Edgewood Rehabilitation And Care Center
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Mesquite, Texas.
- Location
- 1101 Windbell Dr, Mesquite, Texas 75149
- CMS Provider Number
- 676326
- Inspections on file
- 43
- Latest survey
- December 10, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 1
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Edgewood Rehabilitation And Care Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with advanced dementia and total care needs was found by a family member sitting in urine and feces with soiled bedding. The facility did not conduct a thorough investigation, as required by policy, by failing to interview all staff with firsthand knowledge of the incident, including the aide who changed the resident after the report.
A resident with a G-tube experienced inadequate care when their dressing was not changed after becoming wet during a shower, leading to pain and potential infection risk. The nurse did not notice or report green discharge from the site, and the CNA failed to inform the nurse about the wet dressing. The DON was unaware of the situation, and the facility's G-tube policy was not relevant to the care needed.
The facility failed to implement enhanced barrier precautions for residents with indwelling medical devices and wounds, as required for infection control. Observations showed that staff did not use gowns and gloves during high-contact care activities, and there was no signage or PPE outside residents' rooms. Interviews revealed a lack of awareness among staff about which residents required these precautions, placing residents at risk of infection.
A facility failed to develop a comprehensive care plan for a resident, omitting critical details about the resident's diabetes and use of a foley catheter. Despite being prescribed insulin and having an order for a catheter, these were not included in the care plan. The resident, who was cognitively intact, confirmed receiving insulin and having a catheter. The MDS Coordinator acknowledged the oversight, which was contrary to the facility's policy requiring comprehensive care plans.
The facility did not employ a qualified full-time social worker since the previous one resigned without notice, leaving essential social work responsibilities unmet. The administrator confirmed the position was posted, and interim staff were assisting with social work tasks, but no hiring date was set.
A resident with multiple diagnoses, including a hip fracture and cognitive deficits, fell and sustained injuries after being left unsupervised by a CNA during care. The CNA left the resident to fetch an LVN, despite the resident's warning about falling. The facility's policies for fall management and resident supervision were not adequately followed, contributing to the incident.
The facility failed to ensure accurate dental assessments in the MDS for three residents, leading to unaddressed dental issues. One resident had no teeth and used dentures, another had several broken and missing teeth, and the third had multiple missing and broken teeth. The MDS Coordinator and other staff failed to document these issues accurately.
The facility failed to maintain an infection prevention and control program, as staff did not properly disinfect reusable equipment like blood pressure cuffs and glucometers between uses, putting residents at risk of cross-contamination and infection.
The facility failed to provide or obtain routine dental services for two residents, leading to a deficiency. One resident with moderate cognitive impairment did not receive a dental referral despite having dentures that he did not wear due to discomfort. Another resident with severe cognitive impairment had missing and broken teeth, but no dental consults were arranged. The facility's policies and procedures for dental care were not followed, resulting in the residents not receiving the necessary dental assessments and consults.
The facility failed to update the care plans for two residents after they experienced falls, despite the facility's policy requiring such updates. Interviews revealed that the DON and ADON were unaware if the care plans had been updated, and the Administrator acknowledged ongoing issues with care plan updates identified in a recent mock survey.
Failure to Thoroughly Investigate Allegation of Neglect
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to thoroughly investigate an allegation of neglect involving a female resident with Alzheimer's disease, a gastrostomy tube, and adult failure to thrive. The resident was dependent on staff for all activities of daily living and was always incontinent of bladder and bowel. A family member found the resident sitting in urine and feces with dirty bedding and reported this to staff. The nurse on duty was unable to locate the assigned aide, who was later found to be on break, and another aide was called to change the resident. The facility administrator was notified of the allegation via email and initiated an investigation, which included checking on the resident and having clinical staff perform a skin assessment. The administrator reported the incident to the state and attempted to contact the agency and the assigned CNA, but was unsuccessful. The administrator did not contact the nurse who was on shift or the aide who changed the resident. The DON also attempted to contact the nurse and CNA involved but was unsuccessful and did not contact the aide who changed the resident. The investigation did not include interviews with all individuals who had firsthand knowledge of the incident, specifically the aide who changed the resident after the family member's report. Facility policy required comprehensive investigations, including written summaries of interviews with witnesses, but this was not completed. The failure to conduct a thorough investigation was confirmed by both the administrator and DON, who acknowledged that key staff were not interviewed.
Failure to Provide Appropriate G-Tube Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate treatment and services to prevent complications of enteral feeding for a resident with a gastrostomy tube (G-tube). The resident, who was cognitively intact and had multiple diagnoses including malnutrition and dysphasia, was observed with a G-tube dressing that was not changed after it became wet during a shower. The resident reported pain and discomfort from the G-tube site, with a pain level of 8 out of 10, and had to request pain medication. Upon observation, the dressing was found to contain blood and a greenish substance, indicating potential infection risk. The nurse responsible for the resident's care did not initially notice the green discharge and failed to document or notify the physician about it. The CNA who assisted with the resident's shower did not inform the nurse about the wet dressing, which was against her training. The Director of Nursing (DON) was unaware of the green discharge and the initiation of antibiotics for the resident. The facility's policy on G-tube care was not relevant to the specific care needed for the G-tube site, contributing to the oversight in care.
Failure to Implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by the lack of enhanced barrier precautions for five residents observed for infection control. These residents, who had conditions such as feeding tubes, pressure ulcers, and Foley catheters, were not placed on enhanced barrier precautions, which are necessary to prevent healthcare-associated cross-contamination and infections. Observations revealed that staff did not use gowns and gloves as required for high-contact resident care activities, and there was no signage or personal protective equipment (PPE) outside the residents' doors to indicate the need for such precautions. Resident #1, a female with a Stage IV pressure ulcer, feeding tube, and Foley catheter, was not on enhanced barrier precautions despite showing signs of infection. Staff members, including RN E and LPN A, were observed entering her room and performing care activities with gloves only, without donning gowns or following proper infection control protocols. Similar observations were made for Residents #2, #3, #4, and #5, who also had indwelling medical devices or wounds but lacked care plans and physician orders for enhanced barrier precautions. Interviews with staff, including RN E, LVN B, LVN C, and the Director of Nursing (DON), revealed a lack of awareness and implementation of enhanced barrier precautions. The DON acknowledged that staff should have known which residents required these precautions and that PPE should have been available. The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), who served as the infection preventionist, confirmed that enhanced barrier precautions were necessary for residents with wounds and indwelling devices, yet there was no signage or PPE provided. The facility's failure to implement these precautions placed residents at risk of infection.
Failure to Develop Comprehensive Care Plan for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for a resident, which included measurable objectives and timeframes to address the resident's medical needs. Specifically, the care plan did not address the resident's diagnosis of diabetes and the use of an indwelling foley catheter. This oversight was identified during a review of the resident's records, which showed that the resident was prescribed insulin and had an order for a foley catheter, yet these were not reflected in the care plan. The resident, who was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15, was observed to have a foley catheter and confirmed receiving insulin for diabetes. The MDS Coordinator acknowledged the resident's conditions and the responsibility to update the care plan but admitted that the care plan was not revised to include the resident's diabetes and catheter use. The facility's policy mandates the development of a comprehensive care plan to provide effective and person-centered care, which was not adhered to in this case.
Failure to Employ Full-Time Social Worker
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to employ a qualified full-time social worker for a facility with more than 120 beds, which is a requirement to meet the social services and psychosocial needs of the residents. The deficiency was identified during an observation from October 19 to October 21, 2024, which revealed the absence of a full-time social worker. The facility had not employed a full-time, qualified social worker since September 26, 2024, when the previous social worker resigned without notice. This left the facility without a dedicated professional to handle essential social work responsibilities, such as referrals, discharge assistance, and coordination with auxiliary providers like podiatry, audiology, optometry, and dental services. The facility's administrator confirmed in an interview that the social worker position was posted on the internal facility website, and the interviewing process had begun. However, there was no anticipated date for hiring a new social worker. In the interim, the Admissions Coordinator, MDS, ADON, and DON were assisting with social work tasks to ensure residents received necessary social services. The facility's job description for the Social Services Director outlined responsibilities that include planning, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the social services department to meet the medically-related emotional and social needs of residents, which were not being fully met due to the vacancy.
Failure to Provide Adequate Supervision and Assistance Devices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents for a resident. The resident, who had multiple diagnoses including a displaced intertrochanteric fracture of the left femur, neuropathy, and cognitive communication deficit, was left unsupervised by a CNA while being positioned on her side. Despite the resident's warning that she might fall, the CNA left the room, resulting in the resident falling to the floor and sustaining a bruise on her arm and increased back pain. The incident was unwitnessed, and the resident was found on the floor by another staff member shortly after the fall occurred. Interviews with staff revealed that the CNA had left the resident to fetch an LVN to check a saturated bandage, despite the resident's expressed concern about falling. The CNA claimed to have positioned the resident's leg to prevent a fall, but the resident still fell when left unattended. The facility's policies and procedures for fall management and resident supervision were not adequately followed, as the resident did not have necessary assistive devices like bed rails or a fall mat, and there was no second staff member present during the care. The facility's incident report and progress notes documented the fall and the immediate response, including assessments and notifications to the DON and the resident's family. However, the failure to provide adequate supervision and necessary assistive devices directly contributed to the resident's fall and subsequent injury. Staff interviews indicated a lack of adherence to the facility's protocols for preventing falls and ensuring resident safety.
Inaccurate Dental Assessments in MDS
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that assessments accurately reflected the residents' dental status for three residents. Resident #17's Admission MDS assessment indicated no dental problems, despite the resident having no teeth and using dentures that he left at home. The resident expressed a need for a dental checkup and was observed to have no teeth during an interview. The MDS Coordinator acknowledged that the former Social Worker should have documented the resident's use of dentures in the MDS assessment but did not do so. Resident #37's Admission MDS assessment also indicated no dental problems, although the resident had severely impaired vision and several broken and missing teeth. During an interview, the resident expressed a desire to see a dentist and revealed the poor condition of his teeth. The MDS Coordinator admitted that she did not make another attempt to assess the resident's teeth after he initially refused to open his mouth and incorrectly coded the MDS assessment. Resident #60's Admission and Quarterly MDS assessments indicated no dental problems, despite the resident having several missing and broken teeth. The resident expressed a need to see a dentist and was observed to have poor dental condition during an interview. The MDS Coordinator acknowledged that she did not assess the resident's teeth upon admission and relied on the nurses' and Social Worker's documentation, which was inaccurate. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator were unaware of the inaccuracies in the MDS assessments and stated that it was the responsibility of the MDS Coordinator to ensure the assessments were accurate.
Infection Control Lapses in Equipment Sanitization
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an infection prevention and control program, leading to potential cross-contamination and infection risks for residents. Specifically, LVN A did not disinfect the blood pressure cuff between uses on multiple residents, including Resident #10 and Resident #34. LVN A admitted to being unaware of the need to sanitize the blood pressure cuff, despite having attended in-service training on infection control and cleaning equipment. Observations confirmed that the blood pressure cuff was not sanitized before or after use on these residents. Additionally, LVN B and RN C failed to properly disinfect the glucometer between uses on Resident #1. LVN B used an alcohol swab instead of the appropriate EPA-registered disinfectant wipes, which is against the facility's policy. Both LVN B and RN C acknowledged knowing the correct procedure but did not follow it during the observed incident. This lapse in protocol was also noted during an interview with the Director of Nursing (DON), who emphasized the importance of sanitizing all reusable equipment between each resident use. The facility's policies and procedures clearly state the need for using EPA-registered disinfectant wipes for cleaning and disinfecting reusable equipment like blood pressure cuffs and glucometers. Despite recent in-service training on infection control, the staff failed to adhere to these guidelines, putting residents at risk of cross-contamination and infection. The DON confirmed that there were adequate supplies of disinfectant wipes available and reiterated the expectation for staff to follow proper sanitization protocols.
Failure to Provide Routine Dental Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide or obtain routine dental services for two residents, leading to a deficiency. Resident #17, a male with moderate cognitive impairment, was admitted without a dental referral despite having dentures that he did not wear due to discomfort. He expressed the need for a dental checkup multiple times, but no action was taken by the staff. His admission and quarterly assessments did not accurately reflect his dental needs, and there were no documented dental consults for him. Resident #60, a female with severe cognitive impairment, also did not receive a dental referral upon admission. Her dental condition, which included missing and broken teeth, was not properly documented in her assessments. Despite her poor dental condition being noted in a nurse's note, no follow-up dental consults were arranged. The facility was without a social worker for several months, and the responsibility for dental referrals fell to the Director of Nursing, who did not ensure that these residents received the necessary dental care. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding the dental needs of these residents. The new social worker was not informed about any dental issues, and the MDS Coordinator admitted to not following up on dental referrals. The Administrator was also unaware of the dental referral issues. The facility's policies and procedures for dental care were not followed, resulting in the residents not receiving the necessary dental assessments and consults.
Failure to Update Care Plans After Falls
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to review and revise the person-centered comprehensive care plan to reflect the current status of two residents who experienced falls. Resident #33, a male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including Huntington Chorea and dementia, had a fall resulting in a head laceration that required emergency room treatment. Despite this incident, his care plan was not updated to include goals and interventions specific to this fall. Similarly, Resident #58, a male with moderate cognitive impairment and diagnoses including traumatic subdural hemorrhage and prostate cancer, experienced a non-injury fall, but his care plan was also not updated to reflect this event. Interviews with the Director of Nursing (DON) and Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) revealed that the MDS/care plan nurse is responsible for updating care plans and that falls and changes in residents' conditions are discussed in morning meetings. However, both the DON and ADON were unaware if the care plans for Resident #33 and Resident #58 had been updated following their falls. The DON admitted that she does not follow up on care plans, assuming it was under regional oversight, and acknowledged that without proper updates, staff would not know the goals for preventing further falls. The Administrator confirmed awareness of the issue, noting that a recent mock survey by the corporation had identified deficiencies in care plan updates, which were still being addressed. Attempts to contact the MDS/care plan nurse on the day of the survey were unsuccessful. The facility's policy mandates that care plans be reviewed and revised after each assessment and when there is a change in the resident's clinical status, such as falls, but this was not adhered to in these cases.
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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