Inspection Findings:
, Based on interview and record review it was determined the facility failed to timely respond to changes in condition and follow physician orders for 4 of 10 sampled residents (#s 2, 18, 26 and 129) reviewed for change of condition, position and mobility, UTIs and medications. This deficient practice was determined to be an immediate jeopardy situation as a result of a delay in treatment for Resident 129's sepsis (infection of the blood stream), UTI, lactic acidosis (buildup of lactic acid in blood stream), acute kidney failure, acute low blood pressure and GI bleed (bleeding in the intestinal tract). Resident 129 required hopsitalization, and died on 12/3/22. Findings include:
1. Resident 129 was admitted to the facility in 2022 with diagnoses including heart attack, insomnia and muscle weakness.
a. An 10/4/22 Quarterly MDS revealed Resident 129's BIMS score was an eight indicating severe cognitive impairment. Resident 129 received anticoagulant medications and required extensive assistence or was totally dependent with most ADLs.
An 10/13/22 care plan indicated the following for Resident 129:
-Impaired decision-making.
-At risk for elevated blood pressure with interventions to assess weight as ordered, monitor for headache, lightheadedness and chest pain, provide diet and medications as ordered.
-Impaired cardiovascular status with interventions including assess breath sounds as necessary, observe and report nausea, flushing, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, chest pain, edema, restlessness and fatigue. Monitor weight and report significant changes.
On 10/20/22 Resident 129's blood pressure was checked which indicated her/his blood pressure was 97/52 and out of normal range.
On 10/25/22 a SLP order was obtained and an evaluation was pending.
A review of the Direct Care Staff Daily Reports 11/1/22 through 11/27/22 revealed there was no RN coverage on any shift for all days reviewed.
A 11/21/22 Physician Progress Note indicated Resident 129 was seen for a follow-up for recent insomnia. Resident 129 reported she/he was sleeping better. The visit was completed via telemedicine (remote diagnosis and treatment using means of telecommunications technology). The Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner ordered Resident 129's blood pressure to be checked daily.
No documentation was found in Resident 129's clinical record her/his blood pressure was checked daily.
The 11/2022 MAR instructed staff to monitor sleep hours twice a day with a start date of 11/11/22. From 11/21/22 through 11/25/22 documentation on the MAR revealed Resident 129 slept 10 to 12 hours a night.
The 11/2022 MAR instructed staff to administer Eliquis (a blood thinner) twice a day. No documentation was found in Resident 129's clinical record to indicate she/he was monitored for adverse side effects of the blood thinner.
A 11/23/22 Monthly Summary revealed no vitals were checked for Resident 129, revealed her/his memory was per baseline, lungs were clear, bowel sounds were active, she/he had poor appetite and ate in her/his room.
No progress notes were found in the clinical record from 11/23/22 at 2:44 PM through 11/27/22 at 12:52 AM.
A Search Vitals Results for Fluids revealed the following total daily intake:
-11/24/22 240 ml
-11/25/22 220 ml
-11/26/22: day shift 980 ml and no documentation fluids were offered after 6:29 PM
-11/27/22 no documentation of fluids offered until 9:34 AM, and the fluid were not accepted.
On 11/27/22 Resident 129's oxygen saturation level was 73 percent which was out of the normal range.
A 11/27/22 at 12:52 AM Nursing Progress Note indicated Resident 129 had two episodes of vomiting. Resident 129 was administered PRN nausea medication and Resident 129's temperature was 97.1 degrees.
A 11/27/22 at 9:56 AM Nursing Progress Note indicated Resident 129 was unresponsive at 6:50 AM and vitals were documented:
-temperature 97.2
-oxygen saturation 73 percent
-blood pressure could not be read.
A 11/29/22 emergency department Physician Note revealed Resident 129 admitted on 11/27/22 at 7:45 AM and was unresponsive. Resident 129 vomited during the night and when checked on in the morning she/he was unresponsive and the facility called emergency medical services. The resident's vital sign records revealed Resident 129's beats-per-minute heart rate was in the 40's. Emergency medical services noted a dark residue in her/his mouth. Witness 8 (Family Member) stated Resident 129 was on stomach acid reducing medication in the past but was not sure it was administered at the facility. During the physical exam of Resident 129's mouth she/he had dry mucous membranes and dark residue. When a catheter was placed her/his urine was "cloudy yellow". At 6:16 PM it was noted she/he had a large volume of pus in the urinary catheter. Resident 129 was diagnosed with sepsis, UTI, lactic acidosis, acute kidney failure, acute low blood pressure and a GI bleed. Resident 129 died on 12/3/22 at 4:15 AM.
A public complaint was received on 12/15/22 which indicated in mid-10/2022 Resident 129 started vomiting and she/he was administered anti-nausea medication. Resident 129 was not eating or drinking enough. Resident 129 could barely whisper when she/he spoke. The week of 11/15/22 Resident 129 was still periodically vomiting and staff reported she/he had a virus. One evening around 11/15/22 Resident 129 was very sleepy and the CNA had a difficult time getting her/him to sit up to eat dinner. Resident 129 did not acknowledge the CNA and stared off into space. One side of her/his mouth was drooping. The CNA asked her/him questions and Resident 129 did not acknowledge her/him for an hour and it appeared Resident 129 was having a seizure. The CNA ran to get a nurse and Resident 129 vomited. Staff stated Resident 129 was fine and she/he was just getting sick. A CNA requested to have her/him evaluated and staff stated there was not much more they could do for her/him. The next morning concerns were reported to the administrative staff and a video conference was conducted.
On 7/25/23 at 9:51 AM Witness 8 stated Resident 129 was non-responsive and would not make eye contact. On or around 11/15/22 Witness 8 spoke with the administrator and expressed concerns of a 12-hour delay for an assessment by a physician after the alleged seizure incident. Resident 129 had incidents of vomiting for almost a month and there was no follow up on her/his speech evaluation. Witness 8 confirmed the information in the 12/15/22 public complaint.
On 7/28/23 at 10:58 AM Staff 34 (Social Services Director) stated Witness 8 had concerns about Resident 129's care. Staff 34 stated Resident 129 started sleeping more in 10/2022 or 11/2022.
On 7/28/23 at 11:18 AM Staff 32 (CNA) stated she worked the night Resident 129 vomited and reported it to Staff 33 (Former LPN). Staff 33 came in, observed Resident 129 and she/he vomited a "huge" amount. Staff 32 stated the week before Resident 129 went to the hospital, she/he slept more than usual, had increased confusion and her/his urine had an odor. Staff 32 stated Resident 129 took only little sips of fluids. Staff 32 stated prior to her/his transfer to the hospital Resident 129 did not recognize her and appeared to be afraid of Staff 32, which was not normal.
On 7/28/23 at 5:30 PM Staff 26 (LPN) stated on 11/27/22 she administered Resident 129's mediations in the morning and later a CNA came in and stated Resident 129 was unresponsive. Staff 26 stated she had Resident 129 transferred to the hospital.
On 7/27/23 at 10:27 AM, 7/28/23 at 11:35 AM, 7/31/23 at 11:22 AM and 11:35 AM and 8/1/23 at 11:08 AM Staff 3 (Clinical Operations Education Director) stated an order for a speech evaluation was requested but no one was available to complete the evaluation, so the request was sent to a third party and Resident 129 passed away before the evaluation could be completed. Staff 3 confirmed Resident 129 was not included in meetings held to discuss residents at high-risk relative to her/his weight loss. Staff 3 confirmed there was no monitoring for Eliquis, or blood pressure. Staff 3 confirmed physician orders for blood pressure monitoring daily were not followed. Staff 3 also confirmed no RN coverage in 11/2022.
On 7/28/23 at 5:50 PM the facility administrative staff, including Staff 1 (Administrator), Staff 2 (DNS), Staff 3 (Clinical Operations Education Director) and Staff 17 (Regional Director of Operations) were notified of the immediate jeopardy (IJ) situation related to the facility's failure to document assessments and monitoring, follow physician orders, and identify and respond timely to significant changes of condition.
On 7/28/23 at 10:20 PM an acceptable facility plan removing the immediate risk to residents' health and welfare was accepted from and implemented by the facility. The plan indicated the following facility actions:
-Care plans would be updated by the end of day 7/29/23.
-The facility would in-service all staff on recognizing changes of conditions and interventions including: bowel care interventions, nausea, vomiting, vital signs, sepsis, UTI, acute kidney failure, low blood pressure, and GI bleeding.
-Regional Nursing Consultant (RNC) would reeducate the DNS on the importance of recognizing resident change of condition by the end of day 7/28/23.
-DNS would present information to the QAPI committee to ensure compliance.
-Education material included for DNS/Staff training: PowerPoint on change of condition and the facility's bowel protocol policy.
-RN coverage for assessment and review: RNC would remotely assess once a week and be onsite once a month for two days, the MDS Coordinator would remotely assess once a week and speak with corporate recruiting on a plan of action to get a RN in house as soon as possible with corporate resources or agency.
-Continue to monitor bowel care interventions, nausea, vomiting, vital signs, sepsis, UTI, acute kidney failure, low blood pressure, GI bleeding through correct progress notes, RNCM audits, quarterly QAPI meetings and care plan reviews.
Refer to F656, F692 and F727
b. A 6/27/22 admission order revealed Resident 129 was to be administered 30 mg of lisinopril (blood pressure medication) daily.
An 10/6/22 Physician Progress Note instructed staff to decrease lisinopril to 20 mg daily and hold the medication if the upper blood pressure reading was less than 110.
An 10/12/22 Physician Progress Note indicated "unfortunately" Resident 129's lisinopril did not get decreased as previously ordered on 10/6/22.
An 10/2022 MAR indicated Resident 129 received lisinopril as follows:
-From 10/6/22 through 10/10/22 Resident 129 received 30 mg daily.
-No documentation was found on the MAR Resident 129's blood pressure was monitored before administration of lisinopril, or lisinopril was reduced as ordered on 10/6/22.
A 11/2022 MAR indicated on 11/25/22 Resident 129 was administered lisinopril 20 mg two times in one day.
On 7/31/23 at 11:35 AM Staff 3 (Clinical Operations Education Director) confirmed Resident 129 was administered lisinopril two times on 11/25/22 and confirmed lisinopril physician orders were not followed.
2. Resident 26 was admitted to the facility in 2023 with a diagnoses including stroke, diabetes and depression.
a. A 5/2023 MAR instructed staff to weigh Resident 26 daily with frequency once a day on Monday. No weights were obtained from 5/5/23 through 5/14/23. Resident 26 was weighed on 5/15/23 and weighed 212 pounds. The order was discontinued on 5/15/23.
A 7/2023 MAR instructed staff to weigh Resident 26 weekly on Monday. The 7/10/23 and 7/17/23 weights were not obtained. On 7/24/23 Resident 26 weighed 187 pounds.
On 7/24/23 at 1:40 PM Resident 26 stated she/he lost weight because she/he did not like the taste of the food and she/he only received fresh fruit once in a while.
A 7/25/23 recapitulation signed physician order instructed staff to weigh Resident 26 daily with a start date of 5/14/23.
On 8/1/23 at 10:18 AM Staff 3 (Clinical Operations Education Director) confirmed Resident 26's weights were not completed as physician ordered.
b. A 7/21/23 physician order instructed staff to administer sertraline (antidepressant) 150 mg once a day in the evenings.
A 7/2023 MAR revealed on 7/31/23 Resident 26 was administered sertraline twice.
On 8/1/23 at 12:24 PM Staff 19 (RNCM) confirmed Resident 26 received two administrations of sertraline as dialysis ordered it to be given at night. Resident 26 received one dosage during the day and one at night.
3. Resident 2 admitted to the facility in 2022 with diagnoses including arthritis and dementia.
A signed 5/1/23 PT Evaluation and Plan of Treatment instructed staff to use a PRAFO (Pressure relief ankle foot orthosis) brace to the left foot.
A 5/1/23 Nursing Progress Note revealed an email was received from PT, Staff 2 (DNS) was aware and a copy was provided to Staff 1 (Administrator) to order the PRAFO boot.
Review of the 5/2023, 6/2023 and 7/2023 MAR/TAR and clinical records revealed no documentation, staff instructions, administration or refusals of the PRAFO boot to the left foot.
On 8/1/23 at 10:20 AM Staff 3 (Clinical Operations Education Director) stated the PRAFO boot order should be documented on the MAR and staff should document refusals.
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4. Resident 18 was admitted to the facility in 2023 with diagnoses including depression and stroke.
The 5/24/23 through 7/25/23 MAR indicated Resident 18 was administered Lopressor (heart medication) twice daily.
The 6/23/23 signed Physician Order Report directed staff to administer Lopressor to Resident 18 twice daily with special instructions to hold the medication for systolic (upper blood pressure reading) less than 100 or diastolic (lower blood pressure reading) less than 60.
A 6/24/23 through 7/26/23 Search Vitals Results revealed the following blood pressure readings for Resident 18:
-On 6/24/23: 111/53
-On 6/25/23: 109/53
-On 6/30/23: 127/56
-On 7/1/23: 142/59
On 7/31/23 at 1:54 PM Staff 2 (DNS) stated Resident 18's physician's order for Lopressor was not followed.
Plan of Correction:
How the corrective action will be accomplished for identified affected individuals:
Resident # 129 is no longer at the facility. Resident # 2, 18, 26 have been assessed for completed Physician Orders with follow through and have been reviewed for change of condition.
How will other individuals with the potential to be affected or in similar situations be identified and protected:
Currents residents have been audited & evaluated for potential change of condition, and for current changes in Physician Orders that have needed follow-up in Nursing or Therapy have been completed. Any residents identified as having a change in condition have been placed on alert, MD, healthcare representative have been notified.
What systemic changes will ensure that the deficient practice will not recur:
Nursing staff have been educated on change of condition, notification to appropriate individuals. Nursing has been educated on new physician orders, follow up and calling MD upon discovery of potential change of condition. Skilled Residents: Vital signs will be completed once a day x 3 days after an alert at each shift and monitors in place to help with discovery of potential change of condition of resident. Weight audits to be completed.
How the facility will monitor its corrective actions/performance:
The DNS and/or RCM will audit the 24-hour report daily with IDT Team during morning stand up to assure assessment for change of condition, new physician orders and care have been completed and followed up. The results of the audits will be reviewed at the QAPI meetings to assure no further issues with resident and continuing care.