Park Manor Of Quail Valley
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Missouri City, Texas.
- Location
- 2350 Fm 1092, Missouri City, Texas 77459
- CMS Provider Number
- 676073
- Inspections on file
- 27
- Latest survey
- June 24, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 11 (1 serious)
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Park Manor Of Quail Valley during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Two residents were not adequately supervised or provided with proper safety interventions: one continued to smoke while on oxygen despite known risks and repeated staff awareness, and another was found with a detached bed rail despite being a fall risk. Staff interviews and documentation confirmed that interventions were not effectively implemented or monitored, resulting in exposure to potential harm.
A resident with a Foley catheter was observed with an uncovered catheter bag, visible from the bedside, after being readmitted from the hospital. Despite facility policy and recent staff training on maintaining resident dignity and privacy, nursing staff failed to place a privacy cover on the catheter bag, and the omission was not corrected during routine rounds. The resident, who was cognitively intact, expressed a preference for the bag to be covered, and staff acknowledged the oversight was due to a busy shift and not following established protocols.
A resident with moderately impaired cognition and limited mobility was found in bed with her call light on the floor and out of reach, despite her care plan and facility policy requiring it to be accessible. Staff interviews confirmed awareness of the requirement, but the deficiency was observed during the survey.
Two residents receiving anticoagulant medications did not have comprehensive, person-centered care plans addressing this therapy. Both had significant cognitive impairments and required substantial assistance with ADLs, yet their care plans lacked documentation of anticoagulant use or related interventions. The MDS Coordinator and DON confirmed the omission, which was not in accordance with facility policy requiring care plans with measurable objectives and timetables.
Two residents did not receive proper incontinent and catheter care, as CNAs failed to perform hand hygiene and did not clean the perineal or catheter insertion sites according to facility policy. These actions were observed during care for residents with complex medical needs, and staff interviews confirmed the lapses despite prior training.
Surveyors found expired hydrocortisone acetate suppositories in the medication storage room that belonged to a resident who had already been discharged. The medications remained in storage past the resident's discharge and the prescribed administration period, contrary to facility policy requiring discontinued or outdated drugs to be returned or destroyed. Staff interviews confirmed that the process for checking expired medications was not consistently followed.
A medication storage room was found to contain hydrocortisone acetate suppositories labeled for a resident who had already been discharged. The medication, which was no longer needed, remained in the fridge despite facility policy requiring discontinued drugs to be removed. Staff interviews confirmed that checks for expired or discontinued medications were not consistently documented or followed.
The facility did not have an infection prevention and control program in place, as observed and documented by surveyors during their review of facility practices and records.
A COTA used a resident's debit card and cellphone without authorization, resulting in unauthorized withdrawals and a gas station purchase while the resident was admitted and unable to leave the facility. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had significant medical conditions, reported the incident after noticing suspicious transactions and missing funds. Staff statements and bank records confirmed the unauthorized use, with the COTA's first name appearing as the recipient of electronic transfers.
A resident with multiple medical conditions reported that a COTA accessed his debit card and cellphone, resulting in unauthorized Cash App withdrawals and a gas station purchase. The COTA handled the resident's clothing containing the bank card during wound care and later used the resident's phone during therapy. The resident's bank confirmed the transactions, and screenshots showed the COTA's first name as the recipient. The facility failed to prevent the misappropriation of the resident's property.
The facility failed to ensure resident privacy by not securing signed consents for security cameras and not closing the door or pulling the privacy curtain during personal care for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions. The resident was exposed and visible from the hallway while being repositioned by a CNA.
The facility failed to complete and transmit the MDS assessments for two discharged residents within the required timeframe. Interviews revealed that the delays were due to personal issues faced by the LVN responsible for the assessments, who was working from home and caring for a sick family member.
The facility failed to accurately code a resident's discharge MDS assessment, documenting the resident as discharged to a hospital instead of home. Interviews revealed the error was due to high discharge volumes and insufficient review processes.
The facility failed to develop and implement comprehensive care plans for two residents. One resident's care plan did not address the use of a foley catheter, and another resident's care plan did not include the use of geri-sleeves as ordered by the physician. These deficiencies could lead to inadequate care for the residents.
A facility failed to ensure proper catheter care and hand hygiene for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions. CNA A did not clean the catheter correctly and failed to follow hand hygiene protocols, increasing the risk of infection. The DON and ADON confirmed the lapses in care, and CNA A admitted to not having received proper in-service training.
The facility failed to ensure proper medication management, including the accurate acquisition, receipt, dispensing, and administration of drugs and biologicals. A resident had unauthorized eye drops at her bedside, and multiple medication carts and storage areas contained discontinued and improperly labeled medications. Staff interviews revealed non-adherence to the facility's policies on medication administration and storage.
The facility failed to ensure that all drugs and biologicals were stored in locked storage areas and limited access to authorized personnel. A resident, who was legally blind, had lubricant eye drops on her bedside table, which were not stored in a locked compartment. The resident reported not receiving her prescribed eye drops, and the facility's staff were unaware of the medication being at the bedside. The facility's policies required medications to be stored in locked compartments and only administered by authorized personnel unless a resident was care planned for self-administration, which was not the case for this resident.
A CNA failed to wash or sanitize her hands after removing dirty gloves and before handling clean linens, placing a resident at risk for infection. The resident had multiple health issues and required frequent care. The facility's policy mandated hand hygiene, which was not followed.
Failure to Prevent Accident Hazards and Ensure Resident Supervision
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents for two residents. One resident, who was on continuous oxygen therapy and had a history of heart failure, hypertension, and COPD, was repeatedly found smoking while oxygen was being administered. Despite being care planned as a current smoker at risk for adverse effects and having a behavioral contract in place, the resident was observed smoking with oxygen in use on multiple occasions, both on facility premises and in the adjacent building's parking lot. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident continued to smoke with oxygen, and interventions such as education and behavioral contracts did not prevent the behavior. Documentation showed that the resident had cigarettes and a lighter in his room, and staff were aware of his noncompliance but did not implement further effective interventions. Another resident, who had a history of falls, Parkinsonism, and severe cognitive impairment, was found with a bed rail/assistance bar detached and lying on the floor next to his bed. The resident required substantial assistance with activities of daily living and was considered a fall risk. Staff observed the detached bed rail and reported it to the Maintenance Director, who repaired it after being notified. The care plan for this resident included interventions for fall risk, such as a low bed and fall mats, but did not specifically address the secure attachment of the bed rail. Interviews with staff and the Maintenance Director confirmed that the bed rail had become detached due to a missing screw and that all staff were responsible for reporting such hazards. The deficiency was identified through observation, interview, and record review, revealing that the facility did not provide adequate supervision or ensure the implementation and monitoring of interventions to prevent accidents. The lack of effective follow-up and modification of interventions for residents who were noncompliant with safety policies, as well as the failure to ensure the secure attachment of safety devices, exposed residents to potential harm, injury, or death due to inadequate monitoring and hazard prevention.
Failure to Provide Privacy Cover for Foley Catheter Bag
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a male resident, recently readmitted from the hospital with a diagnosis including benign prostatic hyperplasia, sepsis, and osteomyelitis, was observed with his Foley catheter bag hanging uncovered and visible from his bed. The resident, who was cognitively intact and able to express his needs, was unaware that his catheter bag was not covered and expressed a preference for it to have been concealed. The facility's staff confirmed that the resident was admitted with the catheter system in place and that the hospital had not provided a privacy cover for the bag. Despite the facility's policy and staff training emphasizing the importance of maintaining resident dignity and privacy, the nursing staff failed to place a privacy cover on the resident's Foley catheter bag upon admission. The responsibility to ensure the catheter bag was covered fell to the nursing staff, who admitted to forgetting this step due to a busy shift with multiple admissions. The omission was not corrected during subsequent rounds, and the bag remained uncovered until it was brought to the attention of the staff during the surveyor's observation. Interviews with the RN, DON, and Administrator confirmed that the oversight was due to staff being occupied with other tasks and not following through with established protocols for resident privacy. The facility's own policies and recent in-service training highlighted the need to protect resident dignity by covering catheter bags, but these were not adhered to in this instance, resulting in a lapse in the resident's right to privacy.
Failure to Ensure Call Light Accessibility for Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to ensure that a resident's call light was within reach while the resident was in bed. Observations showed that the call light was on the floor near the nightstand, and the resident, who was lying on her right side facing the window, was unable to reach it. The resident confirmed during an interview that she could not access the call light. The resident's care plan specifically required that the call light be within reach and that she be encouraged to use it for assistance as needed. The resident had moderately impaired cognition, required moderate assistance with transfers, and was at risk for falls due to limited mobility and weakness. Multiple staff interviews, including with CNAs, an LVN, the ADON, and the DON, confirmed that the call light should always be within reach of the resident, as per facility policy and in-service education. Staff acknowledged that failure to provide access to the call light could result in the resident attempting to assist herself, potentially leading to falls. The facility's policy also stated that the call light must be within easy reach when a resident is in bed or confined to a chair. Despite these guidelines and staff awareness, the call light was not accessible to the resident at the time of observation.
Failure to Develop Comprehensive Care Plans for Anticoagulant Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement comprehensive, person-centered care plans for two residents who were receiving anticoagulant medications. For both residents, the care plans did not include anticoagulant use as a focus area, and there were no documented interventions or dates provided to address this aspect of their care. Record reviews confirmed that both residents had significant cognitive impairments and required substantial to maximal assistance with activities of daily living. Despite these needs and the administration of anticoagulants, their care plans lacked any mention of this medication or related care strategies. Interviews with the MDS Coordinator confirmed that she was responsible for completing care plans and acknowledged the absence of care plans addressing anticoagulant use for both residents. The Director of Nursing also confirmed the importance of comprehensive care plans and recognized that not having them could result in negative outcomes, such as bleeding or bruising. Facility policy requires that comprehensive, person-centered care plans with measurable objectives and timetables be developed and implemented for each resident, but this was not followed in these cases.
Deficient Incontinent and Catheter Care Leading to Infection Control Lapses
Penalty
Summary
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) failed to provide proper incontinent and catheter care for two residents, resulting in deficiencies related to infection prevention and appropriate hygiene. For one resident with an indwelling Foley catheter and multiple complex medical diagnoses, including osteomyelitis, pressure ulcer, and functional quadriplegia, a CNA did not perform hand hygiene before care, did not open the labia to clean the catheter insertion site, and inadequately cleaned the resident after a large bowel movement. The CNA acknowledged not following proper technique and recognized that this could contribute to urinary tract infections (UTIs). Another resident with a history of cerebral infarction, hemiplegia, and other chronic conditions also received improper incontinent care. During care, the CNA did not open the labia to clean the perineal area, despite the presence of a strong urine odor. The CNA later admitted she should have opened the labia more thoroughly and had received prior training on the correct procedure. Facility policy requires specific steps for catheter and perineal care, including cleaning from the insertion site outward and performing hand hygiene before and after resident care. Interviews with staff and review of training records confirmed that initial and ongoing training was provided, but the observed care did not meet facility standards or policy requirements. These lapses in care were directly observed by surveyors and confirmed through staff interviews.
Expired Medications Found in Medication Storage Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services that ensured the accurate acquiring, receiving, dispensing, and administering of all drugs and biologicals to meet the needs of each resident. During an observation of the medication storage room, surveyors found 15 hydrocortisone acetate 25mg suppositories with an expiration date of 05/2025 that belonged to a resident who had been discharged on 04/12/2025. These medications were still stored in the medication room refrigerator despite the resident's discharge and the medication order being for a 30-day period, which had already elapsed. The facility's policy required that discontinued or outdated drugs be returned to the pharmacy or destroyed, but this was not followed in this instance. Interviews with staff revealed that the ADON was responsible for checking the medication storage room for expired medications, with the DON overseeing this process. The ADON stated she last checked the room the previous week but could not recall the specific day. Both the LVN and ADON acknowledged that expired medications could place residents at risk for adverse reactions. The facility's policy, revised in April 2007, specified that nursing staff must maintain medication storage areas in a safe and sanitary manner and not use discontinued or outdated drugs, which was not adhered to in this case.
Failure to Remove Discontinued Medication from Storage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were labeled and stored in accordance with professional standards, as evidenced by the presence of 15 hydrocortisone acetate 25mg suppositories in the medication storage room that were labeled for a resident who had already been discharged. The medication, which had an expiration date of 05/2025, was found in the fridge during an observation, despite the resident's discharge on 04/12/2025. Record review confirmed that the medication was prescribed for rectal pain and was administered as ordered during the resident's stay. Interviews with staff revealed that the ADON was responsible for checking the medication storage room for expired medications, with the last check reportedly occurring the previous week, though the exact date was not recalled. The DON confirmed that the ADON was tasked with weekly checks and that she was responsible for ensuring this process was followed. Facility policy required that discontinued or outdated drugs be returned to the pharmacy or destroyed, but this was not adhered to in this instance, resulting in the continued storage of medication belonging to a discharged resident.
Failure to Implement Infection Prevention and Control Program
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. This deficiency was identified during the survey process, as the facility did not have an established or operational program to prevent and control infections among residents and staff. The absence of such a program was directly observed and documented by surveyors during their review of facility practices and documentation. No specific residents or staff members were identified in the report, and no additional details regarding individual medical histories or conditions at the time of the deficiency were provided.
Unauthorized Use of Resident's Debit Card and Cellphone by COTA
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) used a resident's debit card and cellphone without authorization, resulting in the loss of $45.00 from the resident's bank account and $250.00 through electronic fund transfers. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had diagnoses including cerebrovascular disease and bladder cancer, reported that the COTA requested to use his cellphone under the pretense of playing music during a therapy session. Shortly after, the resident received notifications from his bank regarding suspicious transactions, including Cash App withdrawals and a gas station purchase, all occurring while the resident was admitted and unable to leave the facility. The incident was corroborated by multiple staff statements and documentation. The Director of Rehab Services (DORS) observed the resident showing bank account information with pending withdrawals, and screenshots of the transactions were captured. The resident's bank card had been in his pants, which were handled by the COTA during a wound care session the previous evening. The card was later reported missing, and subsequent bank records confirmed unauthorized transactions, some of which listed the COTA's first name as the recipient. Interviews with staff, including the LVN and DORS, confirmed the sequence of events leading to the loss of funds. The COTA denied making any purchases but admitted to using the resident's phone briefly. The facility's investigation found that the resident's bank card was used at a gas station and for electronic transfers while the resident was in the facility. The resident expressed feeling upset and taken advantage of as a result of these actions.
Failure to Prevent Misappropriation of Resident Property by Staff
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to protect a cognitively intact male resident from misappropriation of property and exploitation. The resident, who had diagnoses including cerebrovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, and bladder cancer, reported that his debit card was missing after a therapy session and that unauthorized transactions had been made from his account. The resident stated that during a wound care session, his soiled pants containing his bank card were handled by a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA), and later, during a therapy session, the COTA requested the resident's phone to play music. Shortly after, the resident received a call from his bank regarding suspicious transactions, including Cash App withdrawals and a gas station purchase. The facility's records and interviews confirmed that the COTA had access to both the resident's phone and his personal belongings during the relevant timeframes. The resident showed screenshots of the unauthorized transactions, which included the COTA's first name as the recipient on the Cash App. The bank confirmed several attempted and successful transactions, including a $34.83 gas purchase and $150 in Cash App withdrawals. The COTA denied any involvement but admitted to using the resident's phone to play music. The missing bank card was not recovered, and the transactions occurred while the resident was admitted and unable to leave the facility. Staff interviews and documentation indicated that the COTA was present during the wound care session and had handled the resident's clothing. The Director of Rehabilitation Services and Social Worker both reviewed the resident's account and confirmed the timing and nature of the transactions. The facility's policies required staff to report any suspected misappropriation of property, and the COTA had previously received training on abuse, neglect, and resident rights. Despite these policies, the facility failed to prevent the wrongful use of the resident's belongings and money.
Failure to Ensure Resident Privacy During Personal Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure personal privacy for residents by not securing signed consents for the use of security cameras for one resident and by not closing the door or pulling the privacy curtain when providing personal care to another resident. Specifically, Resident #52, a male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions, was observed lying in bed with the door open and the privacy curtain not pulled while a CNA was repositioning him. The resident was exposed and could be seen from the hallway. The CNA admitted to not remembering to close the door or curtain during the care process. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that staff are expected to provide privacy by either closing the door or pulling the privacy curtain when providing care. The DON mentioned that Resident #52's family did not want the curtain pulled or the door closed during care, but emphasized that the expectation is to maintain privacy and dignity for all residents. The facility's policy on Resident Rights, revised in February 2023, also states that personal privacy includes accommodations and personal care.
Failure to Timely Complete and Transmit MDS Assessments for Discharged Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments for two discharged residents were completed and transmitted within the required timeframe. Specifically, the discharge MDS for one resident, who was discharged home with multiple diagnoses including rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral vascular disease, and acute kidney failure, was not completed until over a month after the discharge date. Similarly, the discharge MDS for another resident, who was discharged home with home health care and had diagnoses including age-related osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus, was also completed over two months after the discharge date. Interviews with the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) responsible for the MDS assessments revealed that the delays were due to personal issues faced by the LVN, who was working from home and caring for a sick family member at the time. The DON acknowledged the importance of timely and accurate MDS coding for ensuring proper resident care and facility reimbursement. The LVN admitted that the MDS assessments should have been completed within 24 to 48 hours of discharge but were delayed due to her personal circumstances.
Inaccurate MDS Assessment Coding
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure assessments accurately reflected the status for one resident reviewed for MDS assessments. Specifically, the facility inaccurately coded the discharge MDS assessment for a resident who was discharged home with family members. The resident, who had a medical history including gout, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and gastro-esophageal reflux, was documented as being discharged to a short-term general hospital instead of home. This discrepancy was identified through record reviews and staff interviews. Interviews with the facility's LVNs and DON revealed that the mistake occurred due to the high volume of discharges, leading to a mix-up in the resident's discharge status. The LVN responsible for the MDS admitted to the error, and the DON acknowledged that while the MDS was reviewed for accuracy, it was not checked line by line. The facility's policy for MDS did not address the accuracy of MDS completion, contributing to the oversight.
Failure to Implement Comprehensive Care Plans
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for Resident #52, who had a foley catheter. Despite the resident's medical records and MDS assessment indicating the presence of an indwelling catheter, the care plan did not address this critical aspect of the resident's care. LVN A, responsible for MDS coding and care plans, admitted to missing the inclusion of the catheter in the care plan, although it was coded in the MDS. This oversight could lead to staff not being adequately informed about the resident's catheter care needs, potentially affecting the quality of care provided to the resident. Additionally, the facility failed to ensure that Resident #8's care plan included the use of geri-sleeves, as ordered by the physician. Despite multiple incidents of skin tears and an active physician's order for geri-sleeves, observations revealed that Resident #8 was not wearing them at specified times. RN A noted that Resident #8 often removed the sleeves herself, especially when more alert, and staff would sometimes allow her to keep them off after multiple attempts to reapply them. This inconsistency in following the care plan could lead to further skin injuries for the resident. Both deficiencies highlight a lack of adherence to the facility's policy on comprehensive, person-centered care plans. The care plans for both residents did not include measurable objectives and timeframes to meet their medical needs, as required by the facility's policy. This failure in care planning could result in residents not receiving the appropriate care to address their current medical conditions and needs.
Improper Catheter Care and Hand Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident who was incontinent of bladder received appropriate treatment and services to prevent urinary tract infections. Specifically, CNA A did not clean Resident #52's indwelling Foley catheter properly and did not follow proper hand hygiene during incontinent care. During an observation, CNA A was seen cleaning the catheter from outward toward the urethral site instead of from the insertion site outward, and did not pull back the foreskin to clean properly. Additionally, CNA A did not change gloves or wash hands between tasks, which could increase the risk of infection. CNA B, who was assisting, confirmed these improper techniques and noted that CNA A placed dirty linen on the bedside table and a trash bag on the floor, further compromising hygiene standards. Resident #52, a male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions including cerebrovascular disease, hemiplegia, diabetes, and a history of urinary tract infections, was at risk due to these lapses in care. The Director of Nursing (DON) and Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) confirmed that the proper technique for cleaning indwelling catheters was not followed. CNA A admitted to not having received in-service training since starting at the facility and stated that her previous training differed from the facility's protocols. The facility's policy for catheter care was reviewed and it was found that the correct procedure was not adhered to during the observed care.
Medication Management Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were accurately acquired, received, dispensed, and administered in accordance with professional standards. This deficiency was observed in the case of a resident who had Equate lubricant eye drops at her bedside, which were not prescribed or documented for self-administration. The resident, who was legally blind and had a BIMS score indicating intact cognition, reported not receiving her prescribed eye drops and expressed discomfort due to dry eyes. The facility's policy on self-administration of medications was not followed, and the interdisciplinary team did not assess the resident's ability to self-administer medications safely. Additionally, the facility's medication carts and storage areas contained discontinued and improperly labeled medications. The 400-hall nurse's medication cart had discontinued medications and a jar of zinc oxide ointment without an expiration date. The refrigerator in the medication room contained insulin and latanoprost eye drops for residents who had been discharged, and some medications were not in their original delivery packets. The 100-hall medication aide's cart also contained discontinued medication for a resident who had been sent to the hospital. These lapses in medication management were acknowledged by the staff, who admitted that discontinued medications should be removed promptly to prevent errors. Interviews with the facility's staff, including the Administrator, DON, and unit managers, revealed a lack of adherence to the facility's policies on medication administration and storage. The staff admitted that medications found at residents' bedsides should be removed immediately and that discontinued medications should be taken out of the carts to avoid administration errors. The facility's policies on administering medications, self-administration of medications, and medication storage were not consistently followed, leading to potential risks for the residents.
Failure to Secure Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all drugs and biologicals were stored in locked storage areas and limited access to authorized personnel. This deficiency was observed in the case of a resident who had lubricant eye drops on her bedside table, which were not stored in a locked compartment. The resident, who was legally blind and had a BIMS score indicating intact cognition, reported that she had not received her prescribed eye drops and that the drops were taken by staff without being administered as ordered by her physician. The resident's medical records indicated that she had been prescribed Propylene Glycol Ophthalmic Solution to be administered twice daily, but there were no orders for self-administration of medications. Despite this, the resident had eye drops on her bedside table, which were observed by surveyors on multiple occasions. The resident expressed that she had not received her eye drops as prescribed and that her eyes felt uncomfortable. The facility's policies required medications to be stored in locked compartments and only administered by authorized personnel unless a resident was specifically care planned for self-administration, which was not the case for this resident. Interviews with the facility's staff, including the Administrator and the Director of Nursing (DON), revealed that they were not aware of the medication being at the resident's bedside and emphasized the importance of following the self-administration policy. The DON acknowledged that the resident was not care planned for self-administration and that the eye drops found at the bedside were placed in the medication cart. The facility's policies on medication administration and self-administration were reviewed, highlighting the requirement for medications to be administered safely and as prescribed, and for residents to self-administer only if deemed safe by the interdisciplinary care planning team.
Infection Control Deficiency Due to Improper Hand Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an infection prevention and control program, specifically in the case of a resident and a CNA. The CNA did not wash or sanitize her hands after removing dirty gloves and before handling clean linens, which were then placed on the resident's bedside table. This action was observed during an inspection, and the CNA admitted to not being specifically instructed to wash or sanitize hands when transitioning from dirty to clean surfaces, despite being trained on infection control in general. The resident involved was a severely cognitively impaired male with multiple health issues, including cerebrovascular disease, hemiplegia, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, severe sepsis, and dehydration. The resident's care plan required frequent checks and assistance with toileting, as well as the application of barrier cream after each incontinent episode. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the facility's policy mandated hand hygiene when moving from dirty to clean surfaces, and failure to do so could lead to infection. The facility's hand hygiene policy was reviewed and found to support this requirement.
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.



