Deficiency #1
Rule/Regulation Violated:
R9-10-120.F.4.a-c. Opioid Prescribing and Treatment <br> F. For a health care institution where opioids are administered as part of treatment or where a patient is provided assistance in the self-administration of medication for a prescribed opioid, including a health care institution in which an opioid may be prescribed or ordered as part of treatment, a medical director, a manager as defined in R9-10-801, or a provider, as applicable to the health care institution, shall: <br> 4. Except as provided in subsection (H), ensure that an individual authorized by policies and procedures to administer an opioid in treating a patient or to provide assistance in the self-administration of medication for a prescribed opioid: <br> a. Before administering an opioid or providing assistance in the self-administration of medication for a prescribed opioid in compliance with an order as part of the treatment for a patient, identifies the patient's need for the opioid; <br> b. Monitors the patient's response to the opioid; and <br> c. Documents in the patient's medical record: <br> i. An identification of the patient ' s need for the opioid before the opioid was administered or assistance in the self-administration of medication for a prescribed opioid was provided, and <br> ii. The effect of the opioid administered or for which assistance in the self-administration of medication for a prescribed opioid was provided.
Evidence/Findings:
<p>Based on documentation review, record review, and interview, the manager failed to ensure an individual authorized to administer opioids identified the resident's need for an opioid before administering the opioid and monitored the resident's response to the opioid for residents who did not have an active malignancy or an end-of-life condition. The deficient practice posed a risk to the physical health and safety of a resident.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Findings include: </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>1. Review of the facility's policies and procedures revealed a policy titled, “Opioid management,” which stated, “6. Medication Management: a. Prior to administration of an opioid pain medication MCM will ask the resident’s pain level. b. The resident’s rating of current pain level is documented on the (electronic Medication Administration Record) eMAR. c. The resident’s response to the pain medication is documented on the eMAR. d. If the resident reports no improvement in the pain level or a pain level that is not acceptable to the resident, the LN will notify the resident’s physician/ prescriber to obtain further orders.”</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>2. Review of R3’s medical record revealed a current service plan dated September 8, 2025 which indicated R3 was at the personal level of care and R3 received medication administration. The service plan did not indicate R3 was on hospice, was receiving treatment for an active malignancy, or had an end-of-life condition.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>3. Review of R3’s medical record revealed an eMAR which revealed R3 received Tramadol 50 mg oral tablet two times a day from October 1, 2025 to the day of the inspection. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>4. Review of R3’s medical record revealed a medication order for Tramadol 50 mg with a start date of September 24, 2025. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>5. Review of R3’s medical record revealed “NA” for pain level when Tramadol 50 mg was administered on October 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 15th, 16th, and 19th 2025 for both times Tramadol 50 mg was administered. It was unclear if the pain level was recorded before or after. There was sometimes one number or “NA” for the hour of administration. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>6. In an interview, E1 reported that “NA” meant “Not Applicable” because the resident did not have pain. However, on October 14, 2025 in the evening “0” was recorded for the pain level. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>7. In an exit interview, the findings were reviewed with E1 and no additional information was provided.</p>
Temporary Solution:
Inservice for all medication technicians on administration of opioids using the pain scale with instruction on documenting pain level as a number and not using NA.
Permanent Solution:
Thorough retraining of all medication technicians to include procedures for documenting opioid administration, specifically identifying the patient's need for the medication and recording the patient's need as a number on the pain scale.
Person Responsible:
Aaron Keys-Rodgers, Resident Care Director
Deficiency #2
Rule/Regulation Violated:
R9-10-803.A.9. Administration<br> A. A governing authority shall: <br>9. Ensure compliance with A.R.S. § 36-411 and
Evidence/Findings:
<p>Based on documentation review, record review, and interview, for seven of seven employees reviewed, the governing authority failed to ensure compliance with A.R.S. § 36-411. The deficient practice posed a risk if a personnel member was a danger to a vulnerable population.</p><p><br></p><p> </p><p>Findings Include:</p><p> </p><p><br></p><p> 1. A.R.S. § 36-411 states: "C. Each residential care institution, nursing care institution, and home health agency shall make documented, good-faith efforts to: 3. Beginning January 1, 2025, verify that a potential employee is not on the adult protective services registry pursuant to section 46-459. If a potential employee is found to be on the adult protective services registry, the residential care institution, nursing care institution or home health agency may not hire the potential employee. 4. On or before March 31, 2025, verify that each employee is not on the adult protective services registry pursuant to section 46-459. If an employee is found to be on the adult protective services registry, the residential care institution, nursing care institution or home health agency shall take action to terminate the employment of that employee. 5. Beginning March 31, 2025, annually reverify that each employee is not on the adult protective services registry pursuant to section 46-459."</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>2. A review of E1's, E2's, E3's, E4's, E5's, E6's, and E7's personnel records did not include documentation of verification that E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, and E7 were not on the adult protective services registry.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>3. In an exit interview, the findings were reviewed with E1, and no additional information was provided.</p>
Temporary Solution:
After Business Office Coordinator learning of this requirement she started working 10/22 and 10/23 on verifying all new employees with the APS registry, running all current team members through the APS registry and filing the report on their personnel file.
Permanent Solution:
Business Office Coordinator will then continue to do the APS check on all new hires as part of a pre-hire requirement and annual thereafter. We will take corrective action as needed if any current employees appear on the registry.
Person Responsible:
Teresa Perea, BOC
Deficiency #3
Rule/Regulation Violated:
R9-10-803.J.1-6. Administration<br> J. If a manager has a reasonable basis, according to A.R.S. § 46- 454, to believe abuse, neglect or exploitation has occurred on the premises or while a resident is receiving services from an assisted living facility’s manager, caregiver, or assistant caregiver, the manager shall: <br>1. If applicable, take immediate action to stop the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation; <br>2. Report the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the resident according to A.R.S. § 46-454; 3. Document: <br>a. The suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation; <br>b. Any action taken according to subsection (J)(1); and <br>c. The report in subsection (J)(2); <br>4. Maintain the documentation in subsection (J)(3) for at least 12 months after the date of the report in subsection(J)(2); <br>5. Initiate an investigation of the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation and document the following information within five working days after the report required in subsection (J)(2): <br>a. The dates, times, and description of the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation; <br>b. A description of any injury to the resident related to the suspected abuse or neglect and any change to the resident’s physical, cognitive, functional, or emotional condition; <br>c. The names of witnesses to the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation; and <br>d. The actions taken by the manager to prevent the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation from occurring in the future; and <br>6. Maintain a copy of the documented information required in subsection (J)(5) for at least 12 months after the date the investigation was initiated.
Evidence/Findings:
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Based on documentation review, record review, and interview, the manager failed to immediately report suspected abuse according to A.R.S. § 46-454. The deficient practice posed a risk as a peace officer or the adult protective services central intake was unable to assess if there was an immediate health and safety concern for the resident and other residents residing in the assisted living facility. </span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Findings include:</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">1. A.R.S. § 46-454(A) stated "A. A health professional, emergency medical technician, home health provider, hospital intern or resident, speech, physical or occupational therapist, long-term care provider, social worker, peace officer, medical examiner, guardian, conservator, fire protection personnel, developmental disabilities provider, employee of the department of economic security or other person who has responsibility for the care of a vulnerable adult and who has a reasonable basis to believe that abuse, neglect or exploitation of the adult has occurred shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of such reasonable basis to a peace officer or to the adult protective services central intake unit. The guardian or conservator of a vulnerable adult shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of such reasonable basis to the superior court and the adult protective services central intake unit. All of the above reports shall be made immediately by telephone or online..."</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">2. R9-10-101.111 stated "Immediate" means without delay.</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">3. Review of R6’s medical record revealed a document titled, “Progress Note”. In the progress note, an entry dated October 2, 2025, stated, “This incident was mentioned in reference to another incident that was being discussed in Standup meeting at 9:30 am on 9/29. At the time [E1] thought that if I reported this then it would be past the time of the 24 hour reporting standard. I also thought I remembered hearing about this before but wasn’t sure of the details of time frame, whether I had heard it from staff or the resident or elsewhere. At 3:30 PM on 10/1 I discussed this with [R4’s family member] and I called APS at around 4:30PM on 10/1.” The progress note further stated, “I understand that this report is not as immediate as it should have been.” The progress note went on to describe the incident that happened which stated, "In the vestibule there were \"a lot of people\" and they were all in a line and [R4] was right behind [R6] and pushed [R6] with [R4's] walker. [R6] then said \"Stop pushing me\" [R4] was pushing [R6] from behind and [R6] could feel that."</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 14.6667px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">4. Review of Department documentation revealed a report regarding R4 and R6, which stated, “RS reported on 10/01/25 about an incident that took place around 09/17/25 but RS just became aware of the incident yesterday 09/30/25.”</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">5. In an exit interview, the findings were reviewed with E1, and no additional information was provided.</span></p>
Temporary Solution:
We did fully report, fully investigate, and ensure the safety of the residents, and ultimately moved one of the residents to Memory Care.
Upon further investigation it actually happened on 9/18. We were already dealing with a incident between the same two residents which was reported appropriately the day before, on Sunday 9/28; for that incident I was notified of on 9/28 at 6:30 PM and by 7:30 I reported the event to APS.
Permanent Solution:
I am aware of the immediate reporting standard and have rectified any issues between the residents while also filing APS reports. I have since reported immediately and rectified other issues as well. We did an inservice so that the team was able to recognize when and how to report suspected abuse, neglect and exploitation on October 23rd.
Person Responsible:
Erik Thompson, ED
Summary:
No deficiencies were found during the on-site investigation of complaint 00149517 conducted on November 3, 2025.