Inspiration Hills Rehabilitation Center
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in San Antonio, Texas.
- Location
- 1939 Bandera Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78228
- CMS Provider Number
- 675138
- Inspections on file
- 32
- Latest survey
- March 5, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 2
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Inspiration Hills Rehabilitation Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment, incontinence, and multiple comorbidities received incontinent care during which a CNA failed to follow the facility’s hand hygiene and glove use practices. After initially washing hands, the CNA used bare hands to adjust the bed and then donned gloves without re-washing, handled clean wipes, performed perineal care, and then used the same soiled gloves to prepare a clean brief and bed pad before finally removing gloves and washing hands. The CNA later acknowledged this was inconsistent with facility policy, while the DON and ADON/Infection Preventionist confirmed that staff are required to perform hand hygiene before donning gloves, between glove changes, and after contact with room surfaces, as outlined in the facility’s written hand hygiene policy and prior staff training.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and a history of combative and resistant behaviors during care did not have a comprehensive, person-centered care plan that addressed these issues. Despite multiple documented incidents of aggression, refusal of care, and self-injury, the care plan was not updated in a timely manner to include interventions or measurable objectives for managing these behaviors, contrary to facility policy and best practices.
Surveyors identified multiple failures in food storage and handling, including a dirty ice maker used for resident hydration, open and unlabeled food items in a medication refrigerator, and unrefrigerated thickened water and nutritional drinks on medication carts. Staff were unaware of manufacturer requirements for refrigeration after opening, and facility practices did not align with professional standards or internal policies.
Surveyors found that the facility did not develop or implement comprehensive care plans for multiple residents, including those on hospice, with wandering behaviors, or with contractures. For example, a resident on hospice had no care plan interventions for comfort, while others with orders for Wanderguard devices or psychotropic medications lacked specific care plan details and monitoring. Additionally, two residents with contractures did not have consistent or appropriate interventions documented or implemented.
Three dependent, cognitively impaired residents did not receive multiple scheduled showers, with documentation showing missed care and no evidence of refusals or rescheduling. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent communication and documentation practices, and the facility did not follow its policy requiring proper recording of showers and staff participation.
Surveyors found that hand sanitizer was stored in unsecured locations accessible to residents, including those with cognitive impairment, and that a resident with severe cognitive impairment and a recent fall was repeatedly observed in bed without required fall mats in place. These deficiencies placed residents at risk for injury due to inadequate supervision and lack of safety devices.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple physical diagnoses experienced a fall resulting in injury. Although the facility's investigation identified new interventions such as lowering the bed, ensuring the call light was within reach, and using fall mats, these were not incorporated into the resident's care plan. Observations confirmed that some interventions were implemented, but the care plan was not updated to reflect all planned changes.
A resident with diabetes, dementia, and vision problems did not receive timely ophthalmology evaluation after a missed appointment due to lack of family accompaniment. The facility failed to reschedule the appointment or ensure follow-up, resulting in continued vision difficulties and delayed care.
Two residents with significant contractures and severe cognitive impairment did not receive appropriate contracture management devices or interventions as ordered and care planned. One resident's left palm protector was not applied as required, and another resident with a right hand contracture had no assistive device in place, despite care plans and policies calling for such interventions. Staff interviews confirmed a lack of consistent application and monitoring of these devices.
Surveyors found that the facility's medication error rate was 8.11%, exceeding the acceptable threshold. Two residents were affected: one received medications for anxiety and personality disorder over an hour late due to staff scheduling practices, and another had a vitamin supplement documented as given but not actually administered, with no proper notation in the eMAR. These errors were attributed to staff scheduling, workload, and failure to follow documentation policy.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions was given Carvedilol on several occasions when their blood pressure or heart rate was below the physician-ordered parameters. Nursing staff administered the medication despite these out-of-range vital signs, and facility leadership was either unaware or indicated that nurses could use their judgment in such cases, contrary to policy.
A CNA was observed leaving a resident's room wearing soiled gloves and carrying unbagged, soiled linen into the hallway, contrary to facility policy requiring linens to be bagged before transport and gloves to be removed before exiting. Additionally, a CMA used a reusable blood pressure cuff on two residents without cleaning it between uses, and no sanitizing wipes were found in the medication cart, despite facility policy requiring equipment to be cleaned between residents.
Failure to Follow Hand Hygiene and Glove Use Practices During Incontinent Care
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program during incontinent care for one resident. The resident was an elderly female with multiple diagnoses, including unspecified cerebral infarction, contracture of the left hand, neuromuscular bladder dysfunction with incontinence, unspecified dementia with psychotic disturbance, and constipation. A quarterly MDS showed a BIMS score of 06, indicating severe cognitive impairment, and documented that she was dependent on staff for toileting hygiene and was frequently incontinent of bowel and bladder. Her care plan identified potential or actual skin integrity impairment related to fragile skin, incontinence, limited mobility, and hemiplegia, with an intervention to keep skin clean and dry, but did not include a specific focus or problem for incontinent care. During an observation of incontinent care, two CNAs provided care to the resident. CNA A initially washed her hands, then used bare hands to manipulate the bed control and bed frame to position the resident for care. Without washing her hands after touching these room surfaces, CNA A donned clean gloves and handled clean wet wipes, arranging them on a clean surface. After completing perineal care with those gloves, CNA A used the same soiled gloves to grab and prepare a clean brief and clean bed pad. Only after preparing these clean items did CNA A remove the soiled gloves and wash her hands, then don clean gloves to place the prepared brief and bed pad under the resident, and incontinent care was completed. In interviews, CNA A acknowledged that she should have washed her hands after touching the bed control and bed frame and before donning gloves, and that she should have removed gloves, washed hands, and applied new gloves before touching the clean brief and bed pad. She stated that facility policy required handwashing after every glove change and after touching room items, and that failure to follow this could lead to infections such as UTIs. The DON and the Assistant DON/Infection Preventionist both confirmed that staff were expected to wash hands before donning gloves, between glove changes, and after touching items in the resident’s environment, consistent with facility policy. Record review showed CNA A had prior competency evaluations in handwashing, PPE use, and pericare, and had completed an infection control training course. The facility’s hand hygiene policy required hand hygiene before and after resident contact, after contact with objects in the resident’s vicinity, and after removing gloves, which was not followed during this observed episode of care.
Failure to Timely Update Care Plan for Resident with Combative Behaviors
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive, person-centered care plan for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and a history of combative and resistant behaviors during care. Despite multiple documented incidents where the resident refused care, became aggressive, scratched, hit, and bit staff, and engaged in self-injurious behaviors, the care plan did not include specific focus areas or interventions addressing these behaviors. Progress notes and interviews confirmed repeated episodes of aggression and resistance, including refusal of showers, combative actions during nail care, and self-inflicted injuries, yet these issues were not incorporated into the resident's care plan in a timely manner. Staff interviews revealed that the care plan was not updated to reflect the resident's behavioral challenges until after several incidents had occurred. The social worker and MDS coordinator acknowledged that the care plan should have been revised to include interventions for resistance to care and combative behaviors, but this was delayed due to workload and oversight. The director of nursing also confirmed that the care plan should have been updated following a significant incident where the resident became combative and injured herself during nail care. The facility's own policy requires that comprehensive, person-centered care plans be developed and revised as residents' conditions change, incorporating identified problem areas and associated risk factors. However, the care plan for this resident did not meet these requirements, as it lacked measurable objectives, timeframes, and interventions to address the resident's medical, nursing, and psychosocial needs related to her aggressive and resistant behaviors.
Deficient Food Storage, Preparation, and Distribution Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards, as evidenced by multiple observations and interviews. The ice maker was found to have a black substance build-up inside, despite a contracted cleaning company having recently serviced it and a policy stating it should be cleaned at least monthly. There was no internal schedule for cleaning the ice machine outside of the contracted service every six months, and both the DON and Administrator acknowledged the risk of illness from using ice from a dirty machine. Additionally, water pitchers and ice chests containing ice from the machine were observed being used for resident hydration. Further deficiencies were observed in the handling and storage of food and drink items. Two open, undated, and unlabeled food containers were found in the medication refrigerator, which the DON confirmed should not have contained food items. Multiple open containers of thickened lemon-flavored water and nutritional drinks intended for residents were found unrefrigerated on medication carts, despite manufacturer instructions requiring refrigeration after opening. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness regarding proper storage requirements, and the facility practice was to keep these items unrefrigerated on the carts. The DON disagreed with the need for refrigeration and deferred to the facility pharmacist, but no follow-up was provided before the survey concluded.
Failure to Develop and Implement Comprehensive Person-Centered Care Plans
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement comprehensive, person-centered care plans for several residents, as identified through observations, interviews, and record reviews. For one resident receiving hospice services, the care plan did not include any focus area, goals, or interventions related to hospice care, despite orders indicating the resident was on hospice and staff acknowledging that such planning should be present. This omission meant that the resident's comfort and end-of-life needs were not addressed in the care plan. Another resident with a history of wandering and an order for a Wanderguard device did not have care plan interventions addressing the use or monitoring of the device, nor were there interventions for the resident's wandering tendencies. Documentation failed to reflect the presence or monitoring of the Wanderguard, and care plans for psychotropic medications lacked specificity regarding the medications, related diagnoses, and symptoms to monitor. Similarly, another resident with wandering behaviors did not have care planning related to wandering or increased observation, and their care plan also lacked specific details about medication management. For two residents with contractures, the facility failed to implement or identify appropriate care plan interventions. One resident had orders and therapy recommendations for a palm protector to prevent further contracture, but interviews revealed inconsistent application and lack of staff awareness regarding the intervention. The other resident had a contracture but no orders or restorative nursing program in place, and the care plan only included general interventions without specific devices or monitoring. These failures were contrary to facility policy and placed residents at risk of not receiving care and services related to their identified needs.
Failure to Provide Scheduled Showers and Document Care for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary assistance with activities of daily living, specifically personal hygiene and scheduled showers, for three residents who were dependent on staff for these tasks. Documentation showed that one resident missed 8 out of 13 scheduled showers, another missed 8 out of 13, and a third missed 4 out of 14 scheduled showers within a one-month period. All three residents were severely cognitively impaired, as indicated by their BIMS scores, and required total staff assistance for bathing according to their care plans. None of the care plans documented any behaviors of refusal related to showers or other care. Record reviews confirmed that the missed showers were not documented as refusals or rescheduled, and there was no evidence in the electronic health records or care plans to suggest that the residents declined care. Interviews with staff revealed that if a CNA was unable to provide a scheduled shower, the expectation was to communicate this to the nurse and document it, but this was not consistently done. The DON was unaware that residents were not receiving scheduled showers and stated that documentation was only available in the electronic health record, with no additional records to support that showers were provided or refused. Facility policy required that the date, time, and staff involved in showers or tub baths be recorded in the resident's ADL record or medical record. However, the lack of documentation for the missed showers indicated that the facility did not follow its own policy or ensure that dependent residents received the necessary care for personal hygiene as scheduled.
Failure to Prevent Accident Hazards and Ensure Use of Safety Devices
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to ensure the resident environment was free from accident hazards and did not provide adequate assistance devices to prevent accidents. During observations, hand sanitizer bottles were found stored on top of EBP carts and in unlocked drawers, making them accessible to residents, including those with altered cognition. Staff and administration confirmed that this was the usual storage method, and there was no documentation of the hand sanitizer in the facility's MSDS book in case of ingestion. The facility relied on staff monitoring to prevent resident access to these hazardous substances, but no physical barriers or secure storage were in place. Additionally, a resident with severe cognitive impairment, muscle weakness, and a history of falls was observed multiple times in bed without fall mats present, despite a recent fall from bed that resulted in a facial injury and a hospital transfer. The care plan for this resident included interventions such as a lowered bed, call light within reach, and fall mats, but the fall mats were not in place during repeated observations. These failures were noted across all resident halls reviewed and placed residents at risk for injury due to inadequate supervision and lack of required safety devices.
Failure to Revise Care Plan After Fall Investigation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to revise the comprehensive care plan for a resident following a fall incident, despite conducting an investigation and identifying new interventions. The resident, an elderly female with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including muscle wasting, atrophy, and unsteadiness, experienced a fall from her bed that resulted in a facial injury. The facility's investigation after the fall identified interventions such as lowering the bed, ensuring the call light was within reach, and using fall mats. However, these interventions were not incorporated into the resident's care plan. Observations conducted after the incident showed that while the bed was lowered and the call light was within reach, fall mats were not present as planned. A review of the resident's care plan revealed that it had not been updated to include the new interventions identified during the investigation, with the most recent updates predating the fall. Interviews with the DON confirmed that changes were made in practice, but the care plan was not revised to reflect these interventions.
Failure to Reschedule Ophthalmology Appointment for Resident with Vision Impairment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident received proper treatment to maintain vision abilities by not rescheduling an ophthalmology appointment after a missed visit. The resident, an older adult with diagnoses including type 2 diabetes mellitus, dementia, and cognitive deficits following cerebrovascular disease, had a standing order for ophthalmology evaluation and treatment. Documentation showed that the resident had previously been referred to an ophthalmologist for retinal and cataract evaluation due to complaints of blurred and watery vision, with diagnoses of cataracts and proliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema. The initial ophthalmology appointment was missed because the family member who was supposed to accompany the resident did not attend, and the facility was informed that the appointment would need to be rescheduled. Despite this, there was no evidence in the medical record that the appointment was rescheduled or that further action was taken to ensure the resident received the necessary evaluation. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of awareness regarding the missed appointment and the need for rescheduling. The resident continued to experience vision difficulties, impacting her ability to participate in activities, and was unsure about her vision care history. The absence of follow-up and coordination resulted in a delay in the resident receiving appropriate ophthalmology care as ordered.
Failure to Provide Contracture Management Devices and Interventions for Residents with Limited Range of Motion
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate care and services to maintain or improve range of motion (ROM) for two residents with limited ROM. For one resident, who had a history of cerebral palsy, contractures, and severe cognitive impairment, the care plan and physician's orders specified the use of a left palm protector to address a left hand contracture. Despite these orders and documentation indicating the device should be applied five times per week, multiple observations over several days revealed that the palm protector was not in place. Interviews with CNAs confirmed that they did not apply any device to the resident's hand to prevent further contracture, and the restorative nursing program for this intervention had only recently been initiated. For another resident with a history of CVA, apraxia, and severe cognitive deficit, the care plan included passive and active ROM exercises to prevent contractures, but there was no evidence of an occupational therapy program or physician's orders for a contracture management device. Observations showed the resident had a right hand contracture with no assistive device in place. The facility's contracture prevention policy required risk assessment, care planning, and implementation of prevention programs, but these steps were not fully carried out for this resident. Interviews with facility staff, including the DON and DOR, revealed a lack of consistent monitoring and implementation of contracture management interventions. The DON acknowledged that not utilizing a palm protector could increase contractures and that a device for the second resident had been requested but not obtained. The failures in applying and monitoring prescribed devices and interventions contributed to the deficiency in providing appropriate care for residents with limited ROM.
Medication Error Rate Exceeds Acceptable Threshold
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a medication error rate below 5%, with an observed rate of 8.11% based on three errors out of 37 opportunities. Two residents were directly involved in these errors. In one instance, a certified medication aide (CMA) administered Fingolimod HCl and Sertraline HCl to a resident for personality disorder and anxiety, respectively, at 9:34 AM, despite both medications being ordered for administration at 8:00 AM. The delay was attributed to the facility's practice of timing routine morning medications for 9:00 AM due to CMA work schedules, although the physician orders specified an earlier time. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the administrator confirmed that CMAs' schedules and budgetary constraints contributed to the delay, and that nursing staff were expected to assist if delays were anticipated. In another instance, a CMA documented the administration of Cholecalciferol 1000 units for vitamin deficiency to a resident at 9:49 AM, but this medication was not observed as administered during the medication pass. The facility's policy requires that any dose withheld, refused, or given at a time other than scheduled must be properly notated in the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) and explained in the resident's progress notes, which was not done in this case. These actions and inactions resulted in residents not receiving medications as prescribed or not receiving them at all, as observed and documented by surveyors.
Medication Administered Outside Physician Parameters
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with multiple diagnoses, including dysphagia, cerebral infarction, and HIV, was administered Carvedilol outside of the physician-ordered parameters. The resident's care plan included monitoring and recording medication side effects, and the medication order specified that Carvedilol should be held if the systolic blood pressure (SBP) was less than 110 or the heart rate (HR) was less than 60. Despite these instructions, the medication administration record showed that Carvedilol was given on three occasions when the resident's SBP or HR was below the specified thresholds. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the ADON was unaware of medications being given outside of parameters, while the DON stated that if vital signs were out of range, the nurse could use their judgment to administer the medication but must notify the physician. The facility's policy required obtaining and recording vital signs as necessary prior to medication administration. The failure to adhere to these parameters resulted in the resident receiving medication inappropriately, as documented by the surveyors.
Infection Control Breaches in Linen Handling and Equipment Cleaning
Penalty
Summary
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) was observed exiting a resident's room while wearing soiled gloves and carrying unbagged, soiled linen into the hallway. The CNA acknowledged the breach, stating that the facility's process is to bag soiled linens before leaving a resident's room and to avoid wearing soiled gloves in the hallway. The CNA explained that the presence of the survey team caused him to act quickly and not follow proper procedures. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the facility's expectation is for linen to be bagged prior to exiting a resident's room and acknowledged awareness of the incident. Additionally, a certified medication aide (CMA) was observed using a reusable blood pressure cuff on two residents consecutively without cleaning or sanitizing the device between uses. The CMA stated that she typically cleans the device every two to three residents and was unsure of the facility's policy regarding cleaning between residents. The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), who also serves as the Infection Preventionist, stated that equipment should be cleaned between every resident and that sanitizing wipes are available and should be stored in the medication carts. However, no cleaning agent was found in the medication cart during the observation. Facility policies reviewed indicated that reusable equipment should not be used for another resident until appropriately cleaned and that gloves should be removed promptly after use, with soiled linen handled in a way that prevents contamination.
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.
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release May 27, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
Trusted by long-term care providers and associations.



