Wylie Oaks Healthcare And Rehabilitation
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Wylie, Texas.
- Location
- 721 S Hwy 78, Wylie, Texas 75098
- CMS Provider Number
- 676248
- Inspections on file
- 41
- Latest survey
- December 30, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 2
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Wylie Oaks Healthcare And Rehabilitation during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses did not consistently receive showers, bed baths, or nail care due to lack of documentation, unclear responsibility between facility and hospice staff, and poor communication. Observations confirmed the resident had poor hygiene and long, dirty fingernails, and staff interviews revealed that refusals and care provided were not properly documented or communicated.
A resident with COPD did not have their nebulizer mask stored in a bag when not in use, as observed by surveyors. Staff interviews confirmed the mask should have been bagged to prevent contamination, but the facility's policy did not specify storage procedures for respiratory items.
A nurse failed to monitor a resident with multiple chronic conditions and falsely documented vital signs after the resident had already died. The resident was found unresponsive and in rigor mortis by staff during a routine medication pass, and emergency responders confirmed death had occurred prior to the nurse's claimed assessment. The nurse later admitted to not checking on the resident and to entering incorrect documentation, in violation of facility policy requiring regular resident checks.
A facility failed to maintain accurate medical records for a resident, leading to an incorrect documentation of a rash by a CNA. The resident, with a diagnosis of senile degeneration of the brain, had no skin issues noted in nursing notes or during discharge assessment. Interviews revealed the CNA may have made a documentation error, and the facility lacked a policy to address such inaccuracies.
The facility failed to securely store medications for three residents, including multivitamins, Benadryl cream, and zinc oxide, which were left accessible on side tables. This oversight involved residents with varying degrees of cognitive impairment, posing risks of accidental ingestion or misuse. Staff acknowledged the failure to adhere to the facility's medication management policy, which requires medications to be stored in locked compartments.
A facility failed to create a specific baseline care plan for a newly admitted resident with dementia and hyperlipidemia within 48 hours, as required. The care plan template was completed but lacked individualized instructions. Staff believed there was no risk due to access to admission orders, but this oversight risked continuity of care and resident safety.
A facility failed to conduct a weekly skin assessment for a resident at risk for pressure ulcers, despite the resident's complaints of pain and suspected skin issues. The RN responsible admitted to completing the assessment but not documenting it. The facility's policy required weekly skin checks, and both the DON and Administrator acknowledged the importance of these assessments to prevent untreated skin issues.
The facility failed to provide effective pain management for two residents, leading to unnecessary pain and suffering. One resident experienced a fall and showed signs of pain, but was not given PRN pain medication until days later, despite having a fracture. Another resident had his pain medication reduced without his knowledge, leading to increased pain and anxiety. The facility's inadequate pain management placed residents at risk for prolonged pain and decreased quality of life.
The facility failed to address repeated grievances from the Resident Council regarding the lack of variety in food and dessert options. Despite the Activity Director communicating these concerns to the Administrator and Dietary Manager, no actions were taken to resolve the issues, and the concerns were not filed as formal grievances. Observations confirmed that menu items did not meet residents' expectations, impacting their quality of life.
The facility failed to ensure proper respiratory care for residents, with issues such as nasal cannulas and breathing masks not being changed weekly or stored correctly. A resident's nasal cannula was found on the floor, while others had equipment improperly stored, risking contamination and infection.
The facility failed to provide palatable and correctly prepared meals for residents on a puree diet, with issues such as incorrect puree bread consistency and lack of seasoning observed over two days. The Dietary Manager and Regional Dietician acknowledged the need for improved staff training on puree consistency and adherence to food safety protocols.
The facility failed to maintain an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program, as CNAs did not perform proper hand hygiene during incontinence care for three residents. Observations revealed that CNAs did not sanitize hands between glove changes, risking cross-contamination. Despite recent training, these lapses were acknowledged by staff, highlighting a deficiency in infection control measures.
Two residents with severe cognitive and physical impairments were found with their call lights out of reach, posing a risk to their safety. Staff members acknowledged the importance of accessible call lights, and the facility's policy supported this requirement.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses, including Alzheimer's and dysphagia, was found to have an inadequate care plan that did not reflect his need for assistance with hydration. Despite being at risk for dehydration, the care plan only included keeping fluids available, which was insufficient as the resident could not drink independently. The DON and ADON recognized the care plan's inadequacy during an interview.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses, including Alzheimer's and dysphagia, did not receive adequate oral care or hydration. Observations showed dry, cracked lips and a paste-like substance on the resident's teeth, indicating insufficient oral hygiene. The care plan lacked specific interventions for oral care, and the facility's hydration policy was not effectively implemented, as the resident's care plan did not document hydration at specified intervals.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment reported that a hospice aide was rough and caused bruising. The facility failed to report the allegations to the State Survey Agency within the required 2-hour timeframe. Interviews revealed that the ADON did not document the incident, and the administrator and DON were not informed, leading to no investigation or self-report.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment reported that a hospice aide was rough and caused bruising. The ADON failed to document the incident, report it to the Administrator and DON, or initiate an investigation. The facility's policy on immediate reporting and investigation of abuse allegations was not followed, resulting in a deficiency.
Failure to Provide Consistent ADL Care and Hygiene for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident who was dependent on staff for activities of daily living (ADLs) did not consistently receive necessary services to maintain good nutrition, grooming, and personal and oral hygiene. The resident, who had severe cognitive impairment, cancer, non-Alzheimer's dementia, depression, and pain disorder, required substantial assistance with personal hygiene and bathing. Record reviews showed no documentation of showers, bed baths, or nail care being provided or refused, and there was no communication between the hospice agency and facility staff regarding these ADLs. During observation, the resident was found in bed with uncombed hair, an unpleasant body odor, facial hair growth, and long, dirty fingernails. The resident reported not receiving showers or bed baths for weeks and expressed a desire for improved hygiene and nail care. Interviews with CNAs and hospice aides revealed confusion and lack of clarity regarding responsibility for providing and documenting ADL care, with both facility and hospice staff assuming the other party was responsible. Neither group consistently reported refusals or lack of care to the charge nurse, and documentation was not shared between the hospice agency and the facility. Facility policies required collaborative communication between hospice and facility staff and mandated that all residents unable to perform ADLs independently receive necessary care. However, the lack of documentation, communication, and follow-through resulted in the resident not receiving regular showers, bed baths, or nail care, as observed and confirmed by staff and the resident herself.
Failure to Properly Store Nebulizer Mask for Resident with COPD
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident with COPD by not storing the resident's nebulizer mask in a bag when not in use. During observation, the nebulizer mask and tubing were found uncovered on top of a small refrigerator at the resident's bedside. Interviews with staff, including the ADON, DON, and an LVN, confirmed that the nebulizer mask should have been stored in a bag to prevent contamination and infection, but this was not done at the time of observation. Record review showed that the resident had a history of COPD and was prescribed nebulizer treatments as needed. The resident's care plan included interventions for breathing treatments, and physician orders specified the use of Albuterol Sulfate via nebulizer. Despite these orders and interventions, the facility's policy on small volume nebulizers did not address storage of respiratory items when not in use, contributing to the failure to maintain sanitary conditions for respiratory equipment.
Failure to Monitor Resident and Falsification of Documentation
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a registered nurse (RN) failed to provide treatment and care in accordance with professional standards of practice for a resident with multiple complex medical conditions, including a pacemaker, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, dementia, and other chronic illnesses. The RN did not monitor the resident as required and falsely documented vital signs during a timeframe in which the resident had already become deceased. The RN later admitted to not checking on the resident prior to being alerted by a certified medication aide (CMA) that the resident was unresponsive, and acknowledged that the vital signs entered were a mistake. Multiple staff interviews and record reviews confirmed that the RN did not check on the resident as documented. The CMA discovered the resident unresponsive during a routine medication pass, and other staff members, including licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), responded to the emergency. Upon entering the room, staff noted the resident was unresponsive, cold to the touch, and stiff, with no detectable pulse. Emergency medical services (EMS) arrived and confirmed the resident was deceased, with rigor mortis present, indicating death had occurred prior to the time the RN claimed to have checked on the resident. Further investigation revealed that the RN had insisted to a police officer that the resident was alive when checked earlier, but this was contradicted by the physical findings and statements from other staff. The facility's policy required resident checks at the beginning of each shift and every two hours, but the RN failed to adhere to this policy and documented care that was not provided. The deficiency was determined to have placed the resident in an Immediate Jeopardy situation due to the failure to provide appropriate monitoring and accurate documentation.
Inaccurate Documentation of Resident's Medical Records
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain clinical records in accordance with accepted professional standards and practices, specifically in the case of a resident whose medical records inaccurately documented a rash. The resident, an elderly female with a diagnosis including senile degeneration of the brain, was admitted to the facility. A point of care history form indicated a rash on the resident's buttocks, documented by a CNA during a night shift. However, nursing notes from the same period did not reflect any skin issues, and the Wound Care Nurse was not informed of any such condition. Interviews revealed that the CNA may have mistakenly documented the rash, as she did not recall the details and acknowledged the possibility of an error. The Wound Care Nurse confirmed that no skin issues were noted during the resident's discharge assessment. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator were unaware of the incorrect documentation until it was brought to their attention. The Administrator admitted that there was no specific policy addressing documentation errors, which could lead to residents receiving unnecessary care or missing needed care.
Medication Storage Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the safe and secure storage of medications for several residents, leading to potential risks of accidental ingestion or misuse. Resident #1, a cognitively intact individual with dementia, had a bottle of One-A-Day multivitamins left on her side table without a physician's order or assessment for self-administration. The resident admitted to not taking the vitamins for almost two weeks, and the multivitamins were accessible to her and potentially to others. Resident #2, who had severe cognitive impairment due to dementia, had a tube of Benadryl cream on her side table without a physician's order or assessment for self-administration. The resident did not respond when asked about the use of the cream, indicating a lack of awareness or understanding of the medication's presence and purpose. LVN A, upon noticing the medications, acknowledged the oversight and the potential risks associated with leaving medications accessible. Resident #3, diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and moderate cognitive impairment, had a container of zinc oxide on her side table. The zinc oxide was used for incontinence care, but it was not stored securely after use. CNA B recognized the risk of confusion and potential ingestion by the resident and took steps to secure the ointment. The facility's policy required medications to be stored in medication carts, and the DON and Administrator both acknowledged the failure to adhere to this policy, emphasizing the need for staff vigilance in preventing such occurrences.
Failure to Develop Individualized Baseline Care Plan
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop a baseline care plan for a newly admitted resident within 48 hours of admission, as required by professional standards of quality care. The resident, a female with dementia and hyperlipidemia, was admitted to the facility, but her baseline care plan lacked specific instructions tailored to her needs. The Assistant Director of Nursing completed a template for the baseline care plan, but it was not individualized for the resident. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator both acknowledged that the care plan was not specific to the resident, although they believed there was no risk due to staff having access to admission orders. The facility's policy required that a baseline care plan be developed and initiated within 48 hours of admission to ensure effective and person-centered care. However, the care plan for the resident was not updated with specific details, and the resident's family decided to discharge her following a care plan meeting. Interviews with facility staff revealed a reliance on admission orders available in the point of care system, rather than a comprehensive, individualized care plan. This oversight placed newly admitted residents at risk of not being informed of their initial goals and services, potentially affecting continuity of care and resident safety.
Failure to Conduct Weekly Skin Assessment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident received treatment and care in accordance with professional standards of practice, the comprehensive person-centered care plan, and the resident's choice. Specifically, the facility did not complete a weekly skin assessment for a resident who was at risk for pressure ulcers due to poor bed mobility. The resident, a female with heart failure and dementia, was moderately cognitively impaired and had a care plan that included interventions to keep her skin dry and clean and to report any signs of skin breakdown. Interviews revealed that the resident experienced pain in her lower back and suspected a skin issue, but staff had not assessed her skin despite being aware of her complaints. The RN responsible for weekly skin assessments admitted to completing the assessment but failing to document it. Both the Director of Nursing and the Administrator confirmed that weekly skin assessments were required for all residents, and the facility's policy mandated these checks. The lack of documentation and failure to perform the assessment as required could lead to skin issues being overlooked and untreated.
Inadequate Pain Management for Two Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide effective pain management for two residents, leading to unnecessary pain and suffering. One resident, an elderly female with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including Alzheimer's disease and stroke, experienced a fall. Despite showing signs of pain such as grimacing and screaming during movement, the facility did not adequately address her pain. The resident's care plan included monitoring for pain, but after her fall, she was not given any PRN pain medication until several days later. An x-ray eventually revealed a nondisplaced fracture, indicating the resident had been in significant pain that was not properly managed. Another resident, an elderly male with a history of chronic pain syndrome and multiple surgeries, experienced a reduction in his pain medication without his knowledge. This change led to increased pain and anxiety for the resident, who was accustomed to receiving oxycodone every four hours. The resident expressed that the facility staff did not understand his pain needs and that he experienced withdrawal symptoms when his medication was not administered as previously scheduled. Despite his complaints, the facility did not maintain his pain management regimen, resulting in unnecessary suffering. The facility's failure to manage pain effectively for these residents was identified as an immediate jeopardy situation, although it was later downgraded. The lack of timely and appropriate pain management interventions placed residents at risk for prolonged pain and decreased quality of life. The facility's documentation and communication with healthcare providers were insufficient, contributing to the inadequate pain management for these residents.
Failure to Address Resident Council Grievances on Food Variety
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to consider and act promptly upon the grievances and recommendations of the Resident Council concerning issues of resident care and life in the facility. Over the course of three months, the Resident Council repeatedly expressed concerns about the lack of variety in the food and dessert menu, specifically requesting more fruit and dessert choices, such as pies, cakes, or brownies, and noted that cakes often lacked frosting. Despite these concerns being documented in the Resident Council minutes and communicated by the Activity Director (AD) to the Administrator and Dietary Manager, no actions were taken to address these issues. The Activity Director, who attended all Resident Council meetings, acknowledged the residents' concerns and communicated them during morning meetings with the Administrator and Dietary Manager. However, the AD did not file these concerns as grievances, believing they did not warrant such action. The Administrator and Dietary Manager were aware of the concerns but did not follow up or schedule a meeting with the Resident Council to address the issues. The Administrator considered the concerns as personal preferences rather than grievances, and thus did not prioritize them for resolution. Interviews with the Dietary Manager and Regional Dietician revealed a lack of communication and follow-up on the residents' feedback. The Dietary Manager was not notified of the concerns due to the absence of a formal grievance filing, and the Regional Dietician emphasized the importance of adhering to resident preferences for quality of life. Observations confirmed that the menu items, such as the frosted cake, did not meet the residents' expectations, as the cake often lacked visible frosting. The facility's policy required the Activities Director to follow up on the Council's concerns, but this was not effectively executed, leading to unresolved grievances and a potential decline in residents' quality of life.
Improper Storage and Maintenance of Respiratory Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide proper respiratory care for several residents, as observed during a survey. Resident #29, who was diagnosed with chronic respiratory failure and hypoxia, had a nasal cannula that was not changed weekly as required and was improperly stored. The nasal cannula was found on the seat of the resident's wheelchair and later fell to the floor, indicating a lack of adherence to infection control protocols. The nasal cannula was dated 04/25/2024, which was beyond the weekly change schedule. Resident #61, with a diagnosis of wheezing, also had issues with the storage of respiratory equipment. The nasal cannula was found coiled on the floor between the oxygen machine and the nightstand, not bagged as required. This improper storage was acknowledged by LVN G, who stated that the nasal cannula should be bagged and off the floor to prevent contamination. Resident #66 and Resident #71 also experienced similar deficiencies. Resident #66's nasal cannula was not bagged and was improperly stored on the oxygen concentrator and around the oxygen tank. Resident #71's breathing mask for nebulization was not bagged and was stored in a drawer, with the mask dated 04/25/2024, indicating it was not changed weekly. These observations highlight a pattern of non-compliance with the facility's policy on respiratory equipment storage and maintenance, potentially compromising the residents' respiratory care.
Deficiency in Meal Preparation for Puree Diets
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide palatable and correctly prepared meals for residents on a puree diet during lunch on two consecutive days. Observations on the first day revealed that the puree bread was not in the correct form, being too thick and firm, which could pose a choking hazard. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that the puree bread's consistency was incorrect and noted that it became firmer as it sat in the warming rack. Additionally, the pureed vegetables were not smooth enough, and the food lacked seasoning, impacting its palatability. On the second day, similar issues were observed with the puree diet, where the puree bread was again too thick, and the puree tomato was not palatable. The Dietary Manager admitted that the frosting on the cake was inconsistent due to different preparation methods by the cooks. The Regional Dietician, who visits the facility twice a month, confirmed that the puree bread should have a smooth consistency and that the dietary staff needed education on achieving the correct puree consistency. The facility's food safety policy requires that food be stored to minimize contamination and bacterial growth, especially for Time/Temperature Control for Safety Foods. However, the Dietary Manager was unsure if milk, used in the puree bread, required temperature control for safety. The Regional Dietician emphasized the importance of maintaining the correct consistency for puree diets to prevent choking hazards, highlighting a need for better staff training and adherence to food safety protocols.
Inadequate Hand Hygiene Practices During Incontinence Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective Infection Prevention and Control Program, as evidenced by the improper hand hygiene practices observed among Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) during incontinence care for three residents. These lapses in protocol were identified during observations and interviews, highlighting a significant deficiency in infection control measures. The CNAs did not perform hand hygiene between glove changes, which is a critical step in preventing cross-contamination and the spread of infections. For Resident #16, CNA C did not sanitize her hands between changing gloves while providing incontinence care. Although she washed her hands before and after the procedure, the lack of hand hygiene between glove changes was acknowledged by CNA C as a potential risk for cross-contamination. Similarly, CNA E, while attending to Resident #42, failed to change gloves and sanitize hands before handling a new pull-up, despite having attended an in-service on hand hygiene two weeks prior. CNA D, who was responsible for Resident #50, did not wash her hands before starting incontinence care and neglected to sanitize her hands between glove changes after cleaning the resident. This oversight was recognized by CNA D, who admitted to having sanitizer available but forgetting to use it. Interviews with the RN, ADON, and DON confirmed the importance of proper hand hygiene to prevent infection, yet these practices were not consistently followed by the staff.
Inaccessible Call Lights for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the call light system was accessible to two residents, leading to a deficiency in accommodating their needs and preferences. Resident #15, a female with severe cognitive impairment and physical limitations, was found unable to reach her call light, which was on the floor and under her bed. This resident required extensive assistance for daily activities and had a history of falls, making the accessibility of the call light crucial for her safety. During an observation, the resident expressed difficulty in locating the call light, and a CNA admitted to not ensuring it was within reach after providing care. Similarly, Resident #61, a male with severe cognitive impairment and physical disabilities due to a stroke, was also found with his call light out of reach, on the floor between the bed and nightstand. This resident required extensive assistance for mobility and was experiencing a severe leg cramp at the time of observation, yet was unable to call for help. Both a CNA and an LVN acknowledged the importance of having the call light within reach and corrected the situation by placing it next to the resident. Interviews with various staff members, including the RN, ADON, DON, and Administrator, confirmed the expectation that call lights should always be within reach of residents. They emphasized the call light's role as a critical communication tool for residents to request assistance or alert staff in emergencies. The facility's policy also supported this requirement, highlighting the staff's responsibility to ensure call lights are accessible when leaving a resident's room.
Inadequate Care Plan for Resident with Severe Impairments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the care plan for a resident was reviewed and revised by the interdisciplinary team after each assessment, including both comprehensive and quarterly review assessments. The resident, a male with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses including Alzheimer's disease, malnutrition, dysphagia, and Down Syndrome, was dependent on staff for oral care and nutrition. Despite being at risk for dehydration, the care plan only included the intervention to keep fluids available, which was not appropriate given the resident's inability to drink fluids independently. An observation revealed that the resident was unable to drink fluids on his own and required assistance from a CNA to consume nectar-thickened liquids and to be fed his meal. During an interview, the DON and ADON acknowledged that the care plan was not suitable for the resident's needs, as it did not account for his inability to drink independently. The facility's policy on person-centered care plans emphasizes the resident's right to participate in the development and implementation of their care plan, which was not adequately fulfilled in this case.
Failure to Provide Adequate Oral Care and Hydration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary oral hygiene care to a resident who was unable to perform activities of daily living independently. The resident, a male with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses including Alzheimer's disease, malnutrition, dysphagia, and Down Syndrome, was dependent on staff for oral care and nutrition. Observations revealed that the resident had dry, cracked lips and a paste-like substance on his teeth, indicating inadequate oral care. The resident's care plan did not include specific interventions for oral hygiene, despite the resident's need for extensive assistance. Additionally, the facility did not ensure the resident received sufficient fluids to maintain hydration. Observations showed that the resident had only consumed a small amount of thickened water, and staff acknowledged the importance of providing adequate fluids. The facility's policy on hydration for residents with swallowing disorders was not effectively implemented, as the resident's care plan lacked documentation for hydration at specified intervals. The Director of Nursing admitted that oral care was supposed to be performed every shift and recognized the need for a specific care plan to address the resident's oral hygiene needs.
Failure to Report Allegations of Abuse in a Timely Manner
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report allegations of abuse involving a resident within the required timeframe. Resident #1, a male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including Alzheimer's disease and stroke, reported that a hospice aide was rough with him and caused bruising. The incident was documented by hospice staff, who noted multiple bruises on the resident's arms and hands. Despite this, the facility did not report the allegations to the State Survey Agency within the mandated 2-hour window. Interviews with the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) revealed that she did not recall receiving any complaints about the hospice staff being rough or causing bruises. The ADON stated that if there were concerns of abuse, she would have notified the administrator. However, the ADON did not document her conversation with the hospice field staff, and the administrator and Director of Nursing (DON) were not made aware of the allegations. Consequently, no investigation or self-report was completed. The facility's policy mandates immediate reporting of any allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment to the administrator and other officials, including the State Survey Agency. The failure to adhere to this policy resulted in the incident not being reported as required, potentially placing residents at risk for injuries, abuse, and neglect.
Failure to Investigate and Report Alleged Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a thorough investigation and prevention of further abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment in response to allegations made by a resident. Resident #1, an elderly male with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions, reported that a hospice aide was rough with him and caused bruising. Despite the resident's complaint and visible bruises, the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) did not document the incident properly or report it to the Administrator and Director of Nursing (DON) as required by the facility's policy. The ADON also failed to initiate an investigation or complete a self-report regarding the alleged abuse. Interviews with the resident, ADON, and hospice staff revealed inconsistencies in the handling of the complaint. The resident described the incident in detail, mentioning multiple bruises on his arms caused by the hospice aide. However, the ADON claimed she did not recall receiving any complaints about the hospice staff being rough and did not document her conversation with the hospice field staff. The Administrator and DON were unaware of the allegations and the bruises, and no investigation or self-report was completed. The facility's policy mandates immediate reporting and investigation of any allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment. The failure to follow these procedures and the lack of documentation and communication among staff members resulted in the deficiency. This oversight could place residents at risk for further injuries, abuse, and neglect.
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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