Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, policy review, review of Incident and Accident Reports, and staff interviews, it was determined the facility failed to ensure professional standards of practice for completion of neurological assessments after a fall, medications were administered to residents prior to being documented as given, and pain medications were administered timely. This was true for 1 of 18 residents (Resident #31) reviewed for quality of care and 2 of 23 residents (#60 and #61) reviewed for medications. This failure placed residents at risk of a) adverse outcomes if medications were administered when contraindicated, b) increased pain due to delays in administering pain medication, and c) undetected neurological changes after falls. Findings include:
The facility's General Dose Preparation and Medication Administration policy, dated [DATE], directed staff to verify each time a medication was administered it was the correct medication, the correct dose, the correct route, the correct rate, the correct time, and for the correct resident. The policy also directed staff to document necessary medication administration/treatment information, such as when medications were given on appropriate forms.
The facility's Medication Management policy and procedure, dated [DATE], directed staff to develop policy, procedures and clinical practice guidelines to manage medications so they were safely provided and administered to residents. The policy documented authorized staff who administer medications were responsible for staying proficient in administering medication following evidenced-based practice guidelines.
1. Resident #60 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with multiple diagnoses including hypertension, congestive heart failure, anxiety, depression, diabetes mellitus type 2, generalized muscle weakness, and difficulty walking.
Resident #60's quarterly MDS assessment, dated [DATE], documented she was cognitively intact.
Resident #60's care plan, dated [DATE] and [DATE], documented she had impaired visual function related to dry eyes and directed staff to administer ophthalmic medication as ordered. The care plan also documented she had altered cardiovascular status related to hypertension and directed staff to administer medications as ordered.
a. A physician's order for Resident #60, dated [DATE], documented to instill Olopatadine hydrochloric acid solution 0.7%, instill one drop in both eyes one time a day for dry eyes
On [DATE] at 11:10 AM, during medication administration, LPN #1 asked Resident #60 if she had received her eyedrops in the morning. Resident #60 stated she had received her eyedrops that morning. LPN #1 documented Resident #60 was administered her eyedrops. LPN #1 stated she did not administer eyedrops to Resident #60. LPN #1 stated she trusted what the resident had said about receiving her eyedrops and documented the eyedrops were given by the morning nurse. LPN #1 stated she should not have documented the administration of the eyedrops.
b. A physician's order dated [DATE], documented to administer Hydralazine hydrochloric acid to Resident #60, one 10 mg tablet by mouth every 8 hours for hypertension. The order directed staff to hold the medication if SBP was less than 120.
Resident #60's MAR, documented Hydralazine medication was administered when her SBP was less than 120, on the following dates:
On [DATE] at 9:00 PM, SBP was 99
On [DATE] at 9:00 PM, SBP was 90
On [DATE] at 5:00 AM, SBP was 112
On [DATE] at 9:00 PM, SBP was 97
On [DATE] at 9:00 PM, SBP was 93
On [DATE] at 1:00, SBP was 96
On [DATE] at 9:00 PM, SBP was 117
On [DATE] at 11:51 AM, the CNO stated the February 2019 MAR documented Resident #60 was administered Hydralazine several times when her SBP was less than 120. The CNO stated she interviewed the nurses who administered the medication and they stated they did not administer the medication when Resident #60's SBP was less than 120 and the documentation was in error. The CNO stated the documentation errors were due to medications being documented as given before Resident #60's blood pressure was assessed. The CNO said the medication was then wasted when Resident #60's SPB was found to be less than 120.
2. Resident #61 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] and was readmitted on [DATE] with medical diagnoses that included multiple sclerosis (a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord), Type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic pain syndrome, and low back pain.
On [DATE] at 8:26 AM, Resident #61 stated It would be nice to get my pain medications on time instead of an hour or two hours late. She stated that even with her pain medication her pain level was a 7 to 8 (out of 10). Review of Resident #61's pain assessments documented she consistently rated her pain at 7 to 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.
Resident #61's care plan documented she had acute/chronic pain related to arthritis, chronic back pain, history breast cancer, wounds, multiple sclerosis, history of cerebral vascular accident (stroke), and chronic pain syndrome. She often reported pain at a high level due to chronic pain. Staff were directed to administer medications as ordered, and monitor for effectiveness and side effects.
Resident #61's MAR, dated February 2019, documented an order for an Oxycontin Tablet extended release 30 mg be given two times a day for chronic pain, ordered on [DATE]. The medication administration times were scheduled at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
Resident #61's MARs were requested with the documented times of her pain medications. The facility was not able to provide Resident #61's MARs. The facility provided the Narcotic Sign-out sheets for [DATE] through February 13, 2019. A review of the narcotic logs documented the following doses were signed out over an hour late from the scheduled administration time at 8:00 PM as follows:
[DATE] at 9:16 PM
[DATE] at 9:02 PM
[DATE] at 9:24 PM
[DATE] at 9:22 PM
[DATE] at 9:08 PM
[DATE] at 9:10 PM
[DATE] at 9:51 PM
[DATE] at 9:23 PM
On [DATE] at 9:20 AM, Resident #61 stated she was still waiting for her 8:00 AM dose of pain medication.
On [DATE] at 9:28 AM, LPN #3 stated she was getting a dose of pain medication for [a different resident name], who was getting a dressing change. LPN #3 noted the time on the electronic medical record MAR was 9:21 AM and said she was going to Resident #61 next.
On [DATE] at 2:12 PM, the CNO stated the expectation was medications would be administered within one hour before to one hour after the scheduled administration time.
3. The facility's policy for Fall Response and Management, dated [DATE], documented neurological assessments should be done after an unwitnessed fall per the physician's order, or monitor every 15 minutes for one hour, every 30 minutes for one hour, then every hour for two hours or until the condition stabilizes. The resident's condition should be monitored for at least 72 hours after the fall.
The website http://www.hcpro.com/LTC-287387-10704/Neurological-checks-for-head-injuries.html, accessed [DATE], documented the following:
* Neurological assessments include (at a minimum) pulse, respiration, and blood pressure measurements; assessment of pupil size and reactivity; and equality of hand grip strength.
* Neurological assessments should be performed every 15 minutes for two hours, every 30 minutes for two hours, every hour for four hours, every eight hours for 16 hours, and every eight hours for at least 72 hours and until the resident is stable.
Resident #31 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with multiple diagnoses, including dementia left leg amputation below the knee, muscle wasting and atrophy, and generalized muscle weakness.
Resident #31's quarterly MDS assessment, dated [DATE], documented she had severe cognitive impairment.
Resident #31's care plan documented she was at risk for falls due to deconditioning and directed staff to follow the facility's fall protocol, initiated on [DATE].
Resident #31's Progress Note, dated [DATE] at 11:02 PM, documented she was found sitting on the floor next to her bed. She attempted to self-transfer from bed to her wheelchair and fell onto her buttocks. The note documented the nurse assessed Resident #31 and would continue to monitor her.
An Incident and Accident Report, dated [DATE] at 8:40 PM, documented Resident #31 was found on the floor next to her bed, and she was attempting to self-transfer from bed to her wheelchair.
A Post Fall Investigation, dated [DATE] at 11:14 PM, documented Resident #31 had an unwitnessed fall on [DATE] at 8:30 PM. She was found in her room sitting on the floor next to her wheelchair.
A Neurological Record documented Resident #31's eye opening, level of alertness, speech, and extremity movement were assessed on [DATE] at 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM, and on [DATE] at 12:30 AM. Her vital signs were documented on [DATE] at 10:00 PM, 10:30 PM, and 11:30 PM, on [DATE] at 12:30 AM, 4:30 AM, 8:30 AM, and 12:30 PM, and on [DATE] at 12:30 AM. A second page of the Neurological Record documented another resident's name that was crossed out and Resident #31's name was written in, and it documented her vital signs and neurological checks were completed at 15 minute intervals three different times, but there was no documented date or time.
On [DATE] at 2:55 PM, the CNO said neurological checks should be done after any unwitnessed fall or when the resident hits their head. The CNO said the neurological checks were not completed appropriately for Resident #31.
On [DATE] at 9:26 AM, LPN #5 said neurological checks should be performed anytime it was known the resident hit their head and anytime there was an unwitnessed fall. LPN #5 said she would have to look it up to see the required intervals and length of time neurological checks should be completed.