Park View Nursing Care Center
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Muleshoe, Texas.
- Location
- 1100 W Ave J, Muleshoe, Texas 79347
- CMS Provider Number
- 676079
- Inspections on file
- 34
- Latest survey
- February 26, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 21 (2 serious)
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Park View Nursing Care Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility failed to maintain accurate accounting and recordkeeping for resident trust funds, affecting two cognitively intact residents who relied on the facility to manage their personal money. One resident reported requesting holiday gifts, snacks, soda, and a replacement cell phone through the Business Office Manager but did not receive or sign receipts, did not know the cost of the phone, and had only ever received a single account statement after specifically requesting it. Another resident stated she had a trust fund and used it as needed but had never received an accounting or quarterly statement. The former Business Office Manager acknowledged that in at least one case involving soda purchased by the Activity Director, no receipt was obtained and the resident did not sign anything. After the Business Office Manager left, corporate leadership found pouches with loose cash and notes but almost no receipts, and record review showed missing or incomplete documentation, unsigned or undated receipts, inconsistent signatures, and transactions not reflected in the trust fund ledger, all contrary to the facility’s own policy requiring complete, filed financial transaction records.
A resident with multiple chronic conditions and moderately impaired cognition died in the hospital after being transferred from the facility following a seizure and hemorrhagic stroke. After the resident’s death, facility leadership was aware that the resident had a substantial balance in a trust fund account but did not convey these funds within the 30-day period required by facility policy. Staff initially believed the resident had no family, then were informed by a former BOM that family existed but had no contact information, and the facility decided instead to return the funds to the state but had not completed this action. Review of records confirmed the unresolved trust fund balance and a written policy requiring refund and final accounting of personal funds within 30 days of death or discharge.
A resident with dementia, seizure disorder, chronic respiratory failure, atrial fibrillation, and on anticoagulant therapy was found unresponsive in bed with only minimal response to a sternal rub and later noted to have blood in the mouth from a bitten lip. The DON assessed the resident, documented unresponsiveness with stable VS and no apparent distress, instructed CNAs to monitor more closely, but did not notify the physician despite the resident’s significant neurological change and seizure history. On the following shift, LPN staff noted fluctuating alertness, then a decline in responsiveness, and during peri care the resident had seizure-like activity followed by unresponsiveness with shallow, labored respirations, prompting EMS transfer. The resident’s physician later stated he would have wanted to be notified of the unresponsiveness and lip-biting and would have ordered immediate hospital transfer, and facility policy required physician notification for acute changes in condition and level of consciousness.
A resident with a history of dementia, seizure disorder, atrial fibrillation, chronic respiratory failure, and anticoagulant use was found unresponsive in bed with normal VS and later noted to have blood in her mouth from a bitten lip. The DON assessed the resident, obtained only minimal response to a sternal rub, and documented that the resident remained unresponsive but breathing comfortably; however, the physician was not notified despite the resident’s significant change in LOC and possible seizure activity, contrary to the care plan and facility policy for acute condition changes. Oncoming nursing staff were told the resident had a bad night and was to be monitored; later that morning, the resident’s responsiveness declined further, she had a seizure during peri care, and EMS was called to transfer her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a large intracerebral hemorrhage and subsequently died. The resident’s physician stated he would have ordered immediate transfer had he been notified of the unresponsiveness and lip biting, and surveyors cited the facility under F684 for failing to provide care in accordance with professional standards and the resident’s care plan.
The facility did not have a state-licensed administrator appointed by the governing body for an extended period, as confirmed by staff interviews and record review. The previous administrator was terminated for lacking a current license, and although an interim administrator was present briefly, no permanent replacement had started. Staff reported concerns about lack of leadership and oversight due to this deficiency.
Two residents experienced medication errors when one, who was nonverbal and fully dependent, tested positive for barbiturates without a prescription, while another, prescribed Primidone (a barbiturate metabolite), missed two doses according to the MAR. Medications for both were stored next to each other in the med cart, and staff interviews revealed lapses in medication administration and documentation.
The facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food according to professional standards, with numerous items in the dry pantry and cold storage found unsealed, unlabeled, and undated. Additionally, dry pantry foods were not stored at the required height above the floor. The absence of a Dietary Manager and lack of policy on storage periods contributed to these deficiencies.
Two residents with cognitive impairments experienced falls resulting in injuries, which were not reported to the state agency within the required timeframe. The facility failed to investigate or report these incidents, despite having policies in place for such occurrences. Video footage showed one resident fell without staff present, and staff walked away shortly after.
Two residents with severe cognitive impairments experienced uninvestigated falls, resulting in injuries. The facility did not adhere to its policies on investigating and reporting incidents, as confirmed by video footage and staff interviews. This lack of action could place residents at risk of abuse and neglect.
The facility failed to ensure that an interim DON, an LVN, and two CNAs received training in essential care areas such as abuse prevention, HIV procedures, fall prevention, use of restraints, emergency procedures, and dementia care before interacting with residents. The administrator was unaware of the lack of training and assumed the agency had provided it, relying on a notebook of PowerPoint slides for training information.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses, including a history of falls, experienced an unwitnessed fall resulting in injuries due to the facility's failure to implement a comprehensive care plan. The care plan required constant supervision, which was not provided, leading to the resident being unsupervised for several minutes. Despite being assessed post-fall, concerns were raised about the lack of x-ray evaluation.
The facility did not have an RN on duty for at least 8 hours on a specific day, as required. This was confirmed by the BOM and noted during a review of the facility's records. Interviews with the ADON, an LVN, and the DON expressed concerns about the lack of RN coverage, including inadequate response to clinical issues and lack of management. The facility's policy for RN coverage was requested but not provided.
Failure to Maintain Accurate Trust Fund Accounting and Provide Resident Financial Records
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to properly manage and account for residents’ personal funds held in trust accounts. Two cognitively intact residents, a 65-year-old male with dementia, Bell’s palsy, depressive disorders, and Parkinson’s disease, and a 52-year-old female with multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, heart failure, and chronic pain, both had trust fund accounts managed by the facility. The facility did not maintain an accurate running ledger for these residents, did not consistently retain or associate receipts with trust fund transactions, and did not provide regular or requested account statements as required by policy. The male resident reported that in December he requested the Business Office Manager (BOM) to purchase Christmas presents and later requested snacks and multiple cartons of soda, as well as a replacement cell phone after his phone broke. He stated he did not see or sign receipts for these purchases, did not know the cost of the phone, and had not received receipts for purchases in January or February. He also reported that he had only ever received one account statement, in November, and only after specifically asking for it, and that he had not seen any accounting of what was purchased with his funds. The former BOM stated that when she gave money out she had residents sign receipts and claimed she always had residents sign receipts for purchases, but she acknowledged that in the case of the soda purchased by the Activity Director (AD), the resident was not made to sign a receipt and she did not receive a receipt for that purchase. The female resident stated she had a trust fund account, knew she had money in it, and used it as needed, but had never received an accounting of what was spent or a quarterly statement. The Administrator reported being unaware of any issues with trust fund accounts and noted that shopping duties had been switched from the former AD to the former BOM, though she could not recall when this occurred. The Corporate CEO reported that after the former BOM left, they found several zippered pouches with random $10 bills and little notes, but no receipts other than a few she had provided, and that she and the Administrator could not find further information on trust fund accounts. Record review showed that the facility bank statement for January did not reveal separate purchases for residents with trust funds, and the trust fund records for the male resident in December lacked receipts or itemized purchase information. Receipts that were produced for that resident’s purchases included several phone and snack purchases, some undated or unsigned, with signatures that appeared inconsistent, and these amounts were not listed in the facility’s trust fund paperwork, contrary to the facility’s written policy requiring safeguarding, managing, and accounting for residents’ personal funds and filing copies of all financial transactions in the resident’s permanent record.
Failure to Convey Deceased Resident’s Trust Funds Within Required Timeframe
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to convey a deceased resident’s personal funds within 30 days as required by policy. An 87-year-old female resident with unspecified dementia, chronic kidney disease, convulsions, depression, atrial fibrillation, and anemia was admitted to the facility and had a care plan noting incontinence, fall risk, and pain complaints. A quarterly MDS documented a BIMS score of 8/15, indicating moderately impaired cognition. Review of the admission packet showed no listed family members or power of attorney. Nurse’s notes documented that the resident had a seizure during peri care and was sent to the hospital, where hospital records indicated she had a hemorrhagic stroke and died. Following the resident’s death, the Corporate CEO acknowledged awareness that the resident had a balance in her trust fund account that had not been conveyed. The CEO stated that the resident had no visitors and was believed to have no family, but at the time of death the former BOM suddenly stated the resident did have family and that the money needed to go to them, although the facility had no information on the family. The CEO reported the facility had decided to send the money back to the state but had not yet done so and admitted knowing there was a 30-day timeframe to return the funds. Record review showed the resident’s trust fund account balance was $13,946.81, and the facility’s “Refunds” policy required that within 30 days of death or discharge, the facility refund the resident’s personal funds and provide a final accounting to the resident, the resident’s representative, or the resident’s estate.
Failure to Notify Physician of Significant Neurological Change and Unresponsiveness
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to consult a resident’s physician when there was a significant change in the resident’s physical and neurological status. The resident was an older female with multiple serious diagnoses, including dementia, Stage 4 chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, seizure disorder related to prior brain surgery, chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, multiple fractures, chronic pain, and long-term anticoagulant use. Her care plan included detailed seizure precautions and post‑seizure assessment and documentation requirements, as well as instructions to monitor and immediately notify the physician of signs and symptoms such as altered level of consciousness, changes in mental status, and neurological changes. On the night in question, the DON was working the floor when CNAs called her to the resident’s room at approximately 4:30 a.m. because the resident was unresponsive. The DON documented that the resident was unresponsive, with vital signs within normal limits, no distress, and breathing that was not labored, and that the resident appeared to be resting comfortably. The DON stated in interviews that the resident was not acting right, was unresponsive but still breathing, and only opened her eyes slightly in response to a sternal rub, with no other response to questions. About 20 minutes later, the DON was called back and found blood in the resident’s mouth; after cleaning, she determined the resident had bitten her bottom lip. The DON documented that the lip and mouth were cleansed and no further bleeding was noted, and she instructed CNAs to increase monitoring and report any changes. The DON did not notify the physician at either time, later acknowledging in interviews that she "absolutely should have called the doctor" but did not because it was early in the morning and she did not think the situation was serious. When the day shift began, LVN staff received report that the resident had a "bad night" and that the DON thought the resident might be septic, though vital signs were normal. LVN staff assessed the resident around the start of the shift and found vital signs to be fine and the resident more alert at that time. Later that morning, LVN staff observed that the resident was less responsive and appeared more worrisome, and CNAs were instructed to prepare her for transfer to the hospital. During peri care, the resident had seizure‑like activity lasting about 30 seconds, after which she was unresponsive with shallow, labored respirations and did not respond to tactile or painful stimuli. EMS was called and the resident was transported to the hospital. The resident’s physician stated in interview that he would have wanted to be notified if a resident was found unresponsive but still breathing and not talking after a sternal rub, or if a resident was unresponsive and had bitten her lip, and that if he had known of the unresponsiveness that morning, he would have had her sent to the hospital immediately. The facility’s own policy on acute condition changes required nursing staff to contact the physician based on the urgency of the situation, including for significant changes in neurological status and level of consciousness, which did not occur in this case.
Failure to Notify Physician of Resident’s Acute Neurological Change and Possible Seizure
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide treatment and care in accordance with professional standards of practice and the resident’s person-centered care plan when a resident experienced a significant change in condition. The resident was an elderly female with multiple serious diagnoses, including dementia, chronic kidney disease stage 4, atrial fibrillation, chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, seizure disorder related to prior meningioma resection, multiple fractures, COPD, hypertension, and long-term anticoagulant use. Her care plan included detailed interventions for seizure disorder, post-seizure treatment, seizure documentation, and seizure precautions, as well as monitoring and physician notification requirements for hematologic status, cardiac issues, and altered respiratory status. She was a DNR and the only listed responsible party. On the night in question, nursing notes documented that the DON was called to the resident’s room by CNAs at approximately 4:30 a.m. because the resident was unresponsive. The DON documented that the resident would not respond, but vital signs were within normal limits, breathing was not labored, and the resident appeared to be resting comfortably. The DON instructed CNAs to increase monitoring and report any changes. A short time later, around 4:40 a.m., the DON was called back due to blood in the resident’s mouth; after cleaning, it was apparent the resident had bitten her bottom lip. The DON documented that the lip and mouth were cleansed, no further bleeding was noted, and the resident was still sleeping very soundly with no distress noted. The physician was not contacted at either time despite the resident being unresponsive and having bitten her lip. In subsequent interviews, the DON acknowledged that at around 4:30 a.m. the resident was unresponsive but breathing, was not acting right, and only opened her eyes slightly to a sternal rub, with no other response to questions. The DON stated she did not call the physician because it was early in the morning, but that she should have done so at that time and again when blood was noted on the resident’s mouth. The DON reported that she gave report to the oncoming LVNs, told them she thought the resident was septic, and that vital signs were still normal, so the LVNs decided to monitor the resident. Later that morning, the resident’s condition worsened; during peri care she had seizure activity, became unresponsive with shallow, labored respirations, and EMS was called for transport to the hospital. Hospital records documented a large intracerebral hemorrhage and that the resident was minimally responsive and later died. The resident’s physician stated that if he had been notified that the resident was unresponsive and had possibly bitten her lip, he would have had her sent to the hospital immediately. The facility’s own policy on acute condition changes required nursing staff to contact the physician based on urgency, including for significant changes in neurological status and level of consciousness, which did not occur in this case. This failure to notify the physician of the resident’s unresponsiveness and possible seizure activity (evidenced by lip biting) constituted the basis of the deficiency under F684 for not providing care and services in accordance with professional standards and the resident’s care plan. The surveyors determined that because the physician was not contacted or included in the resident’s change of condition, she did not receive the best care available. An Immediate Jeopardy was identified related to this failure, later removed after the facility implemented a plan of removal, but the facility remained out of compliance at a lower severity level pending evaluation of the effectiveness of corrective systems.
Failure to Appoint Licensed Administrator
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that its governing body appointed a state-licensed administrator to manage the facility, as required by policy and regulation. Record review showed that the previous administrator was terminated on 09/02/25 for not having a current license, and since then, the facility had not had a full-time administrator. Interviews with multiple staff members, including the Corporate RN, CNA, LVN, BOM, and DON, confirmed that there was no full-time administrator in place. An interim administrator was present for about two weeks in October, but no permanent replacement had started as of the time of the survey. The Corporate RN, who is not the administrator, was acting on behalf of the facility to hire a new administrator, with a new hire expected to start in January, but no documentation or background checks had been completed for this individual at the time of the review. Facility policy and job descriptions require the administrator to be duly licensed and responsible for the day-to-day operations of the facility. Staff interviews highlighted concerns about the lack of leadership, oversight, and clear reporting lines due to the absence of a full-time administrator. The deficiency was identified through both record review and staff interviews, which consistently indicated that the facility had not maintained compliance with the requirement to have a licensed administrator appointed by the governing body.
Failure to Ensure Accurate Medication Dispensing and Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services that ensured the accurate dispensing and administration of medications for two residents. One resident, who was nonverbal, bedridden, and dependent on staff for all care needs, tested positive for barbiturates during a hospital visit. Review of her medical record revealed no current prescription for barbiturates, and her medication orders did not include any drugs that would result in a positive barbiturate test. The resident had a history of Alzheimer's disease, dementia with behavioral disturbances, dysphagia, and muscle weakness, and required total assistance for all activities of daily living. Staff observed a change in her usual behavior, leading to her being sent to the hospital, where the positive barbiturate result was discovered. Another resident, who was cognitively intact and independent in most daily activities, was prescribed Primidone, a medication that metabolizes as a barbiturate. Review of the medication administration record (MAR) showed that this resident did not receive his prescribed Primidone on two consecutive days. The medication cart was organized with each resident's medications behind their respective name cards, and both residents' medications, including Primidone, were stored next to each other. An LVN reported believing she had administered the medication but forgot to sign off, while another nurse could not be interviewed regarding the missed dose. Interviews with staff and the DON confirmed that only the second resident was prescribed Primidone, and there were no barbiturates in the facility. The DON and medical director acknowledged that Primidone could result in a positive barbiturate test. The proximity of the medications in the cart and the lack of documentation for the administration of Primidone contributed to the possibility of a medication error, either through omission or unauthorized administration.
Food Safety Deficiencies in Kitchen Storage and Labeling
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food safety in their kitchen, as observed during a survey. Specifically, the facility did not ensure that food items in the dry pantry and cold storage were properly sealed, labeled, and dated. Numerous food items, including corn tortillas, elbow macaroni, white rice, and various canned goods, were found without received dates and were open to air. Additionally, dry pantry foods were not stored at least 18 inches above the floor, as required by the facility's policy. In the cold storage unit, several items such as fresh tomatoes, prepared thickened drink mix, chicken breasts, and fresh cantaloupes were also found without labels or use-by dates and were open to air. An interview with the head staff member revealed that there was no Dietary Manager at the facility at the time, and there was no policy regarding recommended maximum storage periods for dry or cold storage foods. The facility's policy for food receiving and storage mandates that all foods in the refrigerator or freezer be covered, labeled, and dated, and that beverages be dated when opened and discarded after 24 hours.
Failure to Report and Investigate Resident Falls
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment, including injuries of unknown source, and misappropriation of resident property within the required timeframe. Specifically, the facility did not report incidents involving two residents to the Administrator and State Survey Agency within two hours of the allegations. This failure was observed in the cases of a male resident with severe cognitive impairment and a female resident with Alzheimer's disease, both of whom experienced falls resulting in injuries. The male resident, who required substantial assistance due to severe cognitive impairment, was found on the floor with injuries after a fall in the dining room. Despite the incident being reported to the nursing staff, it was not reported to the state agency as required. Similarly, the female resident, who was completely dependent on assistance for activities of daily living, experienced an unwitnessed fall resulting in a head laceration and hospital visit. This incident was also not reported to the state agency. Interviews and observations revealed that the facility did not investigate or report these falls to the state for further investigation. Video footage showed that the male resident fell without staff present, and two staff members walked away from him shortly after the fall. The facility's policies on abuse, neglect, and incident reporting were not followed, as evidenced by the lack of investigation and reporting of these incidents.
Failure to Investigate and Report Resident Falls
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to thoroughly investigate alleged violations of abuse and neglect for two residents, leading to deficiencies in care. Resident #5, a male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including Neurocognitive Disorder with Lewy Bodies and Parkinsonism, fell from his wheelchair unobserved, resulting in a skin tear and abrasion. Despite the care plan indicating the need for constant supervision, the incident was not thoroughly investigated, and there was no evidence of reporting to the state. Resident #27, a female with Alzheimer's disease and complete dependence on assistance for activities of daily living, experienced an unwitnessed fall in the dining room, resulting in a head wound that required hospital treatment. The facility did not conduct a thorough investigation into the fall, and there was no record of the incident being reported to the state. Video footage showed the fall occurred without staff presence, and the facility's Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that falls were not investigated or reported. The facility's policies on abuse, neglect, and incident reporting require thorough investigation and reporting of all accidents and incidents. However, the facility failed to adhere to these policies, as evidenced by the lack of investigation and reporting for the falls of Residents #5 and #27. This failure to investigate and report falls could place residents at risk of abuse and neglect, as acknowledged by the facility's Administrator.
Lack of Staff Training in Essential Care Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop, implement, and maintain an effective training program for new and existing staff, including those under contractual agreements. This deficiency was identified for four staff members: the interim Director of Nursing (DON), an LVN, and two CNAs. These staff members were not trained in critical areas such as the prevention of resident abuse, neglect, and exploitation, HIV policy and procedures, fall prevention, use of restraints, emergency procedures, and dementia care before interacting with and caring for residents. The administrator was unaware that these employees had been caring for residents without the necessary training and assumed that the agency providing the employees had already trained them. The administrator had a notebook of PowerPoint slides covering the required training topics but had not confirmed the competency of the four employees in these areas before their employment. The administrator could not provide the facility's policy and procedures regarding training and relied on the regulation guidance from the State Operations Manual (SOM).
Failure to Implement Comprehensive Care Plan Leads to Resident Fall
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive care plan for a resident, which resulted in a fall with injury. The resident, a male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including Neurocognitive Disorder with Lewy Bodies, Dementia, Parkinsonism, and a history of falling, was admitted to the facility with significant functional limitations. The care plan for the resident included interventions such as keeping the bed in the lowest position, using non-skid socks, and ensuring the resident was within the line of sight at all times due to his tendency to stand alone. Despite these measures, the resident sustained an unwitnessed fall, resulting in a large bruise and a skin tear. The incident occurred when the resident was left unsupervised, contrary to the care plan's requirement for constant supervision. The facility's surveillance tape revealed that the resident was on the floor for 6-7 minutes before being discovered by staff. Although the resident was assessed and deemed not to require medical attention, the family member expressed concerns about the lack of x-ray evaluation. The facility's policy emphasizes the need for person-centered care plans that incorporate risk factors and aim to prevent functional decline, but the failure to adhere to the care plan's interventions contributed to the resident's fall and subsequent injuries.
Failure to Maintain RN Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the presence of a registered nurse (RN) for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week, as required. Specifically, on 10/12/2024, there was no RN on duty, which was confirmed by the Business Office Manager (BOM) during an interview. This lapse in RN coverage was identified during a review of the facility's records for the past 90 days, from 07/22/2024 to 10/22/2024. Interviews with the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), and the Director of Nursing (DON) highlighted concerns about the potential negative outcomes of not having an RN on staff, such as inadequate response to clinical issues and lack of management or direction. The facility's policy for RN coverage was requested but not provided.
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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