Richland Hills Rehabilitation And Healthcare Cente
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
- Location
- 3109 Kings Ct, Fort Worth, Texas 76118
- CMS Provider Number
- 455576
- Inspections on file
- 44
- Latest survey
- December 5, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 4
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Richland Hills Rehabilitation And Healthcare Cente during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A CNA transferred a resident with significant mobility limitations alone and without a mechanical lift, contrary to the resident's care plan and facility policy, which required two staff and a mechanical lift for transfers. The resident, who needed substantial assistance due to weakness and limited mobility, was not injured during the incident. The DON was unaware of the deviation from protocol until after the event.
Medication aides left two medication carts unlocked and unattended near the nurse's station, contrary to facility policy requiring all drugs and biologicals to be securely stored. Both aides acknowledged the carts were not locked, and the DON confirmed staff are expected to ensure carts are locked when unattended.
A nurse left empty medication packets containing a resident's identifiable information unattended on top of a medication cart in a hallway, making the information accessible to others. The resident had multiple complex medical conditions, and the nurse admitted to leaving the packets as a reminder to reorder medication, acknowledging this was a privacy violation. The DON confirmed staff are expected to secure all resident information.
Two residents requiring enhanced barrier precautions did not receive care using proper sterile or aseptic technique. An ADON contaminated sterile supplies during tracheostomy care, failed to maintain a sterile field, and did not perform hand hygiene between glove changes. During wound care for another resident, supplies were placed on contaminated surfaces, hand hygiene was not performed, and perineal care was incomplete. The ADON also lacked knowledge of infection control reporting and QAPI processes, and infection control in-services were not current.
The facility failed to follow the planned menu for a lunch meal by omitting dinner rolls, which were not delivered, and did not document or communicate a substitution. The Dietary Supervisor and another staff member acknowledged the oversight and its potential impact on residents' nutritional intake. Both had been previously in-serviced on menu adherence.
A malfunctioning warewasher in the facility's kitchen failed to dispense sanitizer, leaving dishes unsanitized from February 24 to February 26. Despite attempts to repair the machine, it continued to malfunction, prompting the use of paper and plastic utensils and a three-compartment sink with sanitizing solution. Staff were aware of the importance of proper sanitization to prevent bacterial contamination and illness among residents.
The facility failed to provide necessary wound care to three residents, leading to a risk of infection and delayed healing. A resident with severe cognitive impairment missed daily wound care, while another resident with cellulitis did not have updated wound care orders in the MAR, resulting in missed treatments. Additionally, a resident with osteomyelitis did not receive daily wound care as ordered. The responsible nurse admitted to not updating orders and failing to notify management, contributing to the deficiencies.
Two residents in a facility had undated and improperly maintained IV dressings, leading to a deficiency in care. One resident with pneumonia and infective endocarditis had a dirty midline catheter dressing, while another with osteomyelitis had a peeling dressing. Nursing staff failed to document dressing changes, increasing infection risk. The DON was unaware of these issues, and training records showed involved nurses missed relevant in-service training.
Two residents were found with unsecured medications at their bedsides, including nitroglycerin and various over-the-counter drugs, without proper orders or authorization. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness and enforcement of the facility's medication storage policy, posing a risk of overdose and unauthorized access.
A resident with multiple health conditions was improperly discharged from an LTC facility after attending a neurologist appointment. The resident arranged her own transportation and signed an AMA form, unaware of its implications. Upon returning, she was denied re-entry and sent to a hospital. The facility failed to provide a 30-day discharge notice and did not return her medications.
A facility failed to provide a resident with individualized in-room activities, as required by their care plan. The resident, with significant cognitive and psychological challenges, was often found in his room with only the television on, lacking engagement in activities. The Activities Director attempted one-on-one activities but did not document these efforts and lacked training for managing residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The facility's policy on activities was not effectively implemented, contributing to the resident's isolation and unmet needs.
A facility failed to apply a prescribed splint to a resident's left hand, leading to a deficiency in contracture management. The resident, with a history of dementia and joint stiffness, was observed without the splint on multiple occasions. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding the responsibility for applying the splint after the resident's discharge from therapy. The facility lacked a policy on range of motion or contracture management devices.
The facility failed to maintain accurate clinical records for two residents requiring wound care. A nurse documented care before performing it and did not provide the care due to workload, leading to missed treatments. Despite in-service training, the facility's policy did not address documentation, contributing to the deficiency.
A facility failed to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program when an LVN did not adhere to Enhanced Barrier Precautions while administering medication to a resident with a gastronomy tube. Despite training and policy requirements, the LVN only wore gloves and failed to don a gown, posing a risk of infection transmission. Interviews confirmed the facility's policy required PPE for residents on EBP, particularly those with indwelling medical devices.
A resident in the facility was found without a call light, which is essential for requesting staff assistance. Despite the care plan's directive to keep the call light within reach, the resident had been without one for months, relying on her roommate's call light or walking to the nurse's station. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness about the missing call light, and the maintenance log showed no request for replacement, indicating a communication lapse.
A resident with severe cognitive impairments was subjected to involuntary seclusion by an ADON, who tilted the resident's wheelchair forward, causing him to fall onto his bed, and then removed the wheelchair from the room. This left the resident without means to call for help or reposition himself. The incident was witnessed by another resident and a CNA. The facility's policy on abuse prevention was violated, and the ADON was terminated.
Two residents in an LTC facility were observed with uncovered urinary catheter bags, compromising their dignity and privacy. One resident, with severe cognitive impairment, often removed the cover himself, while the other, who preferred the cover, found it missing. Staff interviews confirmed the expectation to cover catheter bags, but this was not consistently achieved.
Two residents in a shared room were found to lack a privacy curtain, compromising their right to personal privacy during care. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness and communication about the missing curtain, which was removed when the room was previously a private one. The facility's policy on resident rights, including personal privacy, was not followed, leading to this deficiency.
Failure to Follow Safe Transfer Procedures for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a certified nursing assistant (CNA) failed to follow the care plan and facility policy for transferring a resident who required extensive assistance due to general weakness, limited mobility, morbid obesity, and muscle conditions. The resident's care plan specified that transfers should be performed using a mechanical lift with the assistance of two staff members. However, on the date in question, the CNA was observed transferring the resident alone, without the use of a mechanical lift, by lifting her under the armpits from the bed to a wheelchair. The CNA admitted to not following the care plan or facility policy, stating he was in a rush to get the resident to therapy and that other staff were occupied at the time. The resident, who had intact cognition and required substantial assistance with activities of daily living, confirmed that transfers were usually performed with two staff and a mechanical lift, and reported no injury during the incident. The Director of Nursing (DON) was unaware of the incident until informed and confirmed that the facility policy required two staff and a mechanical lift for non-weight-bearing residents. The facility's policy also stated that two or more assistants must be used for all mechanical lift transfers.
Failure to Secure Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all drugs and biologicals were securely stored in accordance with professional standards and facility policy. On two separate occasions, medication carts were observed left unlocked and unattended in the hallway near the nurse's station. On one occasion, a medication aide (MA A) left her medication cart unlocked and unattended while she was across the hall at the nurse's station. When questioned, MA A initially believed the cart was locked but was able to open the drawer, confirming it was not secured. She later stated that she was distracted and thought she had locked the cart before leaving it. MA A acknowledged that the unlocked cart contained over-the-counter medications and recognized the risk of residents accessing or stealing medications. On another occasion, a different medication aide (MA D) left her medication cart unlocked and unattended near the nurse's station. When approached by the surveyor, MA D admitted that she knew the cart was not locked and acknowledged that it should have been secured. The facility's policy requires that all drugs and biologicals be stored in locked compartments and that medication carts be locked or attended by authorized personnel at all times. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the expectation is for staff to double-check that medication carts are locked when unattended and recognized the risk of residents accessing medications from an unlocked cart.
Unsecured Resident Medication Information Left Unattended
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to safeguard resident-identifiable information by leaving empty medication packets containing sensitive information unattended on top of a medication cart in a hallway accessible to residents and staff. The unattended packets displayed the resident's name, medication details, and pharmacy address. The medication cart was left unsupervised for approximately two minutes, during which time other individuals could have accessed the information. A medication aide identified the unattended packets and secured them after being questioned by the investigator. The resident involved was a male with multiple complex medical conditions, including acute respiratory failure with hypoxia, heart attack, pneumonia, candidiasis, anoxic brain damage, cognitive communication deficit, tracheostomy, gastrostomy, and an indwelling urethral catheter. The nurse responsible for the medication cart admitted to leaving the packets unattended as a reminder to reorder medication and acknowledged this was a violation of privacy protocols. The Director of Nursing confirmed that staff were expected to secure all resident information and recognized the incident as a breach of policy.
Failure to Maintain Infection Control Practices for Residents on Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and maintain an effective infection prevention and control program for two residents who required enhanced barrier precautions due to their medical conditions. For one resident with a tracheostomy and a history of candidiasis, the ADON, who also served as the infection preventionist, did not follow sterile technique during tracheostomy care. The ADON contaminated sterile supplies by handling them with clean, non-sterile gloves, failed to maintain a sterile field, and did not perform hand hygiene between glove changes. Additionally, the ADON improperly removed personal protective equipment, further compromising infection control protocols. Another resident, who had osteomyelitis and a sacral pressure ulcer, did not receive wound care using aseptic technique. During wound care, the ADON placed supplies on a contaminated surface, touched sterile items to soiled materials, and failed to perform hand hygiene between glove changes. The resident was left on a soiled incontinence brief during the procedure, and perineal care was incomplete, with the same gloves used for wound care and handling bed covers after contact with feces. The ADON also failed to use a procedure-in-progress sign and did not follow facility guidelines for privacy and supply handling during treatments. Interviews revealed that the ADON, who was responsible for infection control training and oversight, lacked knowledge of state reporting requirements for communicable diseases and was unfamiliar with the facility's QAPI process. Documentation showed that infection control in-services had not been conducted recently, and no immunizations were administered in the previous month. These failures in infection control practices and program oversight placed all residents at risk for the spread of infections.
Failure to Follow Menu and Document Substitutions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to the planned menu for the lunch meal on February 26, 2025, by omitting the dinner roll with margarine for all diet types. This oversight was observed during a review of the kitchen's steam table, which included chicken fried steak, peas with onions, mashed potatoes, and gravy, but no dinner rolls. The Dietary Supervisor admitted to not serving the dinner rolls because they were not delivered by the truck the previous day and acknowledged forgetting to make a substitution. The Dietary Supervisor also failed to inform the residents of the change or post the information within the facility. An interview with another staff member revealed that they were aware of the missing dinner rolls and the potential impact on residents' nutritional intake, as the rolls were part of the dietician-approved menu. The staff member admitted to not reporting the substitution to the Dietary Supervisor or recording it in the substitution logbook. The facility's policy requires that any changes to the menu be documented and communicated, which was not followed in this instance. Both the Dietary Supervisor and the staff member had been in-serviced on following menus in December 2024.
Warewasher Malfunction Leads to Unsanitized Dishes
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to prepare foods according to established food preparation practices and safety techniques, as evidenced by the malfunctioning warewasher (dish machine) that did not dispense sanitizer. This issue persisted from the afternoon meal on February 24, 2025, through the afternoon meal on February 26, 2025, leaving dishes unsanitized and potentially placing residents at risk of infection. Observations revealed that the warewasher was not dispensing sanitizer, and test strips confirmed the absence of sanitizer in the machine. Despite attempts to repair the warewasher, it continued to malfunction, and the facility resorted to using paper and plastic utensils and the three-compartment sink with sanitizing solution as a temporary measure. Interviews with the Dietary Supervisor and staff indicated that the warewasher was initially repaired on February 25, 2025, but malfunctioned again shortly after. The Dietary Supervisor and staff were aware of the importance of maintaining proper chlorine levels to prevent bacterial contamination and illness among residents. The facility's Sanitation in Dietary policy, dated October 2007, emphasized maintaining a clean and sanitary food service area. However, the warewasher's failure to function properly and the subsequent lack of sanitization of dishes highlighted a deficiency in adhering to these standards.
Failure to Provide Prescribed Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary wound care treatment to three residents, leading to a risk of infection and delayed healing. Resident #25, a female with severe cognitive impairment and peripheral vascular disease, did not receive her prescribed daily wound care on 02/25/25. The observation on 02/26/25 revealed that the dressing on her right ankle was dated 02/24/25, indicating a missed treatment. LVN A, responsible for wound care, acknowledged the oversight and did not notify management or the oncoming nurse about the missed care. Resident #30, a male with intact cognition and a diagnosis of cellulitis, did not have his wound care orders updated in the Medication Administration Record (MAR) after being seen by the Wound Care Physician on 02/17/25. The orders were to cleanse and dress the wound on his left fourth toe three times a week, but the MAR still reflected outdated orders from 02/10/25. LVN A admitted to forgetting to update the orders, resulting in the resident not receiving the prescribed treatment, which could lead to infection and delayed healing. Resident #107, a male with intact cognition and acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, also did not receive daily wound care as ordered. His wound dressing was last changed on 02/24/25, and he expressed concern about potential infection due to missed care. LVN A confirmed that she did not complete the wound care on 02/25/25 and failed to inform management or the oncoming nurse. The Director of Nursing (DON) stated that physician orders should be updated the same day they are received, and it is the responsibility of all nurses to ensure wound care is provided as prescribed.
Failure to Document and Change IV Dressings
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the proper administration and documentation of intravenous (IV) fluids for two residents, leading to a deficiency in care. Resident #56, a female with pneumonia and infective endocarditis, had a midline catheter inserted, but the dressing was not dated or initialed, which is against professional standards. Observations revealed that the dressing was dirty, and interviews with the nursing staff indicated a lack of awareness and training regarding the importance of dating the dressing to prevent infection. Similarly, Resident #107, a male with acute osteomyelitis, had a midline catheter with a dressing that was peeling off and not dated. The resident reported that the dressing had not been changed since leaving the hospital. Interviews with the nursing staff revealed that the dressing was supposed to be changed every seven days, but the staff failed to document the date and initials on the dressing, which could lead to infection due to the lack of knowledge about when the dressing was last changed. The Director of Nursing (DON) acknowledged the expectation for staff to change dressings every seven days and to follow physician orders. However, the DON was unaware of the lack of dating on the dressings for both residents. The facility's training records showed that the involved nurses did not attend the in-service training on PICC line dressings, contributing to the oversight. The absence of proper documentation and adherence to protocols placed the residents at risk for infection.
Medication Storage Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that medications and biologicals were securely stored, as evidenced by the presence of medications at the bedside of two residents. Resident #40, a cognitively intact female with a diagnosis of atherosclerosis, was found with a bottle of nitroglycerin 0.4 mg tablets on her bedside table. She admitted to using the tablets for chest pain, although there was no physician's order for this medication. The staff, including LVN A and the DON, were unaware of the presence of these medications in her room, which were supposed to be locked up, indicating a lapse in monitoring and securing medications. Similarly, Resident #15, a cognitively intact male with heart failure and lung cancer, had multiple medications, including a stool softener, Clear Eyes, heartburn relief tablets, allergy relief capsules, Linzess, and acetaminophen, stored at his bedside. None of these medications were prescribed or ordered for him, and the label on the Linzess prescription was peeled off, obscuring the intended recipient. Observations over several days confirmed the continued presence of these medications, and staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness and enforcement of the facility's policy on medication storage. The facility's policy mandates that all drugs and biologicals be stored in locked compartments, accessible only to authorized personnel. However, the observations and interviews with staff, including CNAs and LVNs, highlighted a failure to adhere to this policy. The DON acknowledged the risk of overdose and the responsibility of all staff to monitor and report unauthorized medications in residents' rooms. Despite a previous in-service training on this issue, the staff did not consistently enforce the policy, leading to the identified deficiencies.
Improper Discharge of Resident After Neurologist Appointment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to allow a resident to remain in the facility and improperly discharged her after she attended a neurologist appointment. The resident, who had a history of diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cognitive communication deficit, was not permitted to return to the facility following her appointment. The facility had the resident sign an Against Medical Advice (AMA) form before she left, which was created by the Director of Nursing (DON). The resident's care plan did not include any goals or interventions related to this situation. The resident had arranged her own transportation to the appointment, despite the facility's lack of knowledge about it. The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) and other staff members attempted to persuade the resident to reschedule the appointment so that proper transportation could be arranged, but the resident insisted on going. The ADON explained that leaving for the appointment without a plan to return would be considered leaving AMA. The resident signed the AMA form and left for her appointment. Upon her return, she was met by police and was not allowed back into the facility. The facility called EMS, and the resident was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Interviews with the resident, her responsible party (RP), and facility staff revealed that the resident was not aware of the implications of signing the AMA form and was upset about not being allowed back into the facility. The facility's policy required residents to inform the facility of appointments in advance so that arrangements could be made for assistance. However, the resident's RP and the resident herself were not informed of this policy. The facility's actions resulted in the resident being discharged without a proper 30-day discharge notice, and her medications were not returned to her or her RP.
Failure to Provide Individualized In-Room Activities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide an ongoing program of in-room activities tailored to the needs of a resident with significant cognitive and psychological challenges. The resident, a male with diagnoses including anxiety disorder, depression, schizophrenia, profound intellectual disabilities, and cognitive communication deficit, was not provided with individualized in-room activities for a minimum of fifteen minutes three times per week as required. Observations revealed that the resident was often found in his room with only the television on, and there was no evidence of activity sheets or other types of activities available to him. Interviews with the Activities Director and other staff indicated a lack of consistent engagement with the resident. The Activities Director, who had been employed for about a month, attempted one-on-one activities with the resident approximately twice per week but did not document these attempts. The Director also admitted to not being trained on managing residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and did not explore alternative activity options or document the resident's participation. The Director of Nursing (DON) and Social Services Staff acknowledged that the resident's needs were not being met, contributing to his isolation and frequent yelling. The facility's Activities Program policy mandates daily social, recreational, or rehabilitative activities tailored to residents' preferences, needs, and abilities. However, the policy was not effectively implemented for this resident, as evidenced by the lack of documented activities and the resident's continued isolation. The Administrator was unaware of the frequency of activities provided to the resident and did not recognize the impact of missing socialization on the resident's well-being.
Failure to Apply Prescribed Splint for Contracture Management
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident with limited range of motion received appropriate treatment and services to prevent further decline. Specifically, the facility did not apply a prescribed splint to the resident's left hand on multiple occasions, as observed on two consecutive days. The resident, who had a history of unspecified dementia, stiffness in multiple joints, and muscle weakness, was observed without the contracture management device in place, with the splint found on the floor or on a chair next to the bed. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding the responsibility for applying the splint after the resident was discharged from occupational therapy. The Director of Rehabilitation acknowledged that the order for the splint was not updated after the resident's discharge from therapy, leading to a lapse in care. The Director of Nursing and other staff were unaware of the resident's need for the splint, indicating a breakdown in communication and order management. The absence of a policy regarding range of motion or contracture management devices further contributed to the deficiency, as the facility could not provide documentation outlining procedures for restorative care.
Failure to Accurately Document Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain clinical records in accordance with accepted professional standards and practices for two residents who required wound care. Resident #25, a female with severely impaired cognition and a diagnosis of Peripheral Vascular Disease, had a physician's order for daily wound care on a skin tear. However, the treatment administration record indicated that wound care was documented as provided on a day it was not actually performed. Similarly, Resident #107, a male with intact cognition and a diagnosis of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, had a physician's order for daily wound care on a surgical wound. His treatment administration record also showed wound care marked as provided on a day it was not performed. Interviews revealed that the wound care nurse, LVN A, documented the provision of care before actually performing it and subsequently did not provide the care due to workload. LVN A admitted to not notifying the oncoming nurse about the missed care, acknowledging that this could lead to infections and missed treatments. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that staff are expected to document care accurately after it is provided, and acknowledged the risk of care not being provided if documentation is inaccurate. Despite in-service training on documentation, the facility's policy did not address charting and documentation, contributing to the deficiency.
Failure to Adhere to Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by the actions of LVN B, who did not adhere to Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) while administering medication to a resident with a gastronomy tube. The resident, who had cerebral palsy and dysphagia following a cerebral infarction, was on EBP due to the presence of an indwelling medical device. Despite the requirement to don a gown and gloves for high-contact care activities, LVN B only wore gloves and failed to put on a gown before providing care, which was observed during a medication administration session. Interviews with LVN B and the Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the facility's policy required the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for residents on EBP, particularly those with indwelling medical devices like feeding tubes. LVN B acknowledged the training received on EBP and the potential risk of contamination from not using PPE properly. The facility's infection prevention policy, revised in March 2024, clearly outlined the need for gown and gloves during high-contact activities to prevent the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Despite this, the failure to adhere to these precautions was noted, posing a risk of infection transmission within the facility.
Resident Lacks Call Light for Assistance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a working call system was available for Resident #29, which is necessary for residents to call for staff assistance. During an observation, it was noted that Resident #29 did not have a call light in her room, and she confirmed that she had been without one for months. Despite the care plan indicating that the call light should be within reach, Resident #29 had to rely on her roommate's call light or walk to the nurse's station when she needed assistance. Interviews with staff, including a CNA, LVN, Maintenance Supervisor, DON, and the Administrator, revealed that they were unaware of the missing call light and acknowledged the importance of having one within reach for all residents. The facility's maintenance request log showed no record of a request to replace Resident #29's call light, indicating a lapse in communication and follow-up. The facility's policy mandates that call devices be placed within reach and any defects be reported immediately. However, this protocol was not followed, as evidenced by the lack of a call light for Resident #29 and the absence of a maintenance request. This deficiency highlights a failure in ensuring that all residents have access to a means of communication with nursing staff, as required by the facility's policy.
Involuntary Seclusion and Abuse by ADON
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident from involuntary seclusion and potential abuse by an Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON). The incident involved a resident with severe cognitive impairments and a history of stroke, who required assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and partial assistance with transfers. The ADON was witnessed taking the resident into his room, tilting his wheelchair forward, causing him to fall onto his bed, and then removing the wheelchair from the room while closing the door. This action left the resident without means to call for help or reposition himself comfortably, as he could not find his call light and no staff responded to his calls for assistance. The incident was corroborated by another resident who witnessed the event and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) who saw the ADON exiting the room with the wheelchair. The Director of Nursing (DON) was involved in gathering staff statements but did not provide a comprehensive investigation report. The facility's policy on abuse prevention clearly states that residents have the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and involuntary seclusion, which was violated in this case. The ADON was terminated, but further interviews with the ADON, the Administrator, and the CNA were unsuccessful.
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity by Not Covering Catheter Bags
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the dignity and privacy of two residents by not covering their urinary catheter bags with privacy bags. Resident #3, a male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including dementia and anxiety disorder, was observed with his catheter bag uncovered while on the facility patio. Despite being aware of the issue, as documented in his care plan, staff reported that Resident #3 often removed the privacy bag himself, preferring to see the urine. Staff were expected to remind him to keep the bag covered, but this was not consistently achieved. Resident #4, a male with paraplegia and major depressive disorder, was also observed with his catheter bag uncovered inside the facility. Unlike Resident #3, Resident #4 expressed a preference for his catheter bag to be covered, indicating that staff usually did so but had not on this occasion. The facility's policy on resident rights emphasizes the importance of maintaining dignity and privacy, which was not upheld in these instances. Interviews with various staff members, including the ADON, Clinical Resources Coordinator, and CNAs, confirmed that catheter bags should be covered to ensure residents' dignity. Staff acknowledged the ongoing challenge with Resident #3's resistance to keeping the cover on and the oversight with Resident #4. The facility's policy and staff interviews highlight the expectation that all catheter bags should be covered to maintain resident dignity, which was not consistently met in these cases.
Privacy Curtain Missing in Shared Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of personal space for two residents, as there was no privacy curtain in their shared room. This deficiency was observed during a survey, where it was noted that the curtain separating the beds was missing, compromising the residents' right to privacy during personal care. The absence of the curtain was acknowledged by both residents, who expressed a preference for having it in place to maintain their privacy. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding the missing privacy curtain. The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) admitted that the room had previously been a private room, and the curtain was removed at that time. The Clinical Resources Coordinator and the Administrator both emphasized the importance of having privacy curtains to ensure residents' rights to privacy. However, the Maintenance Director was not aware of the issue being logged, and the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) had not noticed the missing curtain until the survey. The facility's policy on resident rights, which includes the right to personal privacy, was not adhered to in this instance. The lack of a privacy curtain between the beds of the two residents resulted in a failure to provide the necessary accommodations for their privacy needs. This oversight highlights a gap in communication and procedure adherence among the facility's staff, leading to the deficiency noted in the survey.
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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