Inspection Findings:
3. Resident 6 was admitted in 01/2021 and had a history of falls, skin breakdown and congestive heart failure.During the entrance conference on 10/31/22, staff reported the resident had a recent significant overall decline in health and weight loss. The clinical record, progress notes, hospital discharge summaries, and facility weights were reviewed from 04/2022 through 10/31/22, and an interview with the resident on 10/31/22 revealed the following:a. Resident 6, who was alert and oriented, was interviewed on 10/31/22. During the interview, s/he said s/he eats in his/her room, had a poor appetite, often refused meals, and had lost weight.On 08/13/22, a staff MT documented in progress notes that the resident had "unplanned weight loss suspected ...loss of appetite ..."On 08/26/22, a progress note written by Staff 24 (former LPN) indicated the resident had "not been eating well and has been losing weight ..."Facility weight records and hospital discharge summaries revealed the following weights:* 04/26/22: 159.8 lbs.* 05/12/22: 147.9 lbs.* 08/26/22: 124.0 lbs.* 09/23/22: 135.8 lbs.* 10/21/22: 139.1 lbs.Staff obtained the resident's weight on 11/02/22. Resident 6 weighed 140 lbs.Resident 6 weighed 159.8 pounds in 04/2022. On 10/21/22, the resident's weight dropped to 139.1 pounds, which was a loss of 20.7 pounds or 12.9% loss in six months which constituted a severe loss and significant change in condition.There was no evidence the facility evaluated the weight loss, referred the significant change to the facility RN, or updated the service plan. b. A progress note, written by an MT on 08/13/22, indicated the resident had "shown the following signs of a significant change in condition: uncontrolled pain, fast decline in activities of daily living, unplanned weight loss suspected, level of consciousness change, loss of appetite. Has been put on alert for change in condition."The facility failed to refer to the facility RN for assessment and update the service plan to reflect the change in condition. c. Resident 6 fell five times between 08/01/22 and 10/12/22. Review of the record revealed no documented evidence the facility consistently monitored and documented on the progress of the resident's condition at least weekly until resolved. Additionally, the facility failed to consistently evaluate if service-planned interventions were implemented, were effective, or if new interventions were needed. d. Between 09/01/22 and 10/03/22, Resident 6 was sent to the hospital on four occasions and returned with diagnoses including, but not limited to: foot cellulitis, head trauma, foot pain, pneumonia and decreased level of consciousness. The facility initiated short-term monitoring. However, ongoing monitoring did not continue until resolution for the short-term changes in condition.The need to ensure the facility monitored and documented on the progress of short-term changes in condition at least weekly until resolved, determined if fall interventions were implemented, effective or if new interventions were needed, ensured significant changes of condition were evaluated, referred to the facility RN for assessment, and the service plan updated was shared with Staff 1 (Administrator) and Staff 8 (Administrative Assistant) on 11/04/22 at 10:20 am. They acknowledged the findings. No further information was provided.
2. Resident 5 was admitted to the facility in 03/2016 with diagnoses including congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), seizures, diabetes mellitus - type 2, neuropathy and pain.During the entrance conference on 10/31/22, staff reported the resident had a recent overall decline in health, had been hospitalized and was now bedbound.The clinical record, progress notes and hospital and PCP visit summaries from 08/01/22 through 10/31/22 were reviewed. Facility staff and the resident were interviewed. The following deficiencies were identified:a. Between 08/11/22 and 10/18/22, the resident had nine falls in his/her apartment. There was no documented evidence the facility:* Reviewed each fall to determine whether service-planned fall interventions were being followed, were effective or whether different or additional interventions needed to be implemented to prevent further falls; and* Ensured staff instructions or interventions were resident-specific and made part of the resident record with weekly progress noted until the condition resolved.b. The resident sustained several minor injuries from the falls including bruising and skin tears.* There was no documented evidence the facility determined, documented and communicated to staff what actions or interventions were needed for the resident; and* The facility failed to monitor the injuries with weekly progress noted until the conditions resolved.c. The resident was hospitalized three times for reports of chest pains or exacerbation of respiratory conditions.* For two of the incidents, there was no documented evidence the facility determined, documented and communicated to staff what actions or interventions were needed for the resident and monitored the resident with weekly progress noted until the conditions resolved; and* The facility failed to make staff instructions or interventions part of the resident record.d. Resident 5 was hospitalized from 09/30/22 through 10/05/22 for exacerbation of seizure activity. Prior to the hospital stay, the resident's 05/13/22 service plan and interviews with staff indicated the resident was independent for most ADLs including transfers, mobility and toileting. Upon return to the facility, the resident had a Foley catheter, and was unable to bear weight, requiring multiple staff and a Hoyer lift for transfers in and out of bed.The change in status and care needs following the hospitalization represented a significant change of condition. Though the facility nurse documented some of the resident's changes, the facility failed to update the resident's service plan with specific instructions for staff as to how to meet Resident 5's care needs regarding transfers, mobility, toileting, catheter care and other ADLs.The need for the facility to develop and implement an effective system for responding to resident changes of condition that included review of service-planned interventions, development, documentation and communication of instructions for staff that were made part of the resident's record and monitoring of conditions until resolved, was discussed with Staff 1 (Administrator) and Staff 8 (Administrative Assistant) on 11/04/22. They acknowledged the findings.
Based on observation, interview and record review, it was determined the facility failed to determine and document what actions or interventions were needed for changes of condition including resident specific instructions communicated to staff on each shift, weekly progress documented until the condition resolved and/or the facility failed to refer significant changes of condition to the facility RN for 3 of 3 sampled residents (#s 4, 5 and 6) who had changes of condition. Resident 4 did not receive consistent and ordered wound care and the resident's wound worsened and caused distress to the resident. Findings include, but are not limited to:1. Resident 4 was admitted to the facility in 10/2020 with diagnoses including gait disorder and lichen planus (inflammation of the skin).During the entrance conference interview on 10/31/22, Resident 4 was identified as receiving home health services for lower leg edema. Resident 4 was interviewed on 11/01/22 at 9:35 am and reported to have wounds on both his/her left and right feet. The wounds were visualized at that time with the resident's permission. The left foot had approximately a quarter-sized wound on the left side. The right foot had a visible wound on the second toe with a crusty black coating. Neither wound was bandaged. The resident reported the facility did not check on his/her wounds regularly, s/he was not receiving home health services, and the wound clinic frequently canceled appointments due to lack of staff.a. Resident 4's medical records were examined. The first documentation of a right toe wound occurred on 08/04/22 following an outpatient wound care visit. The clinic identified the location of the wound as the right lateral side of the second toe with orders to "change dressing every other day or as needed for excessive drainage," "cleanse wounds on dressing days with soap and water," "apply Collagen dressing to wound bed as directed," and "Band-Aid applied over Prisma layer." The service plan, dated 08/20/22, progress notes, dated 07/31/22 through 10/30/22, and MARs, dated 08/2022 through 10/2022, were reviewed and there was no monitoring of the wound, no documentation of when it originated or when the RN was made aware of it.On 11/02/22 at 9:20 am, the resident's wounds were observed with Staff 2 (RN - Wellness Director) and an RN surveyor. Staff 2 documented the assessment on 11/02/22 and indicated the resident had an open 2 cm x 3 cm wound on top and proximally surrounding the right second and third toe with mild clear-yellow discharge. At 11:09 am on 11/02/22, Staff 2 reported she was not previously aware of the resident's right toe ulcers and her first assessment of the resident's lower extremity wounds was completed by direction of this surveyor on 11/02/22. She also stated there was no documentation by the facility of the resident's right toe wounds, and Staff 11 (CG) completed all basic wound treatments for the resident and home health completed all other wound care. Staff 2 was unaware the resident's wound care clinic appointments had been canceled by the clinic due to lack of staff. When questioned about her job duties, Staff 2 then stated she was hired to complete delegation tasks only and she was made aware of other nursing issues when caregiving staff or residents told her of problems directly. The facility's policy was reviewed on 11/04/22. According to the policies and procedures, a "Nursing Comprehensive Evaluation" must be completed by an RN following a significant change of condition. Regarding coordination of care, the RN was responsible to discuss options to address resident's needs with the resident when services could not be provided by the community. Moreover, the RN was responsible for coordination of care and required documentation.On 11/02/22 at 11:30 am, Staff 11 reported she completed basic wound care for the resident at least every other shift she worked. This included the use of cleanser, antibiotic ointment and covering with a Band-Aid. She went on to state she did not document any wound care she completed, and any concerns about the resident's wounds were reported to the RN or RCC. There was no documented evidence the facility was providing the wound care ordered by the outpatient wound clinic.Resident 4 was seen on 11/02/22 at his/her primary care physician's office with instructions to start antibiotics for the toe ulcer, directions for wound cleaning and instructions to return to the office for a follow-up visit in one week.An immediate plan of action to address the resident's wound care, until home health services began, was requested of the facility and approved by this surveyor on 11/04/22.The facility failed to identify and evaluate the resident's right toe ulcer, refer to the facility RN following a significant change of condition, determine and document interventions regarding the ulcer, communicate the interventions to staff and monitor the resident according to his/her evaluated needs. The resident's right second toe wound worsened to include the third toe.b. During an interview with Resident 4 on 11/01/22, s/he reported a wound on the left foot.Resident 4's progress notes, dated 07/31/22 through 10/30/22 were reviewed for changes of condition related to the left foot wound and revealed the following information: * 08/03/22 - "Remove from Alert Charting...Residents [sic] [left] foot ulcer is being monitored in house by this nurse and treated by this nurse in between [his/her] trips to off-site wound care...Residents [sic] wound continues to improve ...";* 08/26/22 - "Residents [sic] wound care was canceled again today...at this time this nurse is following orders from the wound care facility";* 09/27/22 - "Resident was getting upset, because [s/he] wanted to see a doctor or a nurse to do wound care on [his/her] feet...[s/he] requested to go to the ER [emergency room]"; and* 10/19/22 - "Resident came back from ...ER with diagnosis of Neuropathy and Chronic foot ulcer ..."On 11/02/22 at 11:30 am, Staff 11 reported she completed basic wound care for the resident at least every other shift she worked, but she did not document any wound care she completed.There was no documented evidence the facility identified resident specific interventions regarding the left foot wound, communicated the interventions to all staff and then monitored the resident according to his/her evaluated needs.c. Resident 4's progress notes, dated 07/31/22 through 10/30/22, service plan, dated 08/20/22, and ISP, dated 08/19/22 were reviewed and revealed the following:The following short-term changes of condition lacked evidence resident-specific actions or interventions were determined, documented and communicated to staff:* 08/20/22 - Fall with injury; and* 10/22/22 - Non-injury fall.The following short-term changes of condition lacked documented evidence the resident's determined actions or interventions were monitored through resolution:* 08/11/22 - New prescription for meloxicam (for arthritis) and Tylenol #3 (for pain);* 08/20/22 - Fall with injury;* 09/15/22 - New prescription for amlodipine (for high blood pressure) and the discontinuation of sertraline (for depression), Zofran (for nausea) and Tylenol PRN (for pain); and* 10/22/22 - Non-injury fall.The need to ensure changes of condition were identified, reported to RN if determined to be a significant change of condition, interventions determined, documented and communicated to staff with monitoring occurring per the residents' evaluated needs was discussed with Staff 1 (Administrator) and Staff 8 (Receptionist) on 11/04/22 at 1:00 pm. The findings were acknowledged, and no additional documentation was provided.