Timberwood Nursing And Rehabilitation Center
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Livingston, Texas.
- Location
- 4001 Hwy 59 North, Livingston, Texas 77351
- CMS Provider Number
- 455745
- Inspections on file
- 29
- Latest survey
- January 14, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 7
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Timberwood Nursing And Rehabilitation Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Surveyors found that food preparation equipment, including muffin pans, baking sheets, skillets, and steam table pans, had significant debris buildup and flaking anti-stick coating. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that these conditions could contribute to foodborne illness, and facility policies require all food-contact surfaces to be clean and sanitized after each use.
A gas stove in the kitchen was found to have a non-functioning front left burner and left side oven, both of which required manual ignition with a lighter due to a failed pilot light. The dietary manager confirmed that the stove should ignite automatically and no policy on equipment maintenance was provided when requested.
Two residents did not receive medications as ordered by their physicians: one received an incorrect dose of vitamin D, and another was given Clonidine outside of prescribed blood pressure parameters. Medication aides acknowledged the errors, which were attributed to oversight and not following physician orders as documented in the medication administration records.
Two residents received medications without proper adherence to physician orders: one was given a blood thinner without an appropriate diagnosis documented, and another received multiple doses of an antihypertensive medication outside of the prescribed blood pressure parameters. Staff interviews confirmed that medications were administered without following the required indications and parameters.
A resident with hypertension received Clonidine outside of physician-ordered blood pressure parameters on multiple occasions. Medication aides administered the drug when the resident's systolic BP was below the specified threshold, contrary to the written order. Staff interviews and documentation confirmed the medication was given in error, and facility policy required adherence to physician instructions.
A medication aide left a blister pack of allopurinol tablets and a souffle cup with assorted pills unattended on top of a locked medication cart while stepping away multiple times, including to wash hands and retrieve supplies. The medications were out of the aide's line of sight, and at one point, a resident in a wheelchair was observed near the unattended cart. Both the DON and Administrator confirmed that facility policy requires medications to be secured and in view at all times, and the aide acknowledged the lapse in following these procedures.
A resident was discharged without documentation of the basis for discharge, a physician's order, or proper communication with the family and ombudsman. The discharge occurred after an incident of inappropriate behavior, but staff did not follow facility policy, including providing discharge instructions or documenting the discharge in the medical record.
The facility failed to change PICC line dressings as ordered for two residents, leading to a deficiency in care. One resident with cellulitis and diabetes had a dressing unchanged for over two weeks, while another with severe cognitive impairment had a dressing unchanged for over a week. The DON and Administrator acknowledged the oversight, which placed residents at risk of infection, and the facility lacked a policy on IV management.
A Dietary Assistant failed to follow food safety standards by handling food with bare hands during meal preparation for residents on a pureed diet. The Dietary Manager observed the incident and acknowledged the risk of food-borne illness due to improper sanitation practices. The facility's policy prohibits bare-hand contact with food, requiring gloves to be worn and changed between tasks.
A long-term care facility failed to maintain proper infection control practices, as staff reused gowns for residents on enhanced barrier precautions and did not follow hand hygiene protocols during catheter care. This led to potential cross-contamination and increased infection risk.
A CNA in an LTC facility was observed standing while feeding a resident with severe cognitive impairment, contrary to training and facility policy. The resident required substantial assistance with eating due to dementia and other conditions. Staff interviews confirmed that sitting while feeding is a standard practice to ensure resident dignity.
A cognitively intact resident with an indwelling catheter due to obstructive uropathy did not have a physician's order for the catheter or for changing the catheter bag and tubing. This oversight was confirmed through record reviews and interviews with the DON and Administrator, who acknowledged the risk of infections due to the lack of proper orders. The facility also lacked a policy for indwelling catheter management.
Two CNAs at a facility failed to perform proper perineal and catheter care for two residents, risking infection. One CNA did not clean a resident's penis during incontinent care, while another did not adequately clean or dry a resident's penis during catheter care. Both CNAs had prior skills check-offs but lacked recent competency evaluations.
A resident with a history of methamphetamine abuse and severely impaired cognition, assessed as high risk for elopement, was allowed to sit unsupervised on the front porch. This led to the resident leaving the facility and walking to a nearby business to ask for a ride to the bank. The facility was unaware of the resident's absence until contacted by the local business.
Unsanitary Food Equipment and Surfaces in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to maintain sanitary conditions in the kitchen, specifically regarding the cleanliness and condition of food preparation equipment. During inspections, multiple muffin pans, baking sheets, and skillets were found with dark brown or black debris baked onto both the inside and outside surfaces. Additionally, one skillet was noted to have its anti-stick coating flaking off, and several steam table pans had brown debris buildup on the top corners. These items were stacked together and used in food preparation and service. Interviews with the Dietary Manager confirmed that pans should be clean and free of debris buildup, and that such buildup could contribute to foodborne illness. Review of the facility's Infection Control Policy and the FDA Food Code indicated that food-contact surfaces and equipment should be kept free of encrusted grease deposits and other soil accumulations, and that dirty equipment should not come into contact with food. The facility's failure to adhere to these standards was directly observed during meal preparation and kitchen inspections.
Failure to Maintain Kitchen Stove in Safe Operating Condition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain essential kitchen equipment in safe operating condition, specifically the gas stove in the kitchen. During an observation, it was found that the front left burner and the left side oven of the stove would not ignite when the knobs were turned. The dietary manager (DM) reported that the pilot light was out and used a multipurpose lighter to manually ignite both the burner and the oven. The DM acknowledged that the stove should ignite without the use of a lighter and expressed concern that lighting the stove in this manner could be hazardous. No facility policy regarding equipment maintenance and operation was provided when requested by the surveyor. Record review referenced the FDA Food Code 2022, which requires equipment to be maintained in good repair and proper adjustment.
Failure to Administer Medications as Ordered by Physicians
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide pharmaceutical services that ensured the accurate acquiring, receiving, dispensing, and administering of medications as ordered by physicians for two residents. For one resident with a history of protein-calorie malnutrition, hypertension, and chronic ischemic heart disease, the medication aide administered only 1,000 units of vitamin D instead of the physician-ordered 2,000 units. The medication aide acknowledged the error, stating it was a mistake and that she believed she was following the order at the time. The resident's care plan included interventions to give medications as ordered, but the full prescribed dose was not administered. For another resident with hypertension and hypertension urgency, staff failed to follow physician-prescribed parameters for administering Clonidine, a medication used to lower blood pressure. The physician's order specified that Clonidine should be given only when the systolic blood pressure (SBP) was greater than 160. However, the medication was administered on multiple occasions when the resident's SBP was below this threshold. Medication aides involved in these incidents admitted to not holding the medication as required and attributed the errors to oversight and not reading the order carefully. Interviews with staff, including medication aides and the Director of Nursing, confirmed that medications were not always administered according to physician orders and established parameters. The facility's policy required medications to be administered in accordance with written physician orders, but this was not consistently followed, resulting in medication errors for both residents.
Failure to Ensure Drug Regimens Free from Unnecessary Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that each resident’s drug regimen was free from unnecessary medications, as evidenced by two separate incidents involving two residents. One resident, a male with a history of heart valve replacement, pacemaker, and congestive heart failure (CHF), was administered Eliquis, a blood thinner, without an appropriate diagnosis documented in the facility records. The hospital records indicated Eliquis was given for a pacemaker, while the facility’s physician orders listed CHF as the indication. During interviews, staff were unable to confirm the correct diagnosis for the medication, and the Director of Nursing (DON) clarified that Eliquis should be indicated for atrial fibrillation or pacemaker, not CHF. Another resident, a female with diagnoses of hypertension urgency and essential hypertension, received Clonidine, an antihypertensive medication, outside of the prescribed parameters. The physician’s order specified that Clonidine should be administered only if the systolic blood pressure (SBP) was greater than 160. However, medication administration records showed that the medication was given on multiple occasions when the resident’s SBP was below this threshold. Medication aides involved acknowledged during interviews that the medication should have been held according to the parameters and attributed the errors to oversight and not reading the order carefully. Facility policy required medications to be administered in accordance with written physician orders. Despite this, the staff failed to follow the specified parameters for medication administration and did not ensure that medications were given only with appropriate indications. These actions resulted in the administration of unnecessary medications and doses, as documented in the residents’ records and confirmed by staff interviews.
Failure to Follow Physician-Ordered Parameters for Blood Pressure Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was free from significant medication errors by not adhering to physician-ordered parameters for administering Clonidine, a blood pressure medication. Specifically, the medication was given nine times in January 2026 when the resident's systolic blood pressure was below the ordered threshold of 160, contrary to the physician's instructions. Documentation on the medication administration record (MAR) confirmed that the medication was administered outside the prescribed parameters, and interviews with medication aides and nursing staff acknowledged the oversight and failure to follow the order as written. The resident involved was an older female with diagnoses of hypertension urgency and essential hypertension, who was cognitively intact according to her most recent assessment. Her care plan and physician orders clearly specified the conditions under which Clonidine should be administered. Despite this, medication aides administered the drug when the resident's blood pressure readings did not meet the required criteria. Staff interviews revealed that the medication should have been withheld in these instances, and the facility's policy required medications to be given in accordance with physician orders.
Unattended Medications Left on Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
A medication aide (MA) failed to properly secure medications during a medication pass on Hall 600. The aide left a blister pack containing 10 white oval pills and a souffle cup with 4 assorted pills on top of a locked medication cart while stepping away to wash hands and later to retrieve additional medication supplies. During these times, the medications were unattended and out of the aide's line of sight, with no staff or residents immediately present at first, but later a resident in a wheelchair was observed near the unattended cart. Multiple staff members also walked past the unattended cart during this period. The aide acknowledged during interviews that the medications should not have been left unattended on top of the cart and confirmed that she had been trained on proper medication storage and cart security. She explained that she left the medications out because she had a question about them and did not want to forget, but admitted this was not in accordance with her training. The medications included allopurinol tablets intended for a single resident, and the aide recognized the potential for someone else to take the medication while it was left unsecured. Facility policy, as reviewed, requires that medication carts be locked when not in use and that medications remain in the clear view and reach of the person administering them. Both the DON and the Administrator confirmed in interviews that staff are expected to maintain visual contact with medication carts at all times and never leave medications unattended on top of the cart. The incident was observed and confirmed by surveyors, and the facility's policies were found to be consistent with accepted professional principles for medication security.
Failure to Document Basis for Discharge and Follow Discharge Procedures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the basis for discharge was documented in the medical record for a resident who was discharged following an incident involving inappropriate behavior. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had no prior history of behavioral issues, was discharged after allegedly inappropriately touching another resident. There was no documentation in the clinical record regarding the basis for the discharge, nor was there a physician or nurse practitioner order for the discharge. The resident's care plan and progress notes did not reflect any consideration of the caregiver's ability to provide care post-discharge, and there were no discharge notes from the social worker. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the decision to discharge the resident was made jointly by the Administrator and the DON, who instructed the ADON to contact the resident's family member for immediate pick-up. The family member was not provided with discharge instructions, documents, or asked to sign any paperwork, and was not contacted by the facility after the discharge. The ombudsman was not notified of the discharge, and the social worker did not provide post-discharge resources or document the discharge in the medical record. Facility policy requires that the basis for transfer or discharge be documented in the resident's medical record and that appropriate information be communicated to the receiving party. Staff interviews confirmed that the facility did not follow its own discharge policy and procedures, including obtaining a physician's order, notifying the ombudsman, and documenting the basis for discharge. The lack of documentation and communication placed the resident at risk for an improper and unsafe discharge.
Failure to Change PICC Line Dressings as Ordered
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the safe and appropriate administration of IV fluids for two residents, leading to a deficiency in care. Resident #49, a cognitively intact male with cellulitis, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, was observed with a PICC line dressing that had not been changed since 9/29/24, despite a physician's order to change it every seven days. The resident reported not recalling any dressing changes during his stay, which had been approximately 10 days to 2 weeks. Similarly, Resident #75, a female with severely impaired cognition and multiple diagnoses including extradural and subdural abscess, was observed with a PICC line dressing dated 10/3/24, also not changed as per the physician's order. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator acknowledged that the nurses were responsible for changing the PICC line dressings and admitted that the oversight placed residents at risk of infection. The facility lacked a policy on IV management, contributing to the failure to adhere to professional standards and physician orders for the administration of parenteral fluids. This deficiency was identified through observations, interviews, and record reviews conducted by the surveyors.
Failure to Follow Food Safety Standards in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food service safety during meal preparation in the kitchen. Dietary Assistant A, who was responsible for preparing pureed meals for five residents, did not follow proper sanitation procedures. After using a grinder to puree chicken breasts, she discarded her gloves and proceeded to handle food items, such as bread and beans, with her bare hands without washing her hands or donning new gloves. This action was observed by the Dietary Manager, who acknowledged that the failure to wash hands and use gloves could lead to food-borne illnesses. The Dietary Manager confirmed that she was responsible for training dietary staff on kitchen sanitation, which includes avoiding bare-hand contact with food and changing gloves between tasks. The facility's policy, dated July 2014, explicitly prohibits bare-hand contact with food and mandates the use of gloves, which must be changed after each use. Despite this policy, the Dietary Assistant's actions during meal preparation did not comply with these standards, posing a risk of contamination and illness to residents consuming the pureed diet.
Inadequate Infection Control Practices in LTC Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, as evidenced by improper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and inadequate hand hygiene practices. Specifically, staff members reused gowns for residents on enhanced barrier precautions, which is against the facility's infection control policy. Observations revealed that two blue gowns were reused in the rooms of two residents who required enhanced barrier precautions due to infections resistant to many antibiotics. Staff admitted to reusing gowns despite knowing the risk of cross-contamination. Additionally, during catheter care for a resident, two CNAs failed to wear gowns and did not sanitize their hands between glove changes. They also touched clean items with dirty gloves, which could lead to contamination. The CNAs acknowledged their failure to follow proper procedures, including not sanitizing hands after glove removal and not wearing gowns during care, despite the resident being on enhanced barrier precautions. Interviews with facility staff, including the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) and Director of Nursing (DON), confirmed that staff were aware of the infection control policies but did not consistently adhere to them. The facility had experienced a shortage of PPE, which may have contributed to the improper practices. The facility's policies on catheter care and hand hygiene were not followed, increasing the risk of infection and cross-contamination among residents.
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Feeding
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was treated with respect and dignity during feeding. A CNA was observed standing while feeding a resident who required substantial assistance with eating due to severe cognitive impairment. The resident, who had been diagnosed with dementia, BPH, and generalized anxiety disorder, was seated in a wheelchair by the nurse station during the feeding. The CNA acknowledged that she should have been sitting while feeding the resident, as per her training, but mentioned that chairs had been recently moved, which contributed to her standing. Interviews with facility staff, including the Staffing Coordinator, ADON, DON, and Administrator, confirmed that staff were trained to sit while feeding residents to maintain their dignity. The CNA had completed a skills checklist that included proper feeding techniques, and the facility's policy emphasized treating residents with dignity and respect. Despite this, the CNA's actions did not align with the facility's standards, leading to a deficiency in maintaining the resident's dignity during care.
Failure to Ensure Physician's Order for Indwelling Catheter
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate care for a resident who was incontinent of bladder, specifically in ensuring the resident received necessary treatment and services to prevent urinary tract infections. The resident, a cognitively intact female with a BIMS score of 15, had an indwelling catheter due to obstructive uropathy. However, there was no physician's order for the indwelling catheter or for changing the catheter bag and tubing, as noted in the physician's order summary report. This oversight was observed during a record review and confirmed through interviews with the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator. The deficiency was further highlighted during an observation where the resident was seen with a Foley bag hanging on the bedside with a privacy cover in place. The DON acknowledged that the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) was responsible for ensuring indwelling catheter orders were entered, but was unsure how this particular order was missed. The Administrator also confirmed that nursing staff were responsible for entering orders and acknowledged the risk of infections due to the lack of proper orders. Additionally, the facility did not have a policy in place for indwelling catheter management, which contributed to the oversight.
Deficient Perineal and Catheter Care by CNAs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that nursing staff had the appropriate competencies and skill sets to provide adequate care for residents, specifically in the area of perineal and catheter care. Two certified nursing assistants (CNAs) were observed not performing proper cleaning techniques during incontinent and catheter care for two residents. CNA D did not clean the penis of a resident during incontinent care, which is a necessary step to prevent infections. Despite having a skills check-off for perineal care, CNA D admitted to not performing the task correctly. Similarly, CNA B did not properly clean another resident's penis during catheter care. The CNA failed to pull the foreskin back adequately and did not clean in a circular motion or dry the area afterward, which are essential steps to prevent contamination and infection. This CNA also had a skills check-off for perineal care but had not been re-evaluated since starting on the floor. The facility's staffing coordinator and assistant director of nursing (ADON) acknowledged the deficiencies in training and competency checks. The staffing coordinator mentioned that training was conducted every six months, but the CNAs involved had not been adequately checked off for their skills. The facility's policies on nursing staff competency and indwelling urinary catheter care were not adhered to, leading to potential risks for the residents involved.
Resident Elopement Due to Inadequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate supervision for a resident who was assessed as a high risk for elopement. The resident, who had a history of methamphetamine abuse and severely impaired cognition, was allowed to sit on the front porch without supervision. This lack of supervision led to the resident leaving the facility and walking to a nearby business to ask for a ride to the bank. The facility was only made aware of the resident's absence when contacted by the local business. The resident's medical history included congestive heart failure, respiratory failure, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and cerebral infarction. An Elopement/Wandering Evaluation conducted prior to the incident had identified the resident as high risk for elopement. Despite this assessment, the resident was not adequately monitored, resulting in the elopement incident. The resident had been at the nurses' station multiple times on the day of the incident, expressing a desire to leave the facility to go to the bank. The incident occurred when the resident, after being told by a nurse that he could leave if he signed out and had a ride, walked towards the front of the facility. The resident was later found at a local business, having left the facility without the required supervision. The facility's failure to provide adequate supervision and follow its own elopement policy led to the resident's unsupervised departure.
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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