropic medications for aggressive behavior, and physician orders prescribed ziprasidone injections as needed. The consent form for antipsychotic medication was signed by the resident's representative prior to administration. However, the form lacked any information regarding the risks and benefits of the medication, and no additional documents outlining these details were attached. The resident's representative later reported being unaware of the potential side effects and believed the medication would be administered as a pill rather than an injection. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that the consent form was incomplete and did not provide the required information about the medication's risks and benefits. Facility policy required that informed consent, including specific information about the risks and benefits of psychotropic medications, be obtained and documented prior to administration. Despite this policy, the system in place failed to ensure that the resident's representative was fully informed before the medication was given. This resulted in the administration of an antipsychotic medication without the representative's understanding of its potential side effects or the intended benefits.
Failure to Ensure Residents Are Free from Physical Restraints Not Medically Required
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that two residents were free from physical restraints not required to treat medical symptoms. Both residents were admitted under the custody of the United States Marshal Service and were continuously shackled at the wrists, ankles, and abdomen, and supervised by armed guards. The use of these restraints was not based on medical necessity, and there were no physician orders or consents for their application documented in the residents' records. Record reviews showed that the care plans for both residents acknowledged the presence of shackles and the requirement for constant supervision by U.S. Marshals, as mandated by law enforcement and court orders. Nursing staff were instructed to monitor for skin impairment related to the restraints and to notify the Marshal's nurse case manager and assigned physician if any skin issues arose. Observations confirmed that both residents remained restrained in their rooms, with guards present at all times, and that the restraints were only temporarily loosened for specific activities such as meals. Interviews with nursing staff, facility administration, and law enforcement personnel confirmed that the restraints were applied and maintained by the Marshal Service, not the facility itself. However, the facility accepted the residents for care under these conditions without obtaining the required medical orders or consents for the restraints, as outlined in the facility's own restraint management policy. The policy emphasizes a restraint-free environment and requires that restraints only be used to treat medical symptoms with proper orders.
Failure to Transmit Discharge MDS Assessment to CMS
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to electronically transmit an encoded, accurate, and complete Minimum Data Set (MDS) discharge assessment to the CMS system for one resident. Record review showed that the resident was originally admitted with diagnoses including type 2 diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, and was later discharged to their home. The resident's admission MDS assessment was completed, but there was no evidence of a discharge MDS assessment or its transmittal to the CMS system, with the discharge assessment being 116 days overdue. Interviews with the MDS Nurse revealed that the discharge MDS assessment was not completed or submitted due to human error, as the resident left the facility sooner than expected and the process was missed. The Administrator confirmed that the expectation is for the MDS Nurse to process and double-check the discharge assessment for submission to CMS. Facility policy requires assessments to be conducted and transmitted within specified timeframes, but this was not followed in this instance.
Failure to Document Blood Pressure Prior to Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services that ensured the accurate documentation and administration of blood pressure medication for a resident with multiple diagnoses, including low blood pressure and cerebral infarction. The resident had a physician's order for Midodrine with specific parameters to hold the medication if the systolic blood pressure was greater than 100. However, review of the medication administration record (MAR) showed no documentation of the resident's blood pressure results prior to administering the medication, as required by the physician's order. During medication administration, the certified medication aide (CMA) attempted to take the resident's blood pressure and administer the medication, but the resident refused both the blood pressure measurement and the medication. The CMA reported that she was aware of the medication parameters but did not document blood pressure results because there was no designated area in the electronic medical record to do so, and she had not communicated this issue to anyone. Interviews with other staff confirmed that blood pressure results were not being documented as required, despite facility policy stating that vital signs should be taken and recorded prior to medication administration when applicable.
Failure to Maintain Cleanliness of Ice Maker
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the cleanliness of the ice maker in the kitchen storage room, as observed on 04/10/2024 at 5:06 PM. A black substance, identified as mold, was found within the walls of the ice maker. The Dietary Manager (DM) confirmed that both kitchen and maintenance staff were responsible for cleaning the ice maker monthly and acknowledged that the mold could be dangerous to residents. The Administrator and the Director of Nursing (DON) both stated that their expectation was for the ice maker to be cleaned weekly and thoroughly emptied and cleaned monthly. Despite these expectations, the ice machine appeared dirty, although no residents had reported gastrointestinal (GI) issues at the time of the interviews on 04/12/2024. The facility's policy on ice machines, which was undated, required the ice machine to be cleaned once per month or more often as needed, and the scoop and storage container to be cleaned daily. The US FDA Food Code of 2022 also mandates that surfaces of utensils and equipment contacting food, such as ice makers, must be cleaned routinely to prevent the development of slime, mold, or soil residues that may contribute to an accumulation of microorganisms. The facility's failure to adhere to these standards could place residents at risk for cross-contamination and foodborne illnesses.
Expired Insulin Administered to Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents were free from significant medication errors, specifically in the administration of expired insulin lispro to one resident. Resident #10, who has type 2 diabetes and no cognitive impairment, was administered expired insulin lispro 11 times out of a potential 17 times over a period from 04/03/2024 to 04/11/2024. The insulin pen used for Resident #10 was labeled with the date it was removed from refrigeration, indicating it should have been discarded after 28 days, but it was not. This resulted in multiple instances where expired insulin was administered by various LVNs (A, B, C, and D). The expired insulin pen was observed on the medication cart, and LVN A acknowledged the error during an interview, stating that the pen should have been discarded after 28 days outside of refrigeration. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the insulin pen should have been discarded and that the facility's policy required proper labeling and discarding of expired medications. The Administrator also agreed with the DON's assessment that residents should not receive expired medications. The facility's policy on Pharmacy Services and Provision of Medications and Biologicals, dated November 2023, was reviewed and it was noted that the community is responsible for ensuring that labeling requirements are met, including expiration dates.
Failure to Document and Address Resident Grievance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents had the right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal, and did not establish a grievance report for a complaint made by a resident's representative. Resident #17, who had a pressure ulcer, depression, and anxiety disorder, experienced an incident where her call light for incontinent care was not answered promptly. The resident's representative visited the facility late at night to address the issue but no grievance report was initiated by RN E, who documented the event in the nurse's notes but did not follow the grievance policy. During an interview, RN E acknowledged that she did not consider initiating a grievance report at the time but recognized that it should have been done to allow the Administrator to review and address the complaint. The Administrator confirmed that she had not received a grievance report for the incident and emphasized the importance of documenting grievances to ensure they are heard, investigated, and resolved. The facility's grievance policy mandates that the Administrator, as the Grievance Official, oversees the process and ensures timely and appropriate resolution of grievances. The failure to document and address the grievance could place residents at risk of not having their complaints heard and resolved. Resident #17 expressed satisfaction with the care received but had initially reported the lack of response to her call light, which was not formally documented as a grievance. The facility's policy highlights the need for all complaints, whether verbal or written, to be investigated and resolved to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents.
Failure to Report Allegation of Neglect
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure all alleged violations involving neglect were reported within the required 24-hour timeframe. Specifically, RN E received an allegation of neglect from a resident's representative but did not report the allegation to the abuse, neglect, and exploitation prevention coordinator or the Administrator. This failure was identified during a review of Resident #17's records and interviews with staff and the resident. Resident #17, who had a pressure ulcer and moderate cognitive impairment, had complained to her representative about not receiving timely incontinent care, which was not properly documented or reported by RN E. Resident #17's representative visited the facility late at night after receiving a call from the resident about the lack of response to her call light for incontinent care. RN E documented the event in the nurse's notes but did not initiate a grievance report or inform the Administrator. During an interview, RN E acknowledged that she should have generated a grievance report to allow the Administrator to review and address the complaint. The Administrator confirmed that she had not received any report of the allegation and emphasized the importance of documenting grievances for review and potential interventions. The facility's policy on preventing, identifying, and reporting abuse and neglect requires that all allegations be reported to state authorities and possibly local authorities. The failure to report the allegation of neglect within the required timeframe could place residents at risk of not having their grievances heard, investigated, and documented. This deficiency highlights a lapse in the facility's adherence to its own policies and state regulations regarding the reporting of neglect allegations.
Failure to Remove Expired Insulin Pen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles, specifically for one resident's insulin lispro injection pen. The insulin pen for a resident with type 2 diabetes was observed to be 8 days past its expiration date, having been labeled as opened on 03/05/2024 and found in the medication cart on 04/10/2024. The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) acknowledged the oversight and removed the expired insulin pen from the cart. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the insulin pen should have been discarded after 28 days out of refrigeration, as per the manufacturer's guidelines. The resident involved was a female with a BIMS score indicating no cognitive impairment and was prescribed insulin lispro to manage her diabetes. The facility's policy required that medications be labeled with expiration dates, but this was not adhered to in this instance. The Administrator, while not a clinician, agreed with the DON that expired medications should not be administered to residents. The failure to remove the expired insulin pen from the medication cart could have resulted in the resident not receiving the intended therapeutic effects of her prescribed medication.
Failure to Meet Minimum Room Size Requirements
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a minimum of 80 square feet per resident in two of its multiple resident rooms, specifically Rooms #14 and #21. This deficiency was identified through record review and interviews. The HHSC Form-3740 dated 4/9/2024 indicated that these rooms were Title 18/19 beds within a facility with a total occupancy of 60 beds. During an interview on 04/12/2024, the Administrator acknowledged that these rooms required a waiver due to their size and expressed a desire to continue the waiver as the room sizes had not changed. The facility's daily census on 04/09/2024 showed that Room #14 had no occupants, while Room #21 had one occupant.
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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