Inspection Findings:
Based on interview and record review it was determined the facility failed to ensure dialysis treatment and care was in place including physician orders and communication with the dialysis provider for 1 of 1 sampled resident (#1) reviewed for dialysis. This placed residents at risk for dialysis complications. Findings include:
Resident 1 admitted to the facility on 11/21/23 with diagnoses including end stage renal disease and dependent on dialysis (a procedure to remove waste products from the blood when the kidneys stop working).
a. The 11/27/23 Admission MDS indicated at baseline the resident received dialysis treatments three times a week at a clinic outside the facility.
Resident 1's care plan for renal failure with dialysis, created on 11/21/23, indicated treatment to the dialysis access site was to be followed per the physician orders.
The 11/21/23 admission physician orders and the 12/18/23 last signed physician orders did not include any dialysis care orders.
On 12/28/23 at 3:51 PM Staff 19 (RN) stated when the resident returned to the facility from the dialysis center, the charge nurse completed a physical assessment of the resident to ensure the pressure dressing was around the dialysis access site and there was no active bleeding. She indicated she removed the dressing several hours after the resident's return and continued to monitor for bleeding. Staff 19 stated every resident who was on dialysis had physician orders related to dialysis care. When asked if Staff 19 could show the surveyor the physician orders for dialysis care she could not locate any in the resident's chart.
On 12/29/23 at 10:39 AM Witness 2 (Dialysis RN) stated every nursing facility should have physician orders for a resident's dialysis care. Witness 2 stated the facility was to remove the pressure dressing from Resident 1's dialysis access site several hours after the resident returned from the dialysis center and the resident was to be monitored for bleeding.
On 12/29/23 at 9:29 AM Staff 2 (RNCM) acknowledged there were no physician orders in place for the resident's dialysis care.
b. A dialysis communication form was reviewed and indicated the facility was to complete the section for Resident 1's last recorded weight, current blood pressure, any concerns, and the nursing staff signature and date. The dialysis center was to complete the section for pre and post dialysis weights, treatment provided, post dialysis instructions, staff signature and date, and when the next scheduled dialysis treatment was.
A review of dialysis communication forms from 11/24/23 through 12/24/23 revealed incomplete communication forms on: 11/24/23, 11/27/23, 12/4/23, 12/11/23, 12/13/23, 12/15/23, 12/18/23, 12/20/23 and 12/22/23. These included missing information in both sections from the facility and the dialysis center.
A review of the resident's clinical record revealed no documentation related to communication between the facility and the dialysis provider.
On 12/28/23 at 12:40 PM Staff 7 (LPN) and on 12/28/23 at 3:51 PM Staff 19 (RN) stated the dialysis communication forms were completed by the facility and sent with Resident 1 to dialysis. Staff 7 and Staff 19 stated upon return to the facility, the charge nurse entered the resident's weights and any new orders from dialysis. Staff 19 stated if the communication form was incomplete from the dialysis center, the charge nurse attempted to call the dialysis center to obtain information. When the charge nurse was not successful, the RNCM followed up the next day.
On 12/29/23 at 9:29 AM Staff 2 (RNCM) stated the communication between the facility and the dialysis center was a challenge. Staff 2 stated she requested the completed forms from the dialysis center and never received them. Staff 2 acknowledged the incomplete dialysis communication forms which included incomplete information from the facility and from the dialysis center.
Plan of Correction:
Resident #1 remains a resident at the facility. Physicians order has been obtained for resident #1 for dialysis treatments and communication follow up has been put in place with resident #1’s dialysis clinic.
All residents on dialysis have the potential to be impacted by this deficient practice.
To ensure ongoing compliance, Licensed Nurses (LNs) and Resident Care Managers (RCMs) of the facility have been inserviced by the facility Director of Nursing Services (DNS) of the procedure for coordinating dialysis care for residents.
DNS, and/or designee will conduct weekly audits x4 weeks, then monthly X 90 days to ensure compliance with physician orders for Dialysis care and Dialysis communication form completion/documentation. Results reviewed at the quarterly Quality Assurance (QA) meeting.