Mckinney Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Mckinney, Texas.
- Location
- 253 Enterprise Dr, Mckinney, Texas 75069
- CMS Provider Number
- 675004
- Inspections on file
- 34
- Latest survey
- November 25, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 1
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Mckinney Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Surveyors found that multiple residents had medications and topical treatments, such as wound cleansers, barrier creams, and ointments, left unsecured in their rooms without proper assessments for self-administration. Some of these residents had cognitive impairments or no physician orders for the medications present. Staff confirmed that these items should not have been accessible and should have been stored securely.
A wound care cart containing drugs and biologicals was left unlocked and unattended in a hallway, with the keys placed on top of the cart, making its contents easily accessible to residents, staff, and visitors. The drawers, which included ointments, creams, and wound cleansers, could be opened without restriction, and the cart was not under direct observation by authorized staff. Facility staff confirmed that this was not in accordance with policy, and the nurse responsible acknowledged forgetting to secure the cart and keys after use.
A facility failed to maintain an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program when a CNA did not perform hand hygiene between glove changes during incontinence care for a resident with a urinary tract infection. Despite training and available hand sanitizer, the CNA admitted to skipping hand hygiene due to nervousness and uncertainty about glove usage. The DON confirmed the lapse, noting the CNA's nervousness and overuse of gloves.
The facility failed to develop and update comprehensive care plans for residents, leading to deficiencies in care. A resident with contractures did not have interventions in her care plan, and another resident's care plan lacked updates for a scoop mattress and discontinued BiPAP use. Staff interviews revealed communication breakdowns and oversight in care plan management.
The facility failed to re-order medications timely for five residents, risking medication shortages. A resident with congestive heart failure and another with acute kidney failure faced Lasix shortages due to a medication aide's oversight. Another resident with heart failure had insufficient Entresto. A resident with hypertension had only one Metoprolol tablet left, and a resident with GERD required emergency kit Famotidine due to re-order delays. The DON and Administrator stressed timely re-ordering per policy to prevent missed doses.
A long-term care facility failed to maintain an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program, leading to several deficiencies. A resident's PICC line was left uncapped by an LVN, increasing the risk of infection. Additionally, multiple staff members did not adhere to proper glove use and hand hygiene protocols during incontinence care, risking cross-contamination. These lapses were acknowledged by the staff and confirmed by the DON and Administrator, indicating a gap between policy and practice.
A resident with cognitive impairments was at risk due to the facility's failure to investigate alleged misappropriation of property by her friend, who had Power of Attorney. Despite staff suspicions and a report to Adult Protective Services, the facility did not conduct a thorough investigation, contrary to its policy.
A facility failed to provide timely incontinence care to a resident who required extensive assistance, leaving her soaked in urine and with a bowel movement from morning until afternoon. Despite the facility's policy to check and change incontinent residents every two hours, staff interviews revealed a lack of adherence, resulting in discomfort and redness for the resident. The DON acknowledged the risk of skin breakdown and infections due to this failure.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and incontinence issues did not receive proper perineal care from a nursing assistant, who failed to clean the genital area adequately and did not follow hand hygiene protocols. This oversight could lead to urinary tract infections and skin breakdown.
A facility failed to update the labeling on a resident's Sertraline blister pack, resulting in a discrepancy between the blister pack and the eMAR. The blister pack indicated a 50 mg dosage, while the eMAR showed a new dosage of 100 mg. Staff interviews revealed that the facility's procedure required a change of instruction sticker on the blister pack when orders changed, which was not done, potentially leading to medication errors.
A resident with a seizure disorder did not have physician orders for Dilantin level lab draws transcribed into their clinical record, and the facility failed to promptly notify the physician of elevated lab results. The resident's care plan required lab monitoring and reporting, but records lacked documentation of orders and notifications. Staff interviews revealed misunderstandings about order transcription and notification documentation, leading to delays in physician notification and follow-up.
A resident with dementia and anxiety expressed dissatisfaction with the facility's food, stating it was unappetizing and that she was unaware of alternative meal options. Observations confirmed that while meal times and menus were posted, there was no information about alternative options or snacks. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that the Spring menu lacked alternative options, unlike previous menus, and the facility's dietary policy did not address this issue.
The facility failed to ensure no more than 14 hours between the evening meal and breakfast unless a snack was provided, affecting all residents. Meal times were posted, but no information on snack availability was given. Residents were not routinely offered snacks, and staff did not inform them of available options. The spring menu lacked alternative meal options, unlike previous menus.
The facility failed to dispose of an expired graham cracker crust found in the kitchen freezer, violating food service safety standards. The Dietary Manager confirmed the oversight and acknowledged the risk of food-borne illness from serving expired food.
Failure to Secure Medications and Topical Treatments in Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store drugs and biologicals in accordance with state and federal regulations, resulting in multiple instances where medications and topical treatments were left unsecured in resident rooms. Surveyors observed wound cleansers, antiseptic skin cleansers, barrier creams, nystatin powder, and povidone-iodine sachets left in plain sight in the room of a cognitively intact female resident with multiple sclerosis and a surgical wound. There was no assessment for self-administration of medications, nor any documentation indicating the resident was competent to manage her own medications. The resident confirmed that the nurse performed her wound care and that no one had discussed the risks of having these items in her room. In another case, a female resident with dementia and moderate cognitive impairment was found to have a basket containing a squeeze eye drop bottle, hemorrhoid ointment, hydrocortisone ointment, and triple antibiotic ointment in her room. There were no physician orders for these medications, no assessment for self-administration, and no evidence the resident was competent to manage her own medications. The resident did not respond when asked about the medications, and staff later confirmed these items should not have been accessible. Additional observations included a cognitively intact female resident with no current wounds who had two containers of wound cleanser in her room, and another cognitively intact female resident with urinary and bowel incontinence who had sachets of skin barrier ointment left on her side table, including an open sachet with ointment residue. Staff interviews confirmed that medications and topical treatments should not be left in resident rooms unless a proper assessment for self-administration had been completed, and that these items should be stored securely to prevent misuse or accidental ingestion by residents.
Unlocked Wound Care Cart with Unsecured Keys Left Unattended
Penalty
Summary
A wound care cart was observed parked in the hallway in front of the nurses' station, left unlocked with keys placed on top of the cart. The drawers of the cart, which contained various wound care supplies including ointments, creams, wound cleansers, and other medical items, were easily accessible to anyone passing by, including residents, staff, and visitors. Multiple staff and residents were seen passing in front of the cart, and the drawers could be opened without restriction. The cart was not under the direct observation of authorized staff at the time of the observation. Interviews with the ADON, DON, and the Administrator confirmed that facility policy requires all carts containing drugs and biologicals to be locked when unattended and that keys should not be left unsecured. The DON identified that the night nurse had left the cart unlocked and the keys on top of it. LVN A admitted to forgetting to lock the cart and secure the keys after providing wound care earlier that morning, citing being busy as a factor but acknowledging that this was not an acceptable excuse.
Infection Control Lapse During Incontinence Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program, as evidenced by the actions of CNA B during incontinence care for Resident #5. Resident #5, a female with a history of urinary tract infection and incontinence, was observed receiving care from CNA B, who did not perform hand hygiene between glove changes. This lapse in protocol occurred despite the presence of hand sanitizer in the room and the facility's policy requiring handwashing after direct resident contact. CNA B, who had been trained on hand hygiene, admitted to not using hand sanitizer or washing her hands each time she changed gloves, citing nervousness during observation and uncertainty about glove usage when only urine was present. The Director of Nursing confirmed that CNA B should have adhered to hand hygiene protocols and noted that CNA B was likely overusing gloves due to nervousness, leading to a shortage before completing the care task. The facility's policy on perineal care did not specify glove use, which may have contributed to the oversight.
Deficiencies in Comprehensive Care Planning
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure comprehensive care plans were developed and updated for several residents, leading to deficiencies in care. Resident #6, a severely cognitively impaired female with contractures in her right hand, did not have her contractures addressed in her care plan. Despite receiving occupational therapy services, there were no recent orders for therapy, and observations revealed that hand splints were not consistently used. Interviews with staff indicated a lack of clarity on who was responsible for splint placement, and the Director of Rehabilitation acknowledged the oversight in therapy orders and care plan updates. Resident #16, also severely cognitively impaired, had contractures in her hands and elbows that were not addressed in her care plan. Although there were physician orders for the use of bilateral c-splints, observations showed that the splints were not in use during the survey. Interviews with nursing staff and the MDS Coordinator revealed that the care plan should have included interventions for contracture management, and the failure to update the care plan was acknowledged as a risk for further decline in the resident's condition. Resident #49's care plan did not include the use of a scoop mattress, despite a hospice order for it due to the resident's history of falls. Interviews with staff, including the DON, revealed a lack of awareness about the hospice order and the presence of the scoop mattress, indicating a communication breakdown between hospice and facility staff. Similarly, Resident #287's care plan was not updated to reflect the discontinuation of BiPAP use, leading to potential confusion in care. Interviews with the DON and other staff confirmed that the care plan should have been revised to reflect the resident's current needs, highlighting an oversight in care plan management.
Medication Re-ordering Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely re-ordering of medications for five residents, leading to a risk of medication shortages. Resident #289, a female with congestive heart failure, was prescribed Lasix, a diuretic, to manage fluid overload. However, the medication aide, MA L, did not re-order the medication in time, leaving only one tablet remaining. Similarly, Resident #290, a male with acute kidney failure, also faced a shortage of Lasix due to the same oversight by MA L. Resident #61, a male with biventricular heart failure, was prescribed Entresto, but the medication was not re-ordered timely, resulting in only three tablets left. MA L acknowledged the failure to re-order these medications and noted that skipping doses could exacerbate the residents' conditions. Resident #79, a female with hypertension, was prescribed Metoprolol, an anti-hypertensive medication. The medication aide, MA J, failed to re-order the medication in a timely manner, leaving only one tablet available. MA J confirmed the oversight and recognized the potential for worsening medical conditions if the medication was not administered as prescribed. Additionally, Resident #16, a female with gastro-esophageal reflux disease, was prescribed Famotidine. LVN B had to use the last tablet from the emergency kit due to a delay in re-ordering, which was attributed to weather-related delivery issues. LVN B acknowledged that medications should be re-ordered before reaching the refill point to avoid such situations. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator both emphasized the importance of timely medication re-ordering to prevent residents from running out of their prescribed medications. The facility's policy required medications to be re-ordered seven days in advance to ensure an adequate supply. The failure to adhere to this policy resulted in the potential for residents to miss critical doses, which could worsen their medical conditions.
Infection Control Deficiencies in LTC Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program, resulting in several deficiencies related to infection control practices. One significant issue involved a resident with a PICC line, which was not capped by an LVN after disconnection from an IV bag. This oversight occurred despite the resident's ongoing treatment for osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection, and the facility's policy requiring a closed system for PICC lines to prevent contamination and infection. Additionally, multiple instances of improper glove use and hand hygiene were observed during incontinence care for several residents. In one case, a CNA failed to change gloves and perform hand hygiene after cleaning a resident's buttocks, subsequently contaminating a clean brief. Similar lapses were noted with other CNAs and an LVN, who did not change gloves or wash hands between handling soiled and clean items, increasing the risk of cross-contamination and infection among residents. The facility's policies on hand hygiene and glove use were not adhered to, as evidenced by staff failing to change gloves and perform hand hygiene at critical points during resident care. These actions, or lack thereof, were acknowledged by the staff involved, who recognized the importance of proper infection control practices to prevent the spread of germs and infections. The DON and Administrator also confirmed the expectations for staff to follow these protocols, highlighting a gap between policy and practice.
Failure to Investigate Alleged Misappropriation of Property
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to thoroughly investigate an alleged misappropriation of property involving a resident's friend who had obtained a Power of Attorney. The incident was reported to the state on 01/11/2024, but the administrator did not initiate a comprehensive investigation. This oversight placed residents at risk for unidentified misappropriation of property. Resident #138, a female with dementia, schizophrenia, cognitive communication deficit, and end-stage renal disease, was the subject of the investigation. She had a BIMS score indicating moderately impaired cognition and required moderate assistance with daily activities. Concerns arose when her friend, who was appointed as her Power of Attorney, began showing a sudden interest in her finances, prompting the facility's Social Services staff to file a report with Adult Protective Services. Interviews with facility staff, including the Business Office Manager and the Director of Nursing, revealed that the friend's actions raised suspicions of financial exploitation. Despite these concerns, the facility did not follow through with a thorough investigation to ensure the resident's finances were protected. The facility's policy mandates immediate reporting and investigation of such allegations, but this was not adhered to in this case.
Failure to Provide Timely Incontinence Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary incontinence care to a resident who required extensive assistance with activities of daily living. On the specified date, the resident, who was cognitively intact and had a history of atrial fibrillation, depression, and bipolar disorder, was not changed from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. despite being incontinent of both bladder and bowel. The resident expressed that she was not changed throughout the day and was left in a wet state until after her last smoke break in the evening. This lack of timely care was confirmed during an observation when the resident was found soaked in urine and had a bowel movement, causing discomfort and redness on her buttocks. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of adherence to the facility's policy of checking and changing incontinent residents every two hours. The LVN and CNAs involved were unsure if the resident had been changed earlier in the shift, and it was noted that the resident was not checked for incontinence until after her last smoke break. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that failing to provide timely incontinence care could lead to skin breakdown and urinary tract infections. The facility's policy emphasized the importance of removing urine or feces from the skin and providing dry, odor-free perineal care every two hours.
Inadequate Incontinence Care for Male Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate incontinence care for a resident, leading to a potential risk of urinary tract infections and skin breakdown. The resident, a male with severe cognitive impairment and a history of diabetes, stroke, and dementia, required extensive assistance with personal hygiene and was frequently incontinent of urine and always incontinent of bowel. During an observation, a nursing assistant (NA) did not properly clean the resident's genital area after an incontinent episode. The NA failed to clean the resident's scrotum and penis, did not pull back the foreskin to clean the tip of the penis, and did not change gloves or perform hand hygiene after handling soiled materials. The NA admitted to being unsure about the proper steps for male perineal care and acknowledged missing critical steps that could lead to infections and skin breakdown. Despite having been assessed as competent in providing male perineal care, the NA did not follow the facility's procedure, which includes using a different section of the wipe for each stroke and performing hand hygiene after removing gloves. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the failure to provide accurate incontinent care placed residents at risk for infections and poor hygiene.
Medication Labeling Discrepancy for Antidepressant
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that medication was labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles for a resident, leading to a discrepancy between the medication blister pack and the electronic medication administration record (eMAR). Specifically, the blister pack for Sertraline, an antidepressant medication, was labeled with an outdated dosage instruction of 50 mg, while the eMAR indicated a new dosage of 100 mg. This discrepancy was identified during an observation and interview with a medication aide (MA L), who acknowledged the inconsistency and the absence of a change of instruction label on the blister pack. Interviews with staff, including another medication aide (MA J) and the Director of Nursing (DON), revealed that the facility's procedure required staff to place a change of instruction sticker on the blister pack when there was a change in medication order. The failure to update the blister pack label could lead to medication errors, such as overmedication or undermedication, posing potential risks to the resident's health. The facility's policy on medication orders emphasized the importance of transcribing new orders and discontinuing previous entries to prevent such errors.
Failure to Transcribe Lab Orders and Notify Physician of Abnormal Results
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that physician orders were obtained for lab services and did not promptly notify the physician of laboratory results that were outside of clinical reference ranges for a resident. Specifically, the facility did not transcribe physician orders for a Dilantin level lab draw into the resident's clinical record on two occasions. Additionally, the facility did not provide timely notification to the physician or nurse practitioner of the lab results that indicated elevated Dilantin levels, which were outside the reference range. The resident involved was a severely cognitively impaired female with a history of aphasia, stroke, dementia, and seizure disorder. Her care plan included obtaining and monitoring lab work as ordered and reporting results to the medical team. However, the facility's records did not reflect any orders for the Dilantin level lab requests, nor did they document the notification of the physician regarding the lab results received. Interviews with facility staff revealed that there was a misunderstanding regarding the transcription of lab orders into the electronic record and the documentation of physician notifications. The staff assumed that placing the order request into the lab portal created the physician's order and did not realize the need to update the resident's clinical record. This oversight led to delays in notifying the physician of lab results and any necessary follow-up actions.
Failure to Provide Alternative Meal Options
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced diet that meets the daily nutritional and special dietary needs of a resident, specifically Resident #31. This resident, an elderly female with diagnoses including unspecified dementia and anxiety, expressed dissatisfaction with the food, stating it was not appetizing and that she was unaware of available meal options. During a group meeting, residents indicated that if a food item was not on the menu, it was not considered an option, and they were unaware of alternative food choices. Observations revealed that while meal times and menus were posted near the dining room, there was no information about alternative meal options or snacks available between meals. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the Spring menu, which had recently started, did not include alternative meal options, unlike the Fall/Winter menu cycle. A review of the facility's dietary policy from June 2017 showed it did not address alternative meal options for residents, contributing to the deficiency in meeting residents' dietary needs and preferences.
Failure to Provide Timely Snacks Between Meals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that there were no more than 14 hours between the substantial evening meal and breakfast the following day, unless a nourishing snack was provided at bedtime. This deficiency was observed for one resident, but it potentially affected all 70 residents who received meals from the facility's only kitchen. The posted meal service times indicated that breakfast was served from 7:30 to 9:30 AM, lunch from 11:45 AM to 1:45 PM, and the evening meal from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. However, there was no posting to inform residents about the availability of snacks after these specified times. Interviews with residents and staff revealed that residents were not made aware of snack options, and staff did not routinely offer snacks to residents. During a confidential Resident Council meeting, all six residents present confirmed that they were not offered any bedtime snacks. The facility's policies and procedures, dated June 2017, stated that meals should be served at the specified times, but there was no specific policy for snacks. The Dietary Manager (DM) indicated that staff could request snacks for residents, but options were not provided to them. The DM also mentioned that the spring menu did not include options for alternative meals, unlike the fall and winter menus. This lack of communication and failure to offer snacks as required contributed to the deficiency.
Expired Food Item Found in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food service safety by not properly storing and disposing of expired food items in the kitchen. During an observation, a large plastic bag of graham cracker crust was found in the freezer, which had expired. The dietary staff did not dispose of this expired food item, which is a violation of the facility's food storage policy. The Dietary Manager (DM) confirmed the surveyor's observations during an interview and acknowledged the oversight in food storage. The DM admitted responsibility for ensuring proper storage of food products and recognized the potential risk of food-borne illness from serving expired food. The facility's policy on food receiving and storage mandates that food must be labeled and dated according to applicable regulations, which was not followed in this instance.
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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