Trinity Nursing & Rehab Of Granbury
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Granbury, Texas.
- Location
- 600 Reunion Court, Granbury, Texas 76048
- CMS Provider Number
- 675084
- Inspections on file
- 30
- Latest survey
- December 5, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 1
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Trinity Nursing & Rehab Of Granbury during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility did not ensure 8-hour RN coverage each day as required, with five days in one month lacking evidence of RN presence. Both the DON and Administrator confirmed the deficiency, attributing it to staffing challenges and difficulties hiring RNs for the facility's resident population. No specific adverse effects on residents were reported.
The facility did not ensure that food served to residents was palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature. Observations and interviews revealed that a meal was served with cold and unappetizing food, including overcooked rolls, thin gravy, and improperly presented cake. A resident refused to eat due to the food's appearance, and staff acknowledged that food was not maintained at the correct temperature during service.
A resident with multiple health conditions suffered neglect in a LTC facility, resulting in a skin tear that was left untreated for several days. The wound became infested with maggots, discovered by the resident's family. Despite the resident's return from the ER, the facility failed to obtain treatment orders or provide wound care until days later, highlighting significant lapses in care and communication among staff.
A resident with a reopened skin tear on their elbow did not receive timely wound care, resulting in maggots being found in the wound. Despite returning from the ER with a bandage, the facility failed to obtain treatment orders or provide care until several days later. Interviews revealed a lack of communication and follow-up, leading to an Immediate Jeopardy situation.
A resident returned from the ER with a bandaged elbow, but the LTC facility failed to document the bandage or provide wound care, leading to maggot infestation. The resident's medical records lacked documentation of wound care, and the family member had to clean the wound due to staff shortages. Interviews revealed no wound care orders were in place until days later, violating the facility's documentation policy.
The facility failed to develop comprehensive care plans for two residents, omitting critical details such as a resident's DNR status and another's probation conditions. The care plans lacked measurable objectives for addressing specific needs, including wound care. The DON acknowledged these oversights, which were contrary to the facility's policy requiring detailed and measurable care plans.
The facility failed to maintain RN coverage for 8 consecutive hours daily on several occasions due to hiring challenges related to its location. This deficiency was identified through a review of staffing reports and confirmed by interviews with the DON and ADMN, who acknowledged the issue as inherited and primarily affecting weekends.
The facility failed to provide a pureed roll to residents on a pureed diet, as observed during a lunch meal. Three residents with various medical conditions requiring mechanically altered diets did not receive the roll, despite it being listed on their meal tickets. Interviews revealed that the dietician and dietary manager expected all menu items to be served, but the omission was attributed to kitchen staff nervousness. The administrator acknowledged the oversight and its potential impact on residents' nutrition.
The facility failed to properly store, prepare, and serve food, leading to potential risks for foodborne illnesses. Observations showed improper sealing and labeling of food, expired items, incorrect thawing methods, and inadequate temperature control. Staff interviews revealed a lack of adherence to facility policies, possibly due to insufficient education and monitoring.
The facility failed to ensure call lights were within reach for two residents, both of whom required assistance for mobility and had impaired communication or cognitive abilities. One resident's call light was left on a nightstand, while another's was placed on an oxygen concentrator, both out of reach. Staff acknowledged the oversight, and the DON confirmed the expectation for call lights to be accessible.
The facility failed to ensure proper execution of advance directives for two residents, resulting in incomplete OOH-DNR orders lacking necessary witness signatures and missing physician orders for DNR status. Staff interviews revealed a lack of understanding of current rules, with the SW responsible for DNRs not up to date, leading to potential misalignment with residents' preferences.
A facility failed to provide a comprehensive discharge summary for a resident, including a recapitulation of the stay, medication reconciliation, and a discharge plan of care. The resident, with multiple diagnoses, was discharged without necessary documentation and planning. Staff interviews revealed a lack of clarity and responsibility in the discharge process, with the LVN and social worker unable to recall specifics, and the DON acknowledging the oversight.
The facility failed to maintain certain resident rooms in a certified and resident-ready state. Rooms intended for resident use were repurposed for activities, theater, and therapy, with shared walls removed, making them unsuitable for immediate resident care. The administrator admitted to not decertifying the beds and lacked a policy on bed certification.
Failure to Provide Required RN Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the presence of a registered nurse (RN) for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, seven days a week, as required by regulation. Record review of the RN nursing schedule for November 2025 revealed that there was no evidence of 8-hour RN coverage on five specific days within the month. Both the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator confirmed during interviews that there was no RN coverage on these dates. The DON stated that she could not cover every shift and acknowledged the lack of RN coverage on the identified days. The DON also indicated that the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) was responsible for completing the staffing schedule, while she monitored it. The Administrator, who started on the first day of the month, also confirmed the expectation for daily 8-hour RN coverage and stated that the DON was responsible for monitoring the schedule. The DON and Administrator both expressed that they did not believe there was a negative effect on residents due to the lack of RN coverage, citing staff access to the DON and communication channels such as a group chat with corporate staff. The DON attributed the failure to difficulties in hiring RNs willing to work with the facility's specific resident population, which included individuals from the penal system and/or sex offenders. The Administrator stated that the facility did not have a specific policy but followed federal and state regulations. There was no mention of any specific resident being directly affected or any adverse outcomes resulting from the deficiency.
Failure to Serve Palatable and Properly Tempered Food
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food served to residents was palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature during a lunch meal. Observations revealed that the posted menu included pork steak with gravy, black-eyed peas, cauliflower with cheese, a roll, and banana cake. Staff interviews indicated that residents had complained about cold food. The cook reported taking the temperature of the pork chop at 155 degrees before serving, but left plated food uncovered on the counter for 2-3 minutes. The dietary manager (DM) observed that the pork chop was only 80 degrees when checked later, and the food was not warm to the touch. The DM also noted that the roll was overcooked, the gravy was too thin, the cake was not iced, and mechanical soft meat was incorrectly placed on the vegetables. The DM expressed embarrassment over the food service and stated that the cook did not follow recipes or facility policies. A resident commented that the food looked unappetizing and left the meal uneaten. The DM and administrator both confirmed that the cook was responsible for ensuring food was cooked and served at the correct temperature, and that the DM was ultimately responsible. Review of facility policy confirmed that food and nutrition staff are required to ensure food is palatable, attractive, and served at a safe and appetizing temperature. Temperature logs showed the pork chop was 180 degrees when removed from the oven and 155 degrees at the start of service, but food was not maintained at appropriate temperatures during plating and serving.
Neglect Leads to Wound Infestation in Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was free from neglect, leading to a serious deficiency. The resident, who had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, spinal stenosis, hypertension, and dysphagia, suffered a skin tear on his right elbow after a fall. Despite the injury occurring on 05/17/2024 and reopening on 05/25/2024, the facility did not obtain treatment orders or provide wound care until 06/02/2024. This neglect resulted in the wound becoming infested with maggots, which were discovered by the resident's family member on 06/01/2024. The resident's family member had a video camera in the room and observed the resident fall on 05/17/2024, which led to a head injury and a skin tear. The family member reported the fall to the facility and later discovered the wound's poor condition, including maggots, on 06/01/2024. Despite the family member's intervention and notification to the nursing staff, the facility failed to provide timely wound care or notify the physician until days later. The lack of documentation and communication among the nursing staff further exacerbated the situation, as several nurses were unaware of the wound care needs or the presence of maggots until it was too late. Interviews with the facility's staff revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding the resident's condition and necessary wound care. The Director of Nursing (DON) and other staff members admitted to not having clear documentation or communication about the resident's discharge orders from the emergency room. The facility's failure to follow up on the resident's condition and ensure proper wound care led to the identification of an Immediate Jeopardy situation, highlighting significant lapses in the facility's care and oversight processes.
Neglect in Wound Care Leads to Immediate Jeopardy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate treatment and care for a resident who sustained a skin tear on their right elbow. The resident initially obtained the skin tear on May 17, 2024, which reopened on May 25, 2024. Despite the reopening of the wound, the facility did not obtain treatment orders or provide wound care until June 2, 2024. During this period, the resident's family member discovered maggots in the wound on June 1, 2024, indicating a severe lapse in care and hygiene. The resident, who had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, spinal stenosis, hypertension, and dysphagia, was admitted to the facility with intact cognitive response and moderate hearing difficulty. After the initial fall and skin tear, the resident was sent to the emergency room and returned with a bandage on the wound. However, the facility failed to follow up with appropriate wound care orders or ensure the wound was properly managed, leading to the infestation of maggots. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of communication and follow-up on the resident's condition. The nursing staff did not have clear orders for wound care, and there was confusion about the responsibility for monitoring and treating the wound. The Director of Nursing acknowledged the failure to implement wound care orders promptly, and the facility's neglect in addressing the resident's wound care needs resulted in an Immediate Jeopardy situation.
Failure to Maintain Accurate Medical Records and Provide Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain accurate and complete medical records for a resident, leading to a significant deficiency in care. The resident, who had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, spinal stenosis, hypertension, and dysphagia, returned from an emergency room visit with a bandaged right elbow. However, the facility did not document the presence of the bandage or provide appropriate wound care instructions upon the resident's return. This oversight resulted in the resident's wound becoming infested with maggots, as discovered by a nurse and the resident's family member. The resident's medical records lacked documentation of wound care from the time of the emergency room discharge until the discovery of the maggots. The nurse who found the maggots reported that the bandage was saturated with drainage and blood, indicating a lack of proper wound management. The resident's family member also observed the maggots and reported the issue to the facility staff, who were unable to provide immediate care due to staffing shortages. The family member had to clean and bandage the wound herself. Interviews with facility staff, including the Director of Nursing, revealed that there were no orders for wound care until several days after the resident's return from the emergency room. The facility's policy on charting and documentation was not followed, as there was no clear communication or documentation regarding the resident's condition and the necessary care. This failure to adhere to professional standards and practices in maintaining medical records and providing timely wound care led to the deficiency.
Deficiencies in Comprehensive Care Plans for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement comprehensive person-centered care plans for two residents, which resulted in deficiencies in addressing their specific needs. For one resident, the care plan did not include the current code status of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR), despite this being documented in the physician orders. The care plan's section on code status was incomplete, lacking the necessary details to ensure that the resident's wishes were communicated and honored by the facility staff. This oversight was acknowledged by the Director of Nursing (DON), who admitted that the code status should have been incorporated into the care plan. For another resident, the care plan failed to address the conditions of probation, which included notifying the probation officer if the resident left the facility and restrictions on access to internet-capable electronic devices. The probation officer confirmed these stipulations during an interview, and the Clinical Resource Nurse and DON both expressed that such information should have been included in the care plan. Additionally, the care plan did not provide measurable approaches or frequency for addressing the resident's wounds on both lower legs. The facility's policy on comprehensive care plans emphasizes the need for measurable objectives and timeframes, which were not met in these cases.
Failure to Maintain RN Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the presence of a registered nurse (RN) for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, seven days a week, on specific dates within a 90-day review period. This deficiency was identified on eight occasions: 10/07/2023, 10/08/2023, 10/21/2023, 10/22/2023, 10/28/2023, 10/29/2023, 11/04/2023, and 11/05/2023. The absence of RN coverage on these dates was confirmed through a review of the facility's Direct Care Staff Daily Report. Interviews with the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator (ADMN) revealed that the lack of RN coverage was an inherited issue, particularly on weekends, and was attributed to difficulties in hiring due to the facility's location. The facility's policy, dated 09/28/2023, mandates RN coverage for 8 consecutive hours daily, which was not adhered to, placing residents at risk for inadequate healthcare management and oversight of direct care staff.
Failure to Follow Pureed Diet Menu
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to the prescribed menu for residents on a pureed diet, specifically omitting a pureed roll from the meal. This deficiency was observed during a lunch meal where three residents, all on mechanically altered diets, did not receive the pureed roll as indicated on their meal tickets. The residents involved had various medical conditions, including hypertension, depression, diabetes, aphasia, cerebrovascular accident, dementia, and malnutrition, which necessitated a mechanically altered diet. During observations, it was noted that the kitchen staff did not include the roll in the pureed items prepared for the residents. Interviews with the dietician and dietary manager revealed that the expectation was for all menu items, including the roll, to be provided to residents on a pureed diet. The dietician emphasized the importance of following the menu to ensure residents receive all food groups and necessary calories, while the dietary manager acknowledged the oversight and attributed it to kitchen staff being nervous. The administrator also confirmed the expectation for all residents to receive all menu items, including the roll, and recognized the potential impact of not doing so, such as weight loss. Despite the monitoring systems in place, including checks by nurses and dietary staff, the omission occurred, and the reason for not offering the pureed roll remained unclear. The facility's policy on menu planning underscores the importance of providing a well-balanced and nutritious menu that meets residents' preferences and nutritional needs.
Food Safety and Storage Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food service safety, as evidenced by improper storage, preparation, distribution, and serving of food in the kitchen. Observations revealed that food items in the refrigerator were not sealed or labeled correctly, with a plastic container of sliced cheese and chicken noodle soup not properly covered. Additionally, a container of chopped onion lacked a label identifying the item and date. In the dry storage area, packages of coconut flakes were not labeled with an item description and showed signs of pink discoloration, while cans of evaporated milk were past their best-by date. The facility also failed to ensure proper thawing and temperature control of food items. Hamburger meat was observed thawing in an aluminum pan with half of the package not submerged in water, contrary to proper thawing procedures. During meal preparation, pureed chicken fried chicken was made using cold milk, and its temperature was not taken before being placed in the steam table. The temperature of the pureed chicken was later found to be below the required level, necessitating reheating in a microwave. Furthermore, the thermometer used to check food temperatures was not sanitized between uses, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. Interviews with staff, including the Dietician and Dietary Manager (DM), highlighted a lack of adherence to facility policies and procedures for food storage and preparation. The Dietician and DM expressed expectations for proper labeling, sealing, and discarding of expired food items, as well as correct thawing and temperature monitoring practices. However, they acknowledged that these standards were not consistently met, potentially due to insufficient staff education and monitoring. The Administrator also noted that the failure to sanitize the thermometer and take appropriate temperatures was partly due to the inexperience of a new dietary aide.
Failure to Ensure Call Lights Within Reach for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accommodate the needs and preferences of two residents by not ensuring their call lights were within reach, which is a requirement outlined in their care plans. Resident #13, a male with flaccid hemiplegia, sepsis, aphasia, and dysphagia, was observed on multiple occasions with his call light placed on the nightstand, out of his reach. Despite being dependent on staff for mobility and having impaired communication abilities, the call light was not positioned where he could access it using his left arm, as he was unable to use his right arm. A CNA acknowledged that the call light should have been attached to his pillow for accessibility. Similarly, Resident #14, a female with cervical disc degeneration and severe cognitive impairment, was found unable to reach her call light, which was placed on top of an oxygen concentrator, obstructed by a nightstand. This resident, who also required staff assistance for mobility, expressed difficulty in reaching the call light. A CNA admitted to leaving the call light out of reach after providing care earlier in the day. The DON confirmed that both residents could not exit their beds without assistance and acknowledged the oversight in ensuring the call lights were accessible, which could potentially delay care.
Failure to Properly Execute Advance Directives
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the proper execution of advance directives for two residents, specifically regarding the Out of Hospital Do Not Resuscitate (OOH-DNR) orders. Resident #42, a male with moderate cognitive impairment and a diagnosis of unspecified psychosis, had a code status of Do Not Resuscitate. However, his physician orders did not include a DNR order, and his OOH-DNR form lacked the required two witness signatures. Similarly, Resident #48, a male with multiple health conditions including hypertension and kidney failure, also had a DNR code status. His physician orders similarly lacked a DNR order, and his OOH-DNR form was missing the necessary witness signatures. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of understanding and adherence to the requirements for completing OOH-DNR orders. The social worker (SW) responsible for ensuring the completion of DNRs was not up to date with the current rules, mistakenly believing that witness signatures were not needed if a family member signed the form. The Director of Nursing (DON) acknowledged that the SW was responsible for completing the OOH-DNRs correctly and attributed the failure to a lack of education. The facility's policy on advance directives emphasized the importance of documenting a resident's code status and ensuring that all necessary signatures were obtained for OOH-DNR orders. The policy also required that the attending physician be informed of any changes to a resident's code status. The report highlighted that the failure to properly execute these directives could result in residents receiving treatments that contradict their personal preferences.
Failure to Provide Comprehensive Discharge Summary
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident had a comprehensive discharge summary, including a recapitulation of the resident's stay, medication reconciliation, and a discharge plan of care. This deficiency was identified for one resident who was reviewed for discharge summaries. The resident, a male with diagnoses including bacterial infection, heart failure, dementia, and kidney disease, was discharged home without the necessary documentation and planning. The review of the resident's records revealed several omissions. There was no evidence of a discharge plan with defined goals and interventions, nor was there a care plan conference with the resident or family member. Additionally, there was no discharge order in the electronic physician's orders, and the electronic record lacked discharge paperwork, including an evaluation of the resident's discharge needs, a discharge summary, or a post-discharge plan. Interviews with facility staff highlighted a lack of clarity and responsibility in the discharge process. The LVN involved could not recall the specifics of the discharge and stated that her training only involved completing a discharge progress note and printing a list of medications. The DON acknowledged that a discharge summary should have been completed and accepted responsibility for the oversight. The social worker indicated minimal involvement in the discharge process and could not recall details related to the resident's discharge. The facility's policy required a comprehensive discharge summary and post-discharge plan, which were not adhered to in this case.
Deficiency in Resident Room Certification and Readiness
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that certain resident rooms were certified and equipped for adequate nursing care, comfort, and privacy. Specifically, rooms #45 and #46, which were certified for two Title 18 resident beds each, were not resident-ready as they had been converted into a large activities room by removing the shared wall. Similarly, rooms #47, #48, and #49 were combined into a theater room, and rooms #52 and #53 were turned into a therapy room, with their shared walls removed. These modifications rendered the rooms unsuitable for immediate transition back to resident-ready status. During an interview, the facility's administrator admitted to not having a reason for why the beds were not decertified and acknowledged a lack of policy regarding bed class/certification. The administrator, who had been in the position for over a year and a half, stated that the rooms had been set up in their current configurations since her tenure began and had not considered the need for decertification. The facility's Bed Classification Form and CMS-671 confirmed that these rooms were still certified for resident beds, despite their current use for non-residential purposes.
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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