Inspection Findings:
Based on observation, interview and record review it was determined the facility failed to consistently implement the plan of care related to repositioning, inform direct care staff of new areas of skin breakdown and comprehensively assess and periodically evaluate pressure ulcers for 2 of 2 sampled residents (#s 10 and 25) reviewed for pressure ulcers. This placed the residents at increased risk for complications associated with pressure ulcers. Findings include:
1. Resident 10 was admitted to the facility in 2017. The resident had diagnoses including history of bowel obstruction, chronic atrial fibrillation with use of anticoagulant, peripheral neuropathy (chronic nerve pain), edema, depression, skin cancer, osteoporosis and weakness.
An annual MDS dated 12/16/21 identified moderate cognitive impairment, incontinence of bowel and bladder and constant moderate pain. According to the MDS, Resident 10 required extensive assistance from one staff person for bed mobility and transfer and was not ambulatory. The resident was not identified to have weight loss or pressure ulcers but was identified at risk for pressure ulcers.
The Pressure Ulcer CAA referenced the Annual Nursing Assessment dated 12/31/21. This document was blank. There was no comprehensive assessment in the record of the resident's risk factors, co-morbid conditions, medications, refusal of care, cognitive impairment, exposure of skin to urinary and fecal incontinence, or potential nutrition deficits.
The Comprehensive Care Plan dated 2/17/21, under "Pressure Ulcer" identified Resident 10 was at risk for skin damage related to advancing age, incontinence, medication use, needing "staff assistance with some ADLs and independence of ambulation."
On 3/11/22 a urinary catheter was ordered and implemented due to urinary retention. The resident remained incontinent of bowel only.
A Skin Integrity Event dated 3/16/22 identified the resident had several reddish/purple non-blanchable spots located on her/his coccyx. This area measured 5 cm by 6 cm with the skin intact. "Airbed initiated and treatment to rinse with NS, apply skin prep and hydrocolloid dressing."
A second Skin Integrity Event dated 3/22/22 described suspected deep tissue injury on the resident's bilateral heels. The left heel was 3.5 cm x 1.5 cm deep red purple. The right heel measured 5 cm x 2.5 cm and was described as a serosanguinous (blood mixed with clear fluid) filled blister.
Deep Tissue Pressure Injury (DTPI): Persistent non-blanchable deep red, maroon or purple discoloration of intact skin with localized area of persistent non-blanchable deep red, maroon, purple discoloration due to damage of underlying soft tissue. This injury results from intense and/or prolonged pressure and shear forces at the bone-muscle interface. The wound may evolve rapidly to reveal the actual extent of tissue injury, or may resolve without tissue loss.
The care plan was updated on 3/17/22 and 3/23/22 related to the identification of a "possible deep tissue injury" to the resident's coccyx and bilateral heels. Interventions included an air bed, nutrition consult as needed, update wound management document weekly, and notify physician for signs or symptoms of infection or if the wound deteriorates.
Resident 10's In Room Care Plan intended for direct care staff included a directive to, "make sure to float heels and change position due to current pressure concerns." It did not specify location of the wounds or specifically mention the wound on the resident's coccyx.
On 3/23/22 at 8:41 AM an RN surveyor observed wound care to the resident's bilateral heels with Staff 10 (LPN). The right heel had an intact blister filled with dark reddish-purple fluid. The left heel had a smaller dark reddish-purple area. The surrounding skin was normal in appearance. Staff 10 stated she wanted Staff 20 (LPN Wound Care Nurse) to look at the resident's heels. Staff 20 looked at the resident's wounds and determined current treatment was appropriate but added protective foam dressings and stated the resident should not be wearing regular socks and shoes until the wounds resolved.
On 3/24/22 at 7:09 AM Resident 10 was observed seated in a wheelchair near the nurses' station with shoes over the dressings on her/his feet. A catheter leg bag was affixed to the resident's ankle with a strap. Staff 10 (LPN) was observed to remove the resident's shoes and replace with non-skid socks.
The resident's In Room Care Plan did not include the directive to avoid wearing shoes.
Observations on 3/24/22 between 7:00 am and 1:30 PM indicated Resident 10 remained up in a wheelchair throughout the morning until after Resident 10 finished lunch.
On 3/24/22 at 1:31 PM, with the resident's permission, an RN surveyor observed the resident transferred to bed by Staff 22 (CNA) via a mechanical lift. The resident's incontinence garment was changed due to soiling from bowel incontinence. An intact dressing was observed over the resident's coccyx area.
In an interview on 3/24/22 at 1:42 PM Staff 22 confirmed Resident 10 was up in her/his wheelchair all morning until after lunch. Staff 22 stated she offered to help the resident to lay down before lunch but the resident refused.
On 3/24/22 at 1:49 PM, an RN surveyor with permission from Resident 10, observed Staff 10 (LPN) provide wound care to the resident's coccyx. The resident's urinary catheter leg bag was observed to be wrapped under the resident's left lower leg above the ankle. When Staff 10 undid the strap she found two additional areas of skin injury under the strap. The wounds appeared dark reddish-purple with intact skin. The coccyx dressing was then removed. The resident's coccyx area was slightly reddened and there was a shallow open area with a pink wound bed and a small amount of straw colored drainage on the dressing. Staff 10 stated the wound did not look, "as good as it did yesterday."
On 3/25/22 at 10:05 AM Staff 16 (CNA) stated Resident 10 was to be repositioned every two hours. It had been four days since she last worked with Resident 10. She stated she knew the resident had skin breakdown on the heels and on the left lower extremity from the catheter leg bag, which was no longer in use. She did not know the resident had a wound on her/his coccyx.
On 3/25/22 at 2:36 PM Staff 21 (CNA) confirmed she was assigned to Resident 10 for the evening shift. She stated the resident had been up in her/his wheelchair since before lunch and was still up as she/he wanted to eat a snack. She was not aware the resident had any areas of skin breakdown and would find out by looking at the care plan or from a report from the last shift. She indicated the resident had been up in her/his wheelchair for approximately 2-1/2 hours.
On 3/25/22 at 3:32 PM observations of extended time up in wheelchair, staff interviews, missing CAAs and the care plan were discussed with Staff 2 (DNS) and Staff 4 (Assistant Resident Care Manager-LPN). Staff 4 stated Resident 10 had a recent overall decline. They were aware of problems with assessments and care plans and confirmed the resident should be repositioned every two hours. They stated they may be conducting a significant change assessment for Resident 10.
, 2. Resident 25 was admitted to the facility in 1/2022 with diagnoses including left hip fracture, pain and dementia.
From 3/21/22 to 3/24/22 between the hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, observations were made of Resident 25. During these observations the resident's heels were observed to be floated and placed in Podus Boots (foot boot to prevent and heal ulcers of the heel and toe and safeguard against foot drop) when in bed and both heels were placed in soft boots when out of bed and up in her/his wheelchair.
The 1/6/22 Admit nursing note indicated Resident 25 had blanching redness on her/his coccyx area with an open area on the left buttock that was "dime sized."
The 1/7/22 Baseline Care plan indicated Resident 25 had a Stage 2 pressure ulcer on the left buttock and was at high risk of skin breakdown.
Progress Notes indicated the following:
On 1/9/22, Resident 25 was noted having a dressing on her/his coccyx that was removed and having a possible pressure sore under it with the skin still being intact. Treatment orders were made to start skin paste bid/PRN to the resident's coccyx.
On 1/15/22, Resident 25's bilateral heels were noted to have possible unstageable pressure areas. The left center heel had a 3 cm x 4 cm fluid filled [blister] with apparent serous (thin clear or light yellow) fluid. The left lateral heel had a 1 cm x 2 cm [blister] with apparent serosanguinous (a mixture of serous fluid and blood) fluid. The right center heel had a 2 cm x 3 cm with apparent serous filled blister. A nursing order was entered to monitor bid and to notify the primary care physician if the wounds worsened. Care plan interventions of floating the resident's heels while in bed and apply cushioned heel protectors when up in her/his wheelchair were implemented.
The 1/18/22 Nursing Assessment indicated Resident 25 was admitted to the facility with a Stage 2 pressure ulcer with treatment in place. The location of the Stage 2 pressure was not documented. The assessment also noted the resident had Unstageable pressure ulcers to her/his bilateral heels and treatment orders were received.
The 1/31/22 Pressure Ulcer Care Plan indicated Resident 25 was at risk for pressure injury due to decreased mobility. She/he was noted to have a Stage 2 pressure ulcer on coccyx/Unstageable pressure ulcer bilateral heels and spend the majority of her/his time in bed/wheelchair.
For the Stage 2 pressure ulcer on Resident 25's coccyx that was identified by the facility during the resident's admission, there was no documentation of any wound assessments or evaluations (including size, fluid if present, pain, description of the wound, and evidence of healing) or monitoring in the resident's clinical record. The status and condition of the pressure ulcer on the resident's coccyx was unknown due to the lack of documentation.
For the unstageable pressure ulcers to Resident 25's bilateral heels that were identified by the facility on 1/15/22, there was no follow up documentation (with the exception of a 2/2/22 Wound Management sheet) of any wound assessments or evaluations (including size, fluid if present, pain, description of the wound, and evidence of healing) after the initial assessment in the resident's clinical record. The status and condition of the pressure ulcers on the resident's bilateral heels were unknown due to the lack of documentation.
The facility did not have a system in place to ensure the protocols for daily monitoring and for periodic documentation of measurements, terminology, frequency of assessment, and documentation were implemented.
In an interview on 3/21/22 at 2:35 PM, Staff 5 (RN) was not aware of any pressure ulcers on Resident 25's coccyx, but stated the resident had pressure ulcers on her/his heels. Staff 5 was not able to provide any information on the status of the resident's pressure ulcers.
In an interview on 3/24/22 at 9:27 AM, Staff 3 (RNCM) verified Resident 25 had pressure ulcers on her/his coccyx and bilateral heels. She stated the resident was admitted with a pressure ulcer on her/his coccyx which to her knowledge was now healed. Staff 3 was unable to locate any assessment, evaluation or monitoring of the coccyx pressure ulcer in the resident's record. Staff 3 stated she had recently observed the resident's heel pressure ulcers, but did not document her observation. When asked about documenting skin checks and pressure ulcer observations, Staff 3 stated the nurses should be doing weekly skin checks and documenting them. She acknowledged there was no documentation of any assessment or evaluation of the resident's coccyx pressure ulcer and limited documentation of the heel pressure ulcers in the resident's record.
On 3/24/22 at 9:55 AM, wound observations were made by Staff 3 (RNCM) and an RN Surveyor with permission from the resident. A skin assessment of Resident 25 was completed which included an assessment of the resident's heels and coccyx/buttock area. The Stage 2 pressure ulcer on the resident's coccyx had resolved. The unstageable pressure ulcers on the resident's bilateral heels were measured and noted to show improvement toward healing.
In an interview on 3/24/22 at 12:01 PM, Staff 2 (DNS) was notified of the lack of documentation for the pressure ulcers on Resident 25's coccyx and heels. Staff 2 acknowledged Resident 25's weekly skin sheets and wound observations were not documented in the resident's record.