The Stayton At Museum Way
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
- Location
- 2501 Museum Way, Fort Worth, Texas 76107
- CMS Provider Number
- 676305
- Inspections on file
- 34
- Latest survey
- November 24, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 3
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at The Stayton At Museum Way during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Two residents were subjected to neglect and potential abuse in a facility. One resident was startled by a skeleton placed by a CNA, causing her to fall and sustain injuries. Another resident ingested medications from a family member's purse, leading to hospitalization. The facility failed to monitor the resident post-incident and allowed the family member to continue visiting without restrictions, despite concerns about the resident's ability to access the medications independently.
A resident with cognitive and physical impairments was found unresponsive after taking barbiturates not prescribed to her, leading to hospitalization. The facility did not report the incident to the state agency, despite policy requirements, as they believed the hospital's report to Adult Protective Services was sufficient. Staff interviews indicated doubts about the resident's ability to access the medications independently.
A facility failed to provide appropriate incontinence care for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple health issues, leading to fecal impaction and sepsis. Despite being prescribed stool softeners and laxatives, the facility did not consistently document bowel movements, resulting in the resident's decline and eventual death. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding the resident's condition, and there was no policy for monitoring bowel movements.
A facility failed to secure medications, as observed with an unattended and unlocked medication cart. RN A left the cart accessible while retrieving medications from another cart, admitting the lapse. The DON confirmed the risk of residents accessing medications and the potential for drug diversion, noting the absence of a specific medication storage policy.
A resident with a wound experienced improper care due to RN A's failure to follow protocols, including using non-sterile dressings, reusing disposable components, and not applying prescribed ointment. The facility also missed performing weekly skin assessments, increasing the risk of infection and complications.
A resident in an LTC facility did not receive medications as ordered, leading to a deficiency in pharmaceutical services. RN A administered Miralax without a physician's order, telling the resident it was given to relieve constipation. The resident was upset due to not receiving routine medications since admission. The DON emphasized the need for physician orders before medication administration and noted the absence of specific policies related to medication administration.
A facility failed to maintain an effective infection control program when an RN did not follow protocol during a wound vac dressing change for a resident. The RN reused disposable components and did not don a gown, increasing infection risk. The resident had a history of chronic infection and required wound vac treatment. The DON instructed the reuse of supplies due to a lack of new ones, and weekly skin assessments were not documented.
The facility's kitchen failed to meet food safety standards, with expired and improperly stored food, lack of labeling, and inadequate personal protective equipment use by staff. Observations included unlabeled and unsealed food items, and unsanitary conditions in the dry storage area, posing contamination risks.
The facility failed to ensure that call lights were accessible to three residents, leaving them unable to request assistance. A resident with muscle weakness and cognitive impairment could not reach his call light, which was on the floor. Another resident's call light was also on the floor, unnoticed by staff. A third resident was unable to find his call light under the bed, despite staff entering the room. Staff interviews confirmed the importance of accessible call lights.
The facility failed to ensure proper respiratory care for three residents, leading to deficiencies in the storage and management of respiratory equipment. A resident with chronic respiratory failure had a nasal cannula improperly stored on her wheelchair. Another resident with sleep apnea had a CPAP mask not bagged when not in use, and there was no physician order for the CPAP. A third resident's nasal cannula was improperly stored, touching the wheelchair's wheel. The facility lacked specific policies for respiratory care.
A facility failed to update a resident's care plan to include a dietary supplement, Ensure, as recommended by a dietitian's assessment. This oversight led to a significant weight loss of 5.15% in the resident, with no physician orders for the supplement in place. Interviews revealed that the dietitian had submitted orders that were rejected, and the DON was unaware of the resident's weight loss and lack of orders.
A resident with Alzheimer's and malnutrition did not receive prescribed Ensure shakes due to a lack of physician orders, resulting in a 5.15% weight loss. The dietitian documented the need for the shakes but failed to ensure orders were submitted and care plans updated. The DON was unaware of the weight loss and lack of orders, and the facility's policy on weight loss monitoring was not effectively executed.
Two residents with indwelling catheters were not provided privacy bags for their catheter bags, compromising their dignity. Observations showed the catheter bags were visible, and staff interviews revealed confusion about the facility's policy on using privacy bags. The facility's policy on resident rights emphasizes treating residents with respect and dignity, which was not upheld in these cases.
A resident with sleep apnea was not accurately assessed for CPAP use in her MDS Assessment, leading to a lack of documentation in her care plan and physician orders. Observations confirmed the presence of a CPAP machine in her room, and staff interviews highlighted the oversight in reflecting this in her medical records.
A facility failed to develop a comprehensive care plan for a resident with sleep apnea, despite the resident using a CPAP machine at night. The resident's MDS Assessment did not reflect CPAP use, and there was no physician order or care plan in place. Staff interviews revealed a lack of coordination in ensuring care plans were complete, with the MDS Nurse noting the CPAP was not triggered in the MDS, leading to the oversight.
Two CNAs failed to perform proper hand hygiene and glove changes during incontinent care for two residents, one with reduced mobility and the other with severe cognitive impairment. These lapses in infection control practices were acknowledged by the CNAs and confirmed by facility staff, highlighting the risk of cross-contamination and infection.
Facility Fails to Protect Residents from Abuse and Neglect
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect two residents from abuse and neglect, resulting in injuries and hospitalization. In the first incident, a CNA placed a skeleton in the doorway of a resident's room, startling her and causing her to fall. The resident, who was cognitively intact and required supervision for mobility, sustained skin tears and bruising. Despite the resident's initial reluctance to report the incident, video footage confirmed the CNA's actions, leading to his termination. In the second incident, a resident with impaired cognition and physical limitations ingested medications belonging to a family member, resulting in hospitalization for an unresponsive state. The resident, who had a history of stroke and required assistance with all activities of daily living, was found to have barbiturates in her system. The facility failed to implement measures to monitor the resident after the incident, and the family member continued to visit without restrictions, despite concerns about the resident's ability to access the medications independently. The facility's policies on abuse prevention and resident rights were not effectively enforced, as evidenced by the lack of monitoring and failure to restrict the family member's visits. Interviews with staff and family members highlighted discrepancies in the facility's response to the incidents, and the facility's visitor log contradicted claims that the family member had not visited after the resident's return from the hospital.
Failure to Report Alleged Neglect Involving Resident's Medication Incident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of neglect involving a resident who was found unresponsive after taking barbiturates that were not prescribed to her. The resident, a female with a history of chemical imbalance, stroke, and impaired cognition, was admitted to the hospital where a urine drug screen revealed the presence of barbiturates. The resident's family member had left a purse containing medications, including Fioricet, in the resident's room, which was later found in the hospital. The family member suspected the resident might have taken the medications from the purse. Interviews with facility staff, including a nurse and an occupational therapist, indicated skepticism about the resident's ability to access and consume the medications due to her physical and cognitive limitations. The hospital staff also expressed concerns about the resident's ability to have taken the medications without assistance, leading to a diagnosis of intentional overdose. Despite these concerns, the facility did not report the incident to the state survey agency, believing that the hospital's report to Adult Protective Services sufficed. The facility's Director of Nursing and Administrator were aware of the situation but did not take further action to report the incident as required by their policy. The facility's policy mandates immediate reporting of all alleged violations involving mistreatment, neglect, or abuse to the appropriate authorities. However, the facility failed to adhere to this policy, as evidenced by the lack of notification to the state agency, despite the resident's family member visiting multiple times after the incident.
Failure in Incontinence Care and Monitoring
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate treatment and services for a resident who was incontinent of bladder, leading to a deficiency in incontinence care. The resident, an elderly male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple health issues, including hypo-osmolarity, hyponatremia, and pressure ulcers, was admitted to the facility with a care plan that included the use of disposable briefs and regular cleaning of the peri-area. Despite this, the facility did not adequately monitor or document the resident's bowel movements, which is crucial for managing incontinence and preventing complications. The resident's medical records indicated that he was prescribed stool softeners and laxatives to manage constipation, yet there was a lack of consistent documentation of bowel movements across different shifts. This lack of documentation and monitoring led to a situation where the resident developed fecal impaction, which was only discovered upon hospital admission. The hospital records revealed a large amount of formed stool throughout the colon and rectum, and the resident was diagnosed with sepsis and septic shock, ultimately leading to his admission to hospice care and subsequent death. Interviews with facility staff, including CNAs, LVNs, and the ADON, revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding the resident's constipation issues. Staff members did not recall any specific concerns about the resident's bowel movements, and there was no facility policy in place for monitoring bowel movements. The facility's failure to document and address the resident's bowel movements in a timely manner contributed to the resident's decline and eventual death, as reported by the resident's POA.
Medication Security Lapse in Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that medications were secure and inaccessible to unauthorized staff and residents, as observed with medication cart #1. On the specified date, RN A did not lock the medication cart, leaving it unattended and accessible. This included a medication cup with two pills and a resident's medication blister pack left on top of the cart. The cart was located in Tower A and was not under the direct observation of authorized staff, allowing the drawers to be opened and medications to be accessed. During an interview, RN A admitted to leaving the cart unlocked while retrieving medications from another cart. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that it was unacceptable to leave medication carts unlocked and unattended, emphasizing the risk of residents accessing medications they might be allergic to or the potential for drug diversion. The facility did not have a specific policy related to the storage of medications, which contributed to the oversight.
Improper Wound Care and Protocol Violations
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide resident-centered care and services according to professional standards of practice for a resident with a wound. RN A did not remove the semi-occlusive dressing properly, causing the resident pain and discomfort. Additionally, RN A used non-sterile foam dressings and did not trim them to fit the wound bed, leading to improper application over intact skin. RN A did not follow the facility's protocol for wound vac dressing changes, including failing to don a gown and gloves for enhanced barrier precautions. The nurse reused disposable wound vac components, increasing the risk of infection. Furthermore, RN A did not apply the prescribed ointment to the surrounding skin as ordered by the physician. The facility also failed to perform weekly skin assessments for the resident, missing an opportunity to monitor the wound's progress. The DON acknowledged the lack of adherence to protocols and the reuse of supplies, which was not common practice. The facility did not have specific policies related to the frequency of skin assessments, contributing to the oversight.
Failure to Administer Medications as Ordered
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services to ensure the accurate acquiring, receiving, dispensing, and administering of medications for a resident reviewed for medication administration. RN A did not administer medications as ordered and informed the resident that Miralax was mixed with cranberry juice to relieve constipation, despite the resident not having an order for Miralax. This action was taken without contacting the physician to obtain the necessary order, placing the resident at risk of adverse drug reactions or not receiving the intended therapeutic benefit. The resident, a female admitted from an acute care facility with a left fibula fracture, expressed constipation and requested Miralax. RN A admitted to telling the resident that Miralax was administered to calm her down, as she was upset about not receiving any medications since admission. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that orders must be received from the doctor before any medication is administered and highlighted the importance of checking medication availability or contacting the doctor for alternatives. The facility lacked specific policies related to medication administration, contributing to the deficiency.
Infection Control Deficiency in Wound Care Management
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by the actions of RN A during a wound vac dressing change for a resident. RN A did not adhere to the facility's protocol by failing to don a gown in addition to gloves, which is necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens and apply enhanced barrier precautions. This oversight occurred during the wound vac dressing change on the resident's right knee, which was not performed according to the prescribed schedule. Additionally, RN A reused disposable components of the wound vac, including the suction device and tubing, which are intended for single use. This decision was made after being instructed by the DON to reuse these components due to a lack of new supplies. The reuse of these items increased the risk of infection for the resident, who had a history of a chronic infection and was undergoing treatment for a right knee wound with a wound vac. The resident involved was a female with a history of a fracture and infection related to a hip prosthesis. She required partial assistance with activities of daily living and had a surgical wound present on admission. The facility's failure to conduct weekly skin assessments further compounded the issue, as there was no documentation of a skin assessment being performed seven days after admission. The DON acknowledged the deficiencies observed and admitted to instructing RN A to reuse the disposable supplies, despite the increased risk of infection this posed.
Food Safety and Sanitation Deficiencies in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food service safety in its main kitchen, as observed during a survey. Expired foods were not discarded according to guidelines, and many food items in the refrigerator and freezer were not properly labeled or dated. Additionally, several food items were improperly sealed, leaving them exposed to air-borne contaminants. These lapses in food storage and labeling could potentially lead to cross-contamination and air-borne illnesses among residents. During breakfast service, the Executive Chef, a cook, and a culinary aide were observed not wearing appropriate hair and beard coverings, which is a violation of sanitary practices. The Executive Chef had a beard approximately one inch in length without a covering, while the cook and culinary aide had hair protruding from their caps without proper hairnets. This lack of proper personal protective equipment could contribute to contamination risks in food preparation areas. The dry food storage area was also found to be unsanitary, with storage bins for sugar and flour showing brownish and blackish dirt stains. Additionally, some food items, such as beans and sliced almonds, were left uncovered and open to air contaminants. These findings indicate a failure to maintain a clean and contaminant-free environment for food storage, which is essential for ensuring the safety and quality of food served to residents.
Inaccessible Call Lights for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the call light system was accessible to three residents, which could prevent them from obtaining assistance when needed. Resident #8, a male with generalized muscle weakness and moderate cognitive impairment, was unable to reach his call light, which was found on the floor behind his wheelchair. Despite being assisted by a CNA, the call light was not placed within his reach, leaving him unable to call for help. Resident #21, a female with similar diagnoses, also had her call light on the floor beside her bed. She was aware of its location but could not reach it, and staff did not notice or rectify the situation until prompted. This oversight left her without a means to communicate her needs to the staff. Resident #143, a male with reduced mobility and impaired balance, was found searching for his call light, which was under his bed. Multiple staff members entered his room without noticing the misplaced call light, leaving him unable to request assistance. Interviews with staff, including the DON and ADON, confirmed the importance of accessible call lights, yet the deficiency persisted across multiple residents.
Deficiencies in Respiratory Care and Equipment Management
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide proper respiratory care for three residents, leading to deficiencies in the storage and management of respiratory equipment. Resident #29, diagnosed with chronic respiratory failure, emphysema, and COPD, was observed with a nasal cannula improperly stored on her wheelchair without a protective bag. This lack of proper storage was confirmed during an interview with the resident, who stated she had never seen a plastic bag for her nasal cannula. Resident #142, who has sleep apnea, was found to have a CPAP machine with a nasal pillow mask that was not bagged when not in use. The resident confirmed that she used the CPAP machine before admission and was unaware of the need to store the mask properly. Additionally, there was no physician order or care plan for the CPAP, which was acknowledged by the LVN and DON during their interviews. Resident #144, also diagnosed with chronic respiratory failure and COPD, had a nasal cannula connected to a portable oxygen tank that was improperly stored, with the prongs touching the wheelchair's wheel. This was confirmed by LVN A, who acknowledged the risk of cross-contamination and infection due to improper storage. The facility lacked specific policies for respiratory care and oxygen administration, as confirmed by the Administrator.
Failure to Revise Care Plan for Nutritional Needs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to review and revise the comprehensive person-centered care plan for a resident, which is a requirement to meet the resident's medical, nursing, and psychosocial needs. Specifically, the care plan did not include the provision of a dietary supplement, Ensure, twice daily, as recommended by a comprehensive nutritional assessment conducted by the dietitian. This oversight was identified during a review of the resident's records, which showed a significant weight loss of 5.15% within a short period, indicating a potential risk for further weight loss. Interviews revealed that the dietitian had documented the need for Ensure in the resident's nutritional assessment and had submitted physician orders for the supplement, which were somehow rejected. The dietitian acknowledged the omission of the supplement in the care plan and stated that she was responsible for ensuring the resident received the necessary dietary aid. The Director of Nursing (DON) was unaware of the resident's weight loss and the lack of orders for Ensure, despite claiming the resident had refused the supplement. However, there were no progress notes to support this claim, and no alternative nutritional assistance was documented.
Failure to Provide Prescribed Nutritional Supplements
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident received additional nutritional resources as recommended by a comprehensive dietary assessment. The resident, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and malnutrition, was supposed to receive Ensure shakes twice daily to meet her nutritional needs. However, there were no physician orders for the Ensure shakes, and the resident experienced a 5.15% weight loss within a short period. The dietitian had documented the need for the Ensure shakes in the resident's nutritional assessment but did not follow through to ensure the orders were submitted and approved. Additionally, the dietitian did not update the resident's care plan to include the Ensure shakes. The Director of Nursing (DON) was unaware of the resident's weight loss and the lack of orders for the Ensure shakes. The DON stated that the resident had refused the shakes, but there were no progress notes to support this claim. The facility's policy on monitoring weight loss requires collaboration between the dietitian, nursing staff, and the interdisciplinary team to develop an appropriate plan of action, which was not effectively executed in this case. The failure to provide the Ensure shakes placed the resident at risk of unnecessary weight loss.
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity by Not Using Privacy Bags for Catheter Bags
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that two residents, identified as Resident #19 and Resident #24, were treated with respect and dignity by not providing privacy bags for their catheter bags. Resident #19, a male with a flaccid neurogenic bladder, was observed on two occasions with his catheter bag visible from the doorway of his room, without a privacy bag. Similarly, Resident #24, a male with obstructive uropathy, was observed with his catheter bag visible when standing in front of him, also without a privacy bag. Both residents' care plans included interventions for catheter care, but these were not followed, compromising their dignity. Interviews with facility staff, including a CNA, Nurse Manager, ADON, LVN, and RN, revealed a lack of awareness and adherence to the facility's policy on maintaining resident dignity by covering catheter bags. The staff acknowledged that catheter bags should be covered with privacy bags to protect residents' dignity, but there was confusion about the facility's policy regarding this practice. The facility's policy on resident rights, revised in April 2024, stated that residents have the right to be treated with respect and dignity, which was not upheld in these instances.
Inaccurate Assessment of CPAP Use for a Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that assessments accurately reflected the status of a resident, specifically regarding the use of a CPAP machine. Resident #142, a female with a diagnosis of sleep apnea, was not accurately assessed in her Comprehensive MDS Assessment, which did not indicate her use of a CPAP machine. Observations revealed that the CPAP machine and nasal pillow mask were present in the resident's room, and the resident confirmed she had been using the CPAP even before her admission to the facility. However, there was no care plan or physician order for the CPAP documented in her records. Interviews with facility staff, including the LVN, DON, ADON, and MDS Nurse, highlighted the importance of accurate assessments to ensure proper care. The DON and ADON acknowledged that the resident's use of a CPAP should have been reflected in the medical diagnosis, physician orders, MDS, and care plan. The MDS Nurse confirmed that the CPAP was not triggered in the MDS assessment due to the absence of a physician order, which was only transcribed after the deficiency was identified. The facility's policy requires timely assessments for new residents, which was not adhered to in this case.
Failure to Implement Comprehensive Care Plan for Resident with Sleep Apnea
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for a resident diagnosed with sleep apnea. Despite the resident using a CPAP machine at night, there was no care plan in place to address this need. The resident's Quarterly MDS Assessment did not indicate the use of a CPAP, and there was no physician order for it. Observations confirmed the presence of a CPAP machine and nasal pillow mask in the resident's room, which the resident confirmed she used at night to help her sleep better. Interviews with facility staff, including the DON, ADON, Administrator, and MDS Nurse, revealed a lack of coordination and oversight in ensuring that all residents have appropriate care plans. The MDS Nurse acknowledged that the CPAP was not triggered in the MDS, resulting in the absence of a care plan for the resident. The facility's policy requires a plan of care for each resident, identifying problem areas and necessary interventions, which was not adhered to in this case.
Infection Control Lapses During Incontinent Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program, as evidenced by the actions of two CNAs during the provision of incontinent care to two residents. The first incident involved a CNA who did not perform hand hygiene before putting on gloves and failed to change gloves or sanitize hands after handling soiled items and before touching clean items while assisting a resident with reduced mobility. This resident was cognitively intact and required assistance with personal care due to incontinence. The CNA admitted to neglecting hand hygiene and glove changes due to being in a hurry. In the second incident, another CNA also neglected to perform hand hygiene before donning gloves and failed to change gloves or sanitize hands after handling soiled items and before touching clean items while assisting a resident with severe cognitive impairment and incontinence. The CNA acknowledged the oversight and recognized the importance of hand hygiene in preventing cross-contamination and infection. Interviews with facility staff, including the LVN, DON, ADON, and Administrator, confirmed the importance of hand hygiene and glove changes in preventing infections. The facility's policy on hand hygiene emphasized its role in infection prevention, but the policy for incontinent care was not provided during the survey. The staff acknowledged the deficiencies and the potential risk of cross-contamination and infection due to the lapses in infection control practices.
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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