Treemont Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Dallas, Texas.
- Location
- 5550 Harvest Hill Rd, Dallas, Texas 75230
- CMS Provider Number
- 455823
- Inspections on file
- 42
- Latest survey
- March 17, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 26 (2 serious)
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Treemont Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with dementia, severe cognitive impairment, and significant physical limitations was assessed as high risk for elopement, but this risk was not incorporated into the care plan and staff did not notify the DON of the elevated score. During a night shift, a door alarm sounded and an RN checked the door but did not go outside around the building before returning to complete a head count, at which point the resident was found to be missing. Around the same time, a CNA from another floor encountered the resident outside but mistook him for a homeless person and did not intervene. The resident ultimately eloped off the premises and was located by police near a main road and transported to a hospital, where no injuries were found.
A resident with a history of stroke, hemiplegia, dementia, and psychiatric conditions was admitted, then sent to the hospital the next day for evaluation of possible aspiration related to a G-tube. Documentation showed an unplanned discharge to a short-term hospital, and the resident was not allowed to return. Interviews with the DON, ADON, BOM, and Marketer/Admissions revealed the resident had been clinically but not financially approved, was admitted by confusion while management was absent, and was not funded or fully identified. Staff acknowledged that transportation had been arranged for another individual and that, once the error was recognized, the resident was not readmitted after hospitalization, contrary to the facility’s written discharge planning policy regarding residents returning from the hospital.
A resident with moderate cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions exited the facility unsupervised by observing and using a door code after a delivery person, without staff presence in the hallway or at the entrance. The resident was later found at a family member's residence in a stressed and medically compromised state, having walked a significant distance before being located and taken to the hospital.
Three CNAs provided resident care while their certifications were expired, as confirmed by registry and timecard reviews. Staff interviews indicated that both HR and the CNAs were responsible for monitoring certification status, but lapses occurred, and a policy for registry verification was not provided when requested.
A resident with multiple comorbidities, including end stage renal disease and chronic heart failure, experienced shortness of breath during transport to dialysis, resulting in a missed appointment. Facility staff did not immediately notify the physician or complete required documentation of the change in condition, despite facility policy and direct instructions from the ADON. Both the physician and NP confirmed they were not informed of the event at the time.
A facility's second-floor storage room was found unlocked and disorganized, containing broken and hazardous equipment. Staff interviews revealed confusion about key access and security protocols. The Administrator confirmed the expectation for storage rooms to remain locked to prevent unauthorized access and potential harm.
The facility failed to store and handle food according to professional standards, risking food-borne illness. Observations revealed expired and improperly stored food items, such as unrefrigerated Teriyaki Sauce and unsealed boiled eggs, contrary to facility policy and FDA guidelines.
The facility failed to maintain an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program, as CNAs did not change soiled gloves during incontinence care for two residents. One resident, dependent on assistance for toileting hygiene, had gloves not changed after cleaning, and the same gloves were used to place a clean brief. Another resident, requiring moderate assistance, had cream and a clean brief applied with contaminated gloves. Facility policies on perineal care and infection control were not followed.
The facility failed to secure medication carts, leaving them unlocked and unattended in hallways. RN, LVN, and MA acknowledged the carts should be locked to prevent unauthorized access. The carts contained various medications, and the facility's policy did not address medication security. The DON confirmed the expectation for carts to be locked at all times.
The facility failed to maintain safe operating conditions for kitchen equipment, with leaking pipes in the walk-in refrigerator and ice build-up in the freezer. Observations showed a bucket collecting water from a leaking fan-cooler unit and ice forming on food boxes. Interviews revealed that the issues were known but unresolved for an unspecified duration.
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, leading to the presence of gnats, flies, and roaches in the kitchen, resident rooms, and dining areas. Residents reported frequent sightings of pests, and staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness about pest reporting procedures. The pest sighting log confirmed a roach sighting in the kitchen, with pest control visits occurring monthly.
A resident at risk for falls, with a history of malnutrition and urinary tract infection, fell and sustained skin tears when a PTA failed to use a gait belt during ambulation. The resident required partial to moderate assistance, and the facility's policy mandated the use of a gait belt, which was not followed.
A facility failed to respect a resident's privacy and dignity when a medical assistant entered the resident's room without knocking or requesting permission. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had a history of mental health disorders, expressed distress at the intrusion. Interviews confirmed the importance of knocking and obtaining permission, as outlined in the facility's policy on resident rights.
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, and homelike environment in two resident rooms. In one room, tiles in the bathroom were missing pieces, exposing bare concrete, while another room had tiles with gaps and a cracked tile. The Maintenance Supervisor was aware of the issue but stated that the repair crew had stopped operations months ago. The DON noted the potential trip hazard posed by the damaged tiles.
A resident with an indwelling urinary catheter was found with a leaking catheter bag that had not been changed for two months, despite facility policy and physician orders requiring regular monitoring and changes as needed. The urine was cloudy with sediment, and staff interviews confirmed awareness of the need to change dirty or leaking catheters to prevent infection, yet no action was taken.
A facility failed to implement policies and procedures to prevent neglect, resulting in a resident being missing for 15 hours after a hospital visit. The resident, who was cognitively intact and generally independent, checked himself into the ER and was later released to a homeless shelter without the facility's knowledge. The incident was not reported to the State Survey Agency.
The facility failed to report an incident involving a missing resident who was found at a homeless shelter after being released from the hospital. The resident, who was cognitively intact, was taken to the hospital for an appointment and later checked himself into the ER. The hospital released him with a bus pass, and the facility staff could not locate him until the next day. The incident was not reported to the State Survey Agency within the required timeframe.
Failure to Supervise High-Risk Resident Resulting in Elopement
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide adequate supervision and assistive devices to prevent accidents, resulting in a resident’s elopement from the building without staff knowledge. The resident was an elderly male with dementia, prior cerebral infarction, hemiplegia/hemiparesis, generalized muscle weakness, and atherosclerotic heart disease. His admission MDS showed a BIMS score of 1, indicating severe cognitive impairment. An Elopement Risk Assessment completed shortly after admission scored him at 16, identifying him as at high risk for elopement, but his care plan dated 03/02/26 did not include elopement risk as a focus with goals or interventions. Progress notes from admission through the date of the incident documented no prior elopement attempts or exit-seeking behaviors. On the night of the incident, the east exit door alarm sounded at approximately 01:00 a.m. The nurse on duty, RN A, reported that she immediately went to the door and looked but did not see any residents; she then conducted a head count and discovered that the resident was missing. The DON stated that RN A did not go outside the building to look for the resident when the door alarm sounded, and the administrator stated it was the nurse’s responsibility to go around the building at the time of the alarm. While the alarm had sounded and staff were searching, a CNA who worked on another floor encountered the resident outside around 12:30 a.m.; the CNA later stated in writing that he thought the man was homeless and did not recognize him as a resident because he worked on a different floor and had never seen him before. After the resident was identified as missing, staff initiated the facility’s elopement/missing resident protocol and searched the building and surrounding premises, and local law enforcement was notified. Within a short time, police contacted the facility to report that the resident had been found wandering off facility grounds and transported him to a hospital for evaluation. The administrator reported that the resident was found near a hospital or a crossing bridge near the hospital, at least as far as the main road and not near the facility, estimating the distance as a 5–10 minute walk or longer for this resident. Hospital evaluation and subsequent skin assessment on return documented no injuries or acute issues. The DON later acknowledged that the resident’s high elopement risk score had been known, that the care plan should have reflected monitoring for elopement/exit-seeking behaviors, and that staff had not notified her when the resident’s initial elopement assessment score exceeded the facility’s high-risk threshold.
Removal Plan
- All staff received training on abuse and neglect as well as training on elopement response with emphasis on the need to check outside the building in response to door alarms.
- All residents were reassessed for elopement risks.
- An AD Hoc QAPI meeting was conducted to review the elopement.
- Door locks and alarms were checked and are checked daily.
- Door alarm monitoring and missing resident/elopement monitoring are completed daily.
- Door alarm codes continue to be changed monthly.
- Elopement drills are conducted three times per week.
- The DON monitors all residents' elopement scores daily by generating and reviewing a daily report for changes and scores over 10.
Failure to Allow Hospitalized Resident to Return Due to Financial Approval Issues
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to establish and follow a written policy permitting residents to return after hospitalization, resulting in a resident not being allowed to return and instead being effectively discharged while hospitalized. The resident was an older female admitted with a primary diagnosis of unspecified cerebral infarction (stroke) and secondary diagnoses including hemiplegia and hemiparesis affecting the right dominant side, unspecified dementia without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety. Admission records showed she was admitted on 02/23/2026, and the MDS entry tracking reflected that admission date. The following day, an MDS discharge record documented an unplanned discharge to a short-term general hospital, and the discharge summary stated she was sent to the hospital for evaluation due to G-tube issues and possible aspiration with slightly coarse sounds in the upper right lobe, though she denied cyanosis or respiratory distress. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the resident was clinically approved for admission but not financially approved. The DON stated the resident did not return from the hospital because she was not financially approved. The Marketer/Admissions staff reported that the resident was not funded and lacked an identification card, having only a green card, and therefore was not approved for admission based on funding. The ADON and BOM both confirmed that the resident was clinically but not financially approved, and that she was admitted by confusion while management was not in the building, as the facility had been expecting two other new admissions. The BOM indicated transportation had been set up for the wrong person, leading to this resident’s arrival, and that once the discrepancy was recognized, the plan was to transfer her back to the sending facility; however, she was instead sent to the hospital for treatment and not allowed to return. The facility’s discharge planning policy referenced completing discharge planning when anticipating discharge to another setting, but the report did not show that this policy was followed to permit the resident’s return after hospitalization.
Resident Elopement Due to Inadequate Supervision and Door Security
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with a history of cerebral infarction, type 2 diabetes, anxiety disorder, and acute respiratory failure with hypoxia exited the facility without supervision and walked approximately two miles to a family member's residence. The resident, who had a BIMS score of 12 indicating moderately impaired cognition and was being treated for a urinary tract infection, was last seen in her room after requesting to eat breakfast there. Staff discovered the resident missing during a routine medication pass and initiated a search of the facility and surrounding area. Video surveillance revealed that the resident exited her room using a walker and approached the front door shortly after a delivery person had used the keypad to exit. The resident was observed attempting to use the keypad and successfully opened the door, leaving the facility unsupervised. No staff were present in the hallway or at the front entrance during this time. The resident was later found at a family member's apartment, appearing stressed, lethargic, hungry, dehydrated, with low blood sugar and elevated blood pressure, and was subsequently taken to the hospital. Interviews with facility staff and administration confirmed that the resident had not previously expressed a desire to leave the facility and had not attempted to elope before. Staff also reported that the resident had been seen lingering near the front lobby in the days prior to the incident. The facility's elopement prevention and response policies required staff to report any resident attempting to leave or suspected of being missing, but the resident was able to observe and use the door code without staff intervention, resulting in her unsupervised exit.
Expired CNA Certifications Result in Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that three certified nurse aides (CNAs) maintained current nurse aide certifications while employed and actively providing care to residents. Record reviews showed that CNA A, CNA B, and CNA C all had expired certifications according to the Nurse Aide Registry, yet each continued to work scheduled shifts during the period their certifications were not valid. Timecard reports confirmed that these CNAs worked multiple shifts while their certifications were expired. Interviews with staff revealed that CNAs were responsible for notifying Human Resources (HR) and administration when their certifications expired, but CNA A did not inform staff of her expired license. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator both stated that HR was expected to complete background and registry checks prior to hire and annually thereafter, and that staff were responsible for notifying HR of expiring certifications. The facility was unable to provide a policy for nurse aide registry verification when requested.
Failure to Notify Physician of Resident's Change in Condition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to immediately notify a resident's physician when there was a significant change in the resident's physical status. The resident, an older female with acute respiratory failure, chronic diastolic heart failure, end stage renal disease, and dependence on renal dialysis, experienced an episode of shortness of breath while being transported to a scheduled dialysis appointment. As a result, she missed her dialysis session. Documentation showed that the resident was on continuous oxygen therapy and had orders to maintain oxygen saturation above 92%. Review of the resident's medical record revealed no evidence that a Change in Condition Assessment was completed following the episode of shortness of breath, nor was there documentation that the physician was notified at the time of the event. A late entry was made two days later, but both the physician and nurse practitioner confirmed during interviews that they were not made aware of the episode when it occurred. The nurse practitioner and physician both stated that shortness of breath in this resident, given her comorbidities, would be considered a change in condition that warranted notification. Interviews with facility staff indicated that the ADON instructed the LVN to notify the physician and complete a Change in Condition Assessment, but the LVN only left a voice message for the physician and did not document this action or complete the assessment. The LVN cited the timing of the shift change as a reason for not completing the documentation, assuming the oncoming nurse would do so. The facility's policy required immediate notification and documentation of significant changes in status, which was not followed in this instance.
Unsecured and Disorganized Storage Room Poses Safety Risks
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that equipment in the second-floor storage room was secure and inaccessible to unauthorized staff and residents. During an observation, the storage room was found unlocked, unorganized, and dirty, containing various broken and potentially hazardous equipment such as wheelchairs, a bed frame with sharp edges, and an overbed table with missing veneer. Additionally, the room contained poles for g-tube feeding, a broken bedside table, repair parts, stacked mattresses, and various liquids and items scattered on the floor. The equipment was piled haphazardly, indicating a lack of organization and safety measures. Interviews with staff, including the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), revealed inconsistencies in the understanding and enforcement of the storage room's security protocols. The ADON admitted to having been in the room earlier and believed it was locked afterward, but was unsure of how many keys existed or who had access. The LVN and CNA both acknowledged the room should be locked but were uncertain about key access and the room's security status. The facility's Administrator confirmed the expectation that storage rooms remain locked to prevent unauthorized access and potential harm, aligning with the facility's policy that mandates monthly sweeps and organized storage of equipment.
Improper Food Storage and Handling in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food service safety, as observed during a survey of the kitchen. Specifically, the facility did not properly store, prepare, distribute, and serve food, which could potentially lead to food-borne illnesses among residents. During the inspection, it was noted that a 1-gallon container of Teriyaki Sauce, opened and dated 05/05/24, was not refrigerated as required by the manufacturer's instructions. Additionally, a container of apple sauce and a bag of boiled eggs were found in the walk-in refrigerator past their use-by dates, with the apple sauce dated 07/13/24 and a use-by date of 07/16/24, and the eggs dated 07/13/24 with a use-by date of 07/18/24. The eggs were also not sealed properly, leaving them exposed to air. Interviews with the Kitchen Manager and a cook revealed that the facility's policy required all food to be dated upon receipt and when opened, with perishable items to be discarded by their use-by dates. However, the observed practices did not align with these policies, as evidenced by the presence of expired and improperly stored food items. The facility's policy, as well as the U.S. FDA Food Code, mandates that food be stored in covered containers or sealed bags to prevent contamination, which was not followed in these instances.
Infection Control Deficiency Due to Improper Glove Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program, as evidenced by improper glove use during incontinence care for two residents. For Resident #60, a CNA did not change soiled gloves after cleaning the resident's peri area and buttocks, and continued to use the same gloves to place a clean brief and adjust the resident's blankets. This resident, who was dependent on assistance for toileting hygiene, had a BIMS score of 15, indicating no cognitive impairment, and was being monitored for signs of infection due to incontinence. Similarly, for Resident #75, another CNA failed to change gloves after cleaning the resident's soiled peri and buttocks area, and applied cream and a clean brief with the same contaminated gloves. This resident, who required moderate assistance with toileting hygiene, had a BIMS score of 14, suggesting intact cognition, and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. The facility's policies on perineal care and infection control precautions were not adhered to, as CNAs did not change gloves or perform hand hygiene as required.
Medication Security Lapses in Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that medications were secure and inaccessible to unauthorized staff or residents, as observed in three out of four medication carts reviewed. Specifically, the medication carts for Unit 2, Unit 3, and Unit 23 were found unlocked and unattended in the hallways. RN H left the medication cart for Unit 2 unlocked while attending to a task in a resident's room, acknowledging that the cart should always be locked to prevent unauthorized access. Similarly, MA I left the medication cart for Unit 23 unlocked while administering medications in a resident's room, and LVN J left the medication cart for Unit 3 unlocked while washing hands in a bathroom, both acknowledging the importance of keeping the carts locked. The facility's policy on medication storage did not address the security of medications, and no additional policy was provided upon request. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed the expectation that medication carts should be locked at all times. The unsecured medication carts contained various medications, including Gabapentin, Midodrine, Lasix, Naproxen, Famotidine, Depakote, Zyprexa, Metoprolol, Cyproheptad, and Insulin Lispro, among others. This oversight could potentially lead to unauthorized access and ingestion of medications by residents or staff.
Equipment Maintenance Deficiency in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain mechanical, electrical, and patient care equipment in safe operating condition, specifically in the kitchen area. During an observation, a five-gallon bucket was found half full of a water-like substance, with liquid dripping from a pipe connected to the fan-cooler unit in the walk-in refrigerator. The fan-cooler unit was also making a clanking noise. In the walk-in freezer, both fan-cooler units had ice build-up, forming icicles that dripped onto food boxes below, accumulating 2-3 inches of ice on top of the food boxes. Interviews revealed that the facility's administration and maintenance staff were aware of the issues. The Administrator mentioned that the fan-cooler units had been fixed but could not specify how long the pipes had been leaking. The Maintenance Supervisor stated that he had addressed the leaking pipes by blowing them out but was unsure of the duration of the leak, estimating he had been in the area the previous week. The facility's policy on Preventive Maintenance/Work-Order Request, dated 2003, indicates that the facility should repair or replace damaged or broken equipment as needed.
Pest Control Deficiency in Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in the presence of pests in various areas, including the kitchen, resident rooms, and dining areas. Observations revealed live gnats and small flies in a resident room and dining areas, with residents reporting frequent sightings of these pests. One resident mentioned seeing a roach in her room, while another resident reported seeing gnats in her room and the dining area. The presence of these pests during meal services and in resident living spaces indicates a lapse in maintaining a pest-free environment. Interviews with staff and residents highlighted a lack of awareness and communication regarding pest sightings. Several CNAs were unaware of the pest sighting log's location and procedures, although they acknowledged seeing gnats and occasionally roaches. The Maintenance Supervisor confirmed that staff should report pest sightings in the log, which is used to inform pest control treatments. The Director of Nursing expressed concerns about the potential cross-contamination risks posed by roaches in the kitchen. The pest sighting log confirmed a roach sighting in the kitchen, and the pest control company visits the facility monthly or more frequently if needed.
Failure to Use Gait Belt Leads to Resident Fall
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident received the necessary assistance devices to prevent accidents, specifically for one resident reviewed for accidents. The incident involved a physical therapy assistant (PTA) who did not apply a gait belt to the resident before ambulating in the hallway. As a result, the resident fell and sustained a skin tear to the left elbow and right forearm. The PTA acknowledged the importance of using a gait belt to secure the resident and admitted to not using it because they were only planning to take a few more steps. The resident involved was of advanced age and had diagnoses of moderate protein-calorie malnutrition and a urinary tract infection. The resident's care plan indicated a risk for falls, and the Minimum Data Set (MDS) showed that the resident had a fall within the last month and required partial to moderate assistance with ambulating. Observations confirmed the absence of a gait belt at the time of the fall, and interviews with the Director of Physical Therapy reinforced the expectation that all PT staff should use a gait belt when working with residents. The facility's policy on moving a resident also required the use of a gait belt.
Failure to Respect Resident Privacy and Dignity
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all residents were treated with dignity and respect, specifically in the case of one resident. During an observation, a medical assistant (MA K) entered the room of a resident without knocking or requesting permission. This action was contrary to the facility's policy, which emphasizes the importance of knocking and obtaining permission to respect the resident's privacy and dignity. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had a history of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, expressed distress by yelling at MA K to leave the room. Interviews conducted with both the resident and MA K revealed that the resident did not want MA K in her room, and MA K acknowledged the importance of knocking before entering a resident's room. The facility's administrator also confirmed that staff should knock for privacy reasons and need permission to enter a resident's room. The facility's policy on resident rights, revised in 2016, supports the resident's right to personal privacy and a homelike environment, which was not upheld in this instance.
Failure to Maintain Safe and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for residents in two of the five rooms observed. In room #1125, the bathroom floor had two pieces of tile directly in front of the toilet with approximately 2-inch by 2-inch pieces missing, exposing the bare concrete below. In room #1207, the bathroom floor had five pieces of tile bordering the toilet with 1/4 inch gaps between them, exposing the concrete below, and one tile had a large 1/2 inch crack down the middle. The Maintenance Supervisor acknowledged awareness of the tile issues and mentioned that the crew responsible for repairs had ceased operations months ago. The Director of Nursing (DON) noted that cracked or loose tiles could pose a trip hazard if the tiles slipped or if the edges were raised. The facility's policy on Preventive Maintenance/Work-Order Request, dated 2003, indicated that the facility would repair or replace damaged or broken equipment or building amenities as needed. However, the failure to address the tile issues in the bathrooms of the observed rooms could lead to an unsanitary and uncomfortable environment for the residents.
Failure to Change Leaking Catheter Bag
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate care for a resident with an indwelling urinary catheter, leading to a deficiency in preventing urinary tract infections. The resident, a male with a diagnosis of Obstructive and Reflux Uropathy, was observed with a leaking catheter bag that had not been changed for two months. The urine in the tubing was cloudy with white sediment, and the catheter bag was stained and leaking despite the clamp being closed. The resident's care plan and physician orders required monitoring of the catheter for leakage, blockage, sediment buildup, or low output every shift, but there were no progress notes regarding the catheter from 07/08/24 to 07/22/24. Interviews with facility staff, including CNAs and LVNs, revealed that they were aware of the need to change dirty or leaking catheters to prevent infection. However, the catheter was not changed despite its condition, and the facility's policy required that catheters and drainage systems be changed as needed unless ordered otherwise by the physician. The failure to change the leaking catheter bag placed the resident at risk of infection, as confirmed by staff interviews.
Failure to Implement Policies and Procedures to Prevent Neglect
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement written policies and procedures that prohibit and prevent neglect, as evidenced by an incident where a resident was missing for approximately 15 hours after leaving the hospital for a doctor's appointment. The facility did not follow its policy to report the incident to the State Survey Agency. This failure could place residents at risk of lacking timely reporting of incidents. The resident involved was a cognitively intact male with a BIMS score of 15, who used a wheelchair for mobility. He was taken to the hospital for an appointment and subsequently checked himself into the ER, reporting suicidal thoughts. The hospital staff released him with a bus pass to a homeless shelter, and the facility was not informed. The resident spent the night under an overpass before being found at the homeless shelter the next day. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the resident was generally independent, alert, and oriented, and did not require a staff member to accompany him to appointments. The facility staff and police searched for the resident when he was not found at the hospital. The facility did not report the incident to the State Survey Agency, believing the resident was never truly missing and was not in danger.
Failure to Report Missing Resident Incident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an incident involving a resident who went missing for about 15 hours after leaving the hospital for a doctor's appointment. The resident, who was cognitively intact and able to make his own decisions, was taken to the hospital by a van driver. After the appointment, the resident checked himself into the ER, claiming to have suicidal thoughts. The hospital staff released the resident with a bus pass to a homeless shelter without informing the facility. The facility staff, including the DON and the van driver, attempted to locate the resident and eventually contacted the police when they could not find him. The resident was found the next day at a homeless shelter and expressed that he did not want to return to the facility. He signed an AMA discharge form and was assessed to have no visible concerns or injuries. The facility's failure to report the incident to the State Survey Agency within the required timeframe was a significant deficiency. The DON and the Administrator believed that the resident was not in danger and that they had 24 hours to report the incident. However, the facility's policy required immediate reporting of such incidents. The facility staff, including the DON, ADON, and Administrator, all acknowledged that the resident was alert, oriented, and able to make his own decisions. Despite this, the incident should have been reported promptly to ensure proper follow-up and intervention. Interviews with the resident, his family, and various facility staff revealed that the resident was generally quiet, compliant with care, and had never expressed a desire to leave the facility. The resident's family expressed concerns about the resident's mental state and the facility's decision to send him to the appointment unattended. The facility's policy on abuse and neglect required prompt reporting of such incidents, but this was not adhered to in this case, leading to a delay in addressing the resident's situation and ensuring his safety.
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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