Inspection Findings:
Based on observation, interview, and record review it was determined the facility failed to ensure interventions were implemented, assessed and updated to prevent falls. The facility failed to ensure falls were investigated thoroughly and in a timely manner for 2 of 3 sampled residents (#s 5 and 29) reviewed for falls. This placed residents at risk for repeated falls and injury. Findings include:
1. Resident 29 admitted to the facility in 3/2021 with diagnoses including congestive heart failure and diabetes.
The 3/27/22 Annual MDS indicated the resident was cognitively intact and required two-person, extensive assistance with transfers.
On 5/19/22 at 10:22 AM Resident 29 stated she/he experienced a fall a few months prior when staff did not lock the shower chair. Resident 29 stated two agency staff members were assisting the resident into the shower chair using a mechanical lift and the resident fell backwards and the lift hit the resident in the face. Resident 29 stated she/he did not want to go to the hospital at the time and there were no residual injuries.
A 2/7/22 Fall Investigation indicated two agency CNAs (Witness 5 and Witness 6) reported to Staff 5 (LPN) that during a transfer from the bed to the shower chair Resident 29 and the mechanical lift tipped backward. The resident had her/his body in the shower chair and the resident and chair were tipped back onto the floor with the resident's feet were in the air and "practically on top of the CNA." Staff assisted the resident safely back to bed. The resident stated her/his lip hurt from where the mechanical lift crane bumped it, but the resident did not want ice, medication, or to be transferred to the hospital. A skin assessment revealed bruising, skin tears, and her/his lips were slightly swollen. The resident was placed on alert. The investigation summary was dated as completed on 3/8/22.
On 5/19/22 at 1:11 PM Staff 5 (LPN) stated she completed the incident note regarding Resident 29's fall. Staff 5 stated agency staff "tipped" the whole shower chair back to get Resident 29 into the chair from the mechanical lift sling. CNA staff unhooked the sling, but the resident was not completely seated in the chair, causing the whole chair to tip back onto one of the CNAs. Resident 29 was assessed and did not hit her/his head and there were no significant injuries. Staff 5 stated the expectation was for shower chairs to be upright and locked during transfers and for staff not to unhook the mechanical lift sling until the resident was fully seated.
On 5/23/22 attempts were made to contact Witness 5 (Agency CNA) and Witness 6 (Agency CNA) but calls were not returned.
On 5/23/22 at 10:39 AM and 10:44 AM Staff 2 (DNS) stated the Agency was contacted regarding the Witness 5 and Witness 6 and the CNAs had not returned to the building. Staff 2 confirmed the witness statement from Witness 5 was accurate regarding the incident. Staff 2 stated the expectation was for shower chairs to be locked and not tilted back during resident transfers. Staff 2 acknowledged the 2/7/22 incident investigation was not completed timely.
2. Resident 5 admitted to the facility in 5/2020 with diagnoses including dementia, hypertension, tachycardia (fast heart rate), and impaired vision.
The 5/13/21 Fall CAA indicated the resident was at risk for further falls due to fall risk scores, weakness, deconditioning, and diagnoses. Staff would continue to monitor for increased fall risk and for side effects related to medication use and notify the MD as indicated. Interventions to prevent falls included: place call light and belongings within reach of the resident, orient to placement, and remind the resident to use call light and wait for assistance before transfers.
The 2/13/22 Quarterly MDS indicated the resident was severely cognitively impaired, required one-person assistance with transfers, and experienced one fall prior to the last assessment with no major injury.
The Fall Care Plan, last updated 3/22/22, indicated the resident was a high fall risk and the resident sustained non-injury falls on 6/10/20, 6/25/20, 8/20/20, 1/25/22, 2/27/22, and one fall with minor injury on 12/25/21. Interventions included: anticipate and meet the resident's needs, assist with ADLs as needed, provide/observe use of adaptive devices as indicated, educate the resident/family/caregivers about safety reminders and what to do if a fall occurs, "reacher" within reach so resident can use it to reach for stuff, low bed while in bed at all times, "call don't fall" sign, wheelchair near bed as resident tends to self-transfer as allows, orient the resident to room PRN, place call light and belongings within reach of, and remind her/him to use call light and wait for assistance.
On 5/18/22 at 1:10 PM Resident 5 was observed in her/his room sitting in her/his wheelchair with regular socks on. The resident had a transfer pole on the left side of the bed and no fall mat.
On 5/25/22 at 9:03 AM Resident 5 was observed in her/his room sitting in her/his wheelchair. The resident was observed wearing slippers with rubber soles. There was no sign observed in the resident's room instructing the resident to call before transferring.
a. A 12/25/21 Un-witnessed Fall Investigated indicated at 4:01 PM a CNA (un-named) reported the resident's call light was on and when the CNA went to answer the light the resident was found on the floor, sitting up, holding onto her/his transfer pole. Resident 5 reported she/he was attempting to transfer her/himself and slipped, sliding down the pole onto the floor. The resident reported she/he did not hit her/his head. The investigation summary dated 1/9/22 (15 days later) indicated the resident used the call light but did not have appropriate footwear on and noted "no additional interventions." The investigation did not include witness statements, how long the call light was initiated, when the resident was last visualized and toileted, and interventions implemented to prevent further falls.
There were no updated interventions on the care plan post the 12/25/21 fall.
On 5/24/22 at 12:24 PM Staff 9 (CNA) stated Resident 5 was at risk for falls as the resident would self-transfer prior to waiting for staff to assist the resident to the restroom. Staff 9 stated if staff did not respond to the resident's call light "immediately" then the resident would self-transfer to the restroom. Staff 9 stated interventions to prevent falls included frequent checks for toileting, a transfer pole, non-skid socks or the resident's slippers.
On 5/25/22 at 1:45 PM Staff 2 (DNS) stated for the 12/25/21 fall she did not realize witness statements were needed by those who discovered the resident had fallen. Staff 2 stated Resident 5 was expected to wear non-skid socks or slippers with rubber soles and was not at the time of the fall. Staff 2 acknowledged there was no "call don't fall" sign in the resident's room, the care plan did not include the non-skid footwear intervention and the investigation was not completed timely.
b. A 1/25/22 Un-witnessed Fall investigation indicated at 9:20 AM Staff 18 (LPN) heard yelling and found Resident 5 in her/his room on the floor in a prone position with a "puddle of blood" surrounding her/his forehead. Resident 2 stated she/he "woke up falling" and hit her/his head. The resident sustained a 2.5 cm/2 cm hematoma and was sent to the hospital. Resident 5's wheelchair was noted to be in the middle of the room with brakes not engaged. The call light was not on. The investigation summary was completed on 2/4/22 (10 days later) and indicated the resident returned from the hospital with forehead sutures and it was likely the resident fell/rolled out of bed. Interventions included to evaluate room for rearrangements, to provide a fall mat, and the care plan was to include the bed in the lowest position. The investigation did not include when the resident was last observed.
There were no updated interventions on the care plan post the 1/25/22 fall.
On 5/25/22 at 9:25 AM Staff 18 (LPN) stated Resident 5 was at risk for falls due to self-transferring to the bathroom without waiting for assistance. Staff 18 stated on 1/25/22 the resident was in her/his wheelchair when she/he fell, not in bed. Staff 18 could not recall when the resident was last visualized prior to the fall.
On 5/25/22 at 1:45 PM Staff 2 (DNS) stated for the 1/25/22 fall, the fall mat was not an appropriate intervention, therefore was not in place. Staff 2 acknowledged the resident fell out of her/his wheelchair, not the bed therefore interventions such as lowering the bed were not consistent with how the resident fell. Staff 2 confirmed the investigation was not completed timely and the care plan was not updated for interventions to prevent further falls.
c. A 2/27/22 Un-witnessed Fall investigation indicated at 1:50 AM Staff 18 (LPN) heard Resident 5 calling for help and found the resident on the floor next to the sink. Resident 5 stated she/he was attempting to go to the restroom. The investigation indicated Witness 9 (Agency CNA) was on her lunch break when the fall occurred, and Witness 9 stated she last checked and toileted Resident 5 at 11:30 PM (2 hours and 20 minutes prior). The resident did not sustain any injuries. The investigation summary was completed on 3/22/22 (23 days later) and indicated Resident 5 used her/his brief for occasional incontinence and needed to use the restroom. The summary indicated "rounds" were completed within "that hour." There were no witness statements, indication if the resident's brief was soiled, or interventions to prevent further falls for Resident 5.
There were no updated interventions on the care plan post the 2/27/22 fall.
On 5/25/22 at 12:17 PM Witness 9 (Agency CNA) stated she last checked on Resident 5 at 11:30 PM the night of 2/27/22 and then went to lunch. Witness 9 stated another CNA was covering for her during that time and had not checked on the resident prior to the fall. Witness 9 stated when she came back from lunch Staff 18 and the CNA were in Resident 5's room. Witness 9 stated the resident was confused, had fallen, and had "soaked" her/his brief. Witness 9 stated Resident 5 was at times incontinent, especially at night. Witness 9 further stated she was unsure of the timeframe for checking on residents at the facility, but she checked on residents every two hours.
On 5/25/22 at 1:45 PM Staff 2 (DNS) and Staff 6 (LPN Resident Care Manager) stated for the 2/27/22 fall, Resident 5 was expected to be checked on every two hours at night and acknowledged Resident 5 was not observed for over two hours and was a high fall risk. Staff 2 acknowledged there were no witness statements, indication the resident's brief was soiled, or interventions to prevent further falls. Staff 2 confirmed the investigation was not completed timely and the care plan was not updated.
d. A 3/19/22 Un-witnessed Fall investigation indicated at 7:15 PM Resident 5 was observed sitting on the floor and stated, "I fell on my butt; I slid to the floor." The resident stated she/he had lower extremity pain and appeared to have an altered mental status. The resident was sent to the hospital with no injuries noted. The investigation summary was completed on 3/22/22 and indicated the resident required one-person assistance with transfers and was noted to be self-transferring. The call light was in reach but not on and the resident used a brief for occasional incontinence. The investigation did not include witness statements, when the resident was last visualized or toileted, if the resident fell from her/his wheelchair, if the wheelchair was locked, and if the resident's brief was soiled.
The 3/19/22 through 3/20/22 Hospital Records indicated the resident was to follow up with her/his physician regarding the resident's blood pressure.
There was no evidence in the medical record to indicate the physician was notified or followed-up regarding the resident's blood pressure. Physician visits were completed in 2/2022 and 4/2022 for Resident 5, but none were completed in 3/2022.
The Care Plan was updated on 3/22/22 to include "wheelchair near bed as resident tends to self-transfer as allows."
On 5/25/22 at 1:45 PM Staff 2 (DNS) stated for the 3/19/22 fall, the investigation did not include if the resident's wheelchair was locked, when the resident was last visualized and toileted, and if the resident's brief was soiled. Staff 2 further acknowledged there were not witness statements, there was no "call don't fall" sign in the resident's room, and the physician did not assess the resident's blood pressure.