Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interviews, the facility failed to ensure a resident with a pressure injury received necessary monitoring and treatments to promote healing for one of three residents (R40) sampled for closed record review. R40 did not receive thorough weekly wound monitoring, a pressure reducing chair cushion, or changes in wound care after documented changes in wound drainage. R40's sacral wound increased 317% in area, developed malodorous drainage and increased pain requiring transfer to a hospital on 8/4/23.
Findings include:
Review of the electronic Health Record (e-HR) R40 admitted on [DATE], readmitted on [DATE], had diagnoses that included end stage renal disease, hypertension, and moderate protein-calorie malnutrition.
Review of the admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE] showed R40 had a BIMS (Brief Interview for Mental Status) score of 9 indicating the resident had moderately impaired cognition. R40 required extensive two-person assistance with bed mobility, dressing, toilet use, and personal hygiene. R40 was totally dependent on two-person assistance for transfers and locomotion. R40 was frequently incontinent of urine and always incontinent of bowel. R40 had one (1) stage 1 pressure ulcer (intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence) and one (1) unstageable pressure ulcer (an ulcer with a wound bed covered by slough and or eschar [a dry, dark scab or falling away of dead skin])
Review of a Skin Only Evaluation note dated 7/7/23 at 5:41 PM included R40 had a Stage II (partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red, pink wound bed, without slough) pressure ulcer on the coccyx (a triangular arrangement of bone that makes up the very bottom portion of the spine below the sacrum).
Review of the e-HR revealed a provider order dated 7/7/23 for sacral wound care. The order included to cleanse with soap and water daily and as needed (PRN) with every episode of incontinence, apply EPC (Extra Protective Cream) barrier cream (skin protectant that helps treat and prevent rash associated with diaper use or continued exposure to feces, urine or both. Protects skin from minor irritation associated with diaper dermatitis and exposure to feces and urine and helps seal out wetness) and cover with a border foam in the evening.
Review of the e-HR revealed wound evaluations and communication notes dated:
-7/7/23 at 10:21 PM Wound Evaluation, no documentation of an assessment of the periwound (tissue surrounding a wound).
-7/7/23 at 10:51 PM Communication Note entered by Registered Nurse 65 (RN) included I also marked her (R40) pressure ulcer to her coccyx as a deep tissue injury, but I'm not sure if that is correct.
-7/11/23 at 5:17 AM, no measurements documented.
-7/19/23 at 9:06 AM, no documentation of an assessment of the periwound.
-7/27/23 at 9:32 AM, no documentation of an assessment of the periwound.
-8/1/23 at 5:51 AM, no documentation of an assessment of the periwound.
-8/4/23 at 6:57 AM, area increase 317%, length increase 114%, width increase 87%, no documentation of an assessment of the periwound.
Review of the e-HR revealed no documentation of wound measurements completed for ten (10) days from 7/8/23 to 7/18/23.
Review of the care plan initiated on 7/10/23 for a documented pressure ulcer included a goal that the wound would show signs of improvement. Interventions for this goal included to keep the skin clean and well lubricated and monitor bony prominences for redness.
Review of the e-HR revealed a provider order dated 7/19/23 for treatment of an unstageable sacral wound. The order included to cleanse with soap and water daily and PRN (as needed) with every episode of incontinence and to place matrix (a dressing developed to maintain a moist microenvironment that is conducive to granulation tissue formation, epithelialization, and rapid wound healing) and cover with border foam in the evening for wound care.
Review of a Skin/Wound note dated 7/20/23 and 7/22/23 both included that the sacral wound was now 90% slough (pus) to the wound bed with a small amount of serous (thin; watery; like serum) drainage.
Review of a care plan initiated on 7/24/23 for potential/actual impairment to skin integrity .DTI to sacrum on admission included a goal that the resident would maintain or develop clean and intact skin. The intervention for this goal included monitor/document location, size and treatment of skin injury. Report abnormalities, failure to heal, signs or symptoms of infection, maceration etc. to MD, and Weekly treatment documentation to include measurement of each area of skin breakdown's width, length, depth, type of tissue and exudate and any other notable changes or observations.
Review of a Conversation (facility's method of communication with the Medical Doctor) note dated 7/29/23 at 6:23 pm, entered by RN65, included I think there needs to be a discussion with (R40) on what she is wanting for her future care. PT will have to chime in here, but I don't think she has been able to work with them in the 3 weeks she's been here because she is always in pain. She dreads dialysis and I try to have a discussion with her that she is able to refuse but she doesn't. However, the last few times she has come back she is nearly in tears. We make her as comfortable as possible before she goes, but I don't think she can tolerate sitting in one spot for the 6-7 hours that she is away. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Review of a Skin/Wound note dated 7/29/23 at 8:00 PM included that the sacral wound still had 100% slough in the wound bed with a small amount of drainage and foul odor noted. The note included that R40 complained of pain to sacral wound.
Review of the record revealed no new orders written on 7/31/23 to address concerns with pain, dialysis, or wound care.
Review of a Wound evaluation dated 8/1/23 at 5:51 AM included that the wound had decreased in area by 33%, length by 33%, and had increased in width by 2%. The evaluation again indicated that wound progress had stalled.
Review of a Skin/wound note dated 8/2/23 at 5:34 PM included that the sacral wound was unstageable, had no drainage, but still had an odor. A late entry to the note included that there was now an area to the left of the wound that was necrotic and foul smelling.
Review of a Skin/wound note dated 8/2/23 at 8:00 PM included that the sacral wound now had a moderate amount of foul smelling brown drainage with pain.
Review of a Progress Note dated 8/2/23 included that MD12 was asked to see the resident (R40) due to a wound in the sacral area and that the provider examined her (R40) sacral area. The note included that the sacral area with an unstageable pressure injury that was also affected by moisture associated skin disease. Necrotic tissue partially removed. The note included a plan for surgical debridement partial of the wound noted at this time. Minimal odor. Reports of heavy drainage noted. Recommend that we maximize her nutrition, maintain support surface, speak with dialysis for offloading (and/or cushions), and turning schedule.
Review of the e-HR revealed a provider order dated 8/2/23 that included for R40 to have an offloading cushion needed for lifetime.
Review of the e-HR revealed no documenation of an implementation of the an offloading cushion.
Review of a Skin/wound note dated 8/3/23 at 9:50 AM included that the Unstageable wound to sacrum was changed by night nurse. At this time dressing was saturated with brown odorous drainage. Sacrum has a bony prominence with slough, discoloration, and necrotic tissue noted to the peri area of her wound. Calcium alginate applied to wound bed and covered with a foam dressing.
Review of a Skin/wound note dated 8/3/23 at 8:00 pm included that sacral wound again had a foul odor and pain at the site.
Review of a Skin/wound note dated 8/4/23 at 3:30 AM included that a moderate amount (of) foul smelling brown drainage from sacral wound, area of necrotic tissue has increased from this writer's last assessment (8/3/23 at 8:07 PM) to 90% of wound bed, wound has doubled in size, necrotic tissue is boggy, dressing change per MD order, resident crying with any movement Message sent to MD via online messaging.
Review of a Wound evaluation dated 8/4/23 at 6:57 AM included that the wound had increased in area by 317%, length 114%, and width 87%. The evaluation included that the progress was now deteriorating.
Review of Conversation note dated 8/4/23 at 4:14 am included that the Pain is in her (R40) sacral area at the wound site. It has become worse over the last 2 days. She cries with any movement. Giving the PRN Tylenol but doesn't seem to be effective. The wound has had changes since yesterday. The wound is 90% necrotic and boggy. There is a horrible foul-smelling odor that can be smelled when entering the room. The drainage has increased significantly over the last 2 days and has gone from being serous to a tannish brown.
Review of another Skin/wound note dated 8/4/23 at 7:59 AM, entered by LPN/WN95, included that the Resident is so uncomfortable/crying and tries to reposition herself even after staff turns her. PRN Tylenol was given this AM by night nurse. Unstageable wound to sacrum dressing was saturated with brown odorous drainage. Sacrum has a bony prominence, necrotic, very odorous, discolored, and necrotic tissue noted to the peri area of her wound. Calcium alginate applied to wound bed and covered with a foam dressing.
Review of another Conversation note dated 8/4/23 at 11:53 AM included that R40 was transferred by EMS (emergency medical services) to the emergency room at 7:09 AM.
During an interview conducted on 9/12/23 with Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 44, CNA44 stated that R40 was repositioned every two hours but was always in pain. CNA44 stated that they would try to reposition or offer comfort and if those interventions did not work they would tell the nurse. CNA44 stated they remember R40 being in pain from the admission until she left.
During an interview conducted on 9/12/23 with RN107, RN107 stated that R40 interventions for the pressure injury included a specialty mattress and off-loading devices. RN107 stated they did not recall if the provider was notified after non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical interventions had been offered to R40, but RN107 stated that if a notification to the provider was made it would be documented in the e-MR.
During an interview conducted on 9/13/23 with Licensed Practical Nruse/Wound Nurse (LPN/WN) 95 and Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), LPN/WN95 stated that when R40 was admitted , they were working one day a week as a wound nurse and the other days on the floor. LPN/WN95 stated that they would complete wound assessments on Tuesdays and R40's Medical Doctor (MD) 12 would review the information and pictures in the eMR. LPN/WN95 stated that she does measurements and document what the wound looks like. LPN/WN95 stated that the wound assessments in the system that are incomplete are still open until she can get back to them and add information. LPN/WN95 stated that some of the information might be missing because it was almost two months ago. LPN/WN95 stated that she did not have an order for the Calcium alginate dressing applied to R40 on 8/3/23, but she stated that it was appropriate because of the increased dressing. LPN/WN95 stated she does not remember calling MD12 on 8/3/23 when the wound change in appearance with increased drainage. LPN/WN95 stated that on admission, R40 had a lot of pain and the Tylenol was effective up to a point. LPN/WN95 stated that R40's pain was a red flag for her and the increased pain started on 8/2/23 after the wound had opened up. LPN/WN95 stated R40 did really want to turn because she was in so much pain. LPN/WN95 stated that the odor, eschar and pain had increase starting on 8/2/23. LPN/WN95 stated that the resident's wound progressively got worse and that the increasing pain contributed to that worsening.
During an interview conducted on 9/13/23 via phone with MD12, MD12 stated that the pressure ulcers were discussed with the resident and family prior to admission. MD12 stated that because the resident had to travel to dialysis and spend hours laying on hard surfaces, that R40 would have been better at another facility with inhouse dialysis or closer to an outpatient dialysis facility. MD12 stated that the traveling to dialysis was most likely the cause of the wound worsening. MD12 stated that the he did a little bit of debridement and it was clear that was a deep tissue issue and the drainage started to increase. MD12 stated that the resident had around the clock Tylenol ordered for pain management and it was effective. MD12 stated he did not recall any issue with pain not being managed with the ordered interventions and that he performed a debridement at the bedside and the resident did not have any pain with the procedure. MD12 stated that the difference between a Matrix dressing and Calcium alginate dressing is that the Calcium alginate is for wounds with larger amounts of drainage. MD12 stated that he minimizes the formulary, so the facility does not have a lot of wound care products. MD12 stated that when a wound has necrotic tissue debridement is the treatment. MD12 stated that he did not recall the wound having an odor and he was notified on 8/4/23 about the change in the wound and that is why he sent R40 to the hospital.
Review of the e-HR did not reveal any specific interventions to address off-loading or pain management on dialysis days. The record did not include specific concerns with transportation to and from dialysis.
During an interview conducted on 9/14/23 with the Director of Nursing (DON) and ADON, ADON stated that on admission, all residents have a head to toe assessment. ADON stated that resident's admitted with a wound have the wound documented with measurements and photographs of the would uploaded into the e-HR. ADON stated that the provider looks at the assessment in the system and orders treatments based on the assessment. ADON stated the assessment should be completed within 24 hours of admission, weekly, and if there are any changes in condition. ADON stated all treatments need provider orders and should be care planned for. ADON stated the previous DON (RN108) was the oversight for all wound assessments prior to 9/11/23 when the current DON started. DON stated that the wound nurse, LPN95, has had written assessments that are not uploaded into e-HR but she does not know what information is on those assessments. DON was asked what the risk would be for a nurse providing wound care with a change in the wound without a provider order, DON stated, it would be practicing outside of the scope and is a risk to the patient.
Review of the facility's policy and procedure titled Pressure Injury Prevention and Management revised 7/21/22, included that Assessment of Pressure Injury Risk .Licensed nurses will conduct a full body skin assessment on all residents upon admission/re-admission, weekly and after any newly identified pressure injury. Findings will be documented in the medical record .Assessments of pressure injuries will be performed by a licensed nurse and documented in Point Click Care (PCC, [eMR]) .Evidenced-Based interventions for prevention will be implemented for all residents who are assessed at risk or who have a pressure injure present .interventions could include, but are not limited to .Provide appropriate, pressure-redistributing, support surfaces .Evidence-based treatments in accordance with current standards of practice will be provided for all residents who have a pressure injury present treatment decisions will be based on characteristics of the wound, including the stage, size, amount of exudate, and presence of pain, infection or non-viable tissue .Charting wounds will include progress/decline or stability of wound.
Cross Reference F697