Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview during a recertification survey, the facility did not ensure a resident requiring dialysis services received such services consistent with professional standards of practice for three (3) (Residents #73. #105, and #168) of three (3) residents reviewed. Specifically: for Resident #'s 73, the facility did not consistently provide an ongoing documented assessment of the resident's condition and monitoring for complications before and after dialysis treatments received at a certified dialysis facility. Specifically, for Resident #105, the facility did not ensure the resident received ongoing assessments and monitoring for complications before and after dialysis treatments and did not ensure there was ongoing communication and collaboration with the dialysis facility regarding dialysis care and services; for Resident #168, the facility did not ensure there was ongoing communication and collaboration with the dialysis facility regarding dialysis care and services and the facility did not ensure the resident received ongoing assessments and monitoring for complications before and after dialysis treatments.
This is evidenced by:
The Policy and Procedure (P&P) titled Dialysis Management dated 5/2019, documented residents receiving Hemodialysis treatments will be assessed and monitored to ensure quality of life and well-being. The facility will establish open communication with the Resident's Dialysis Center utilizing a Dialysis Communication Book completing the Dialysis Communication Form. The nurse will establish pre-dialysis vital signs (B/P, pulse, temp, respirations), Advanced Directive Status, and any pertinent resident information. On return from the Dialysis Center the nurse will review the communication returning from Dialysis Center. The nurse should review specifically, pre and post vital signs, treatment tolerance, any meds giving and any new orders for resident care. The nurse will evaluate the resident post dialysis for mental status, pain, access site condition and response to treatment. After evaluating the resident and reviewing the Dialysis Communication form, the nurse will notify Resident's MD as needed. Nursing will document findings in nurses' notes.
Resident #73
Resident #73 was admitted to the facility with diagnoses of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Diabetes Mellitus, and anxiety. The Minimum Data Set (MDS - an assessment tool) dated 2/24/2023 documented the resident was understood and could understand others with intact cognition for daily decision making.
The comprehensive care plan (CCP) for ESRD dated 10/20/2022, documented the resident currently receives dialysis 3 times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with interventions stated to obtain vital signs and weights per protocol.
A physician order dated 10/20/2022 documented, the resident was to attend dialysis 3 times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Pre dialysis vital signs were to be documented in Resident #73's dialysis book. Post-dialysis vital signs and weights were to be monitored after dialysis. The order was discontinued on 3/21/2023 due to a schedule change.
The Electronic Treatment Administration Record (eTAR) dated 2/1/2023 to 3/20/2023, documented: resident to attend dialysis 3 times a week on Tuesday, Thursday. Saturday. The record indicated Resident #73 attended all scheduled days.
The eTAR dated 2/1/23 through 3/28/23, documented the following: Pre-dialysis vital signs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, document in the resident's dialysis book before dialysis. Document in the pre-dialysis UDA (User Defined Assessment).
- February 2023 eTAR (2/1/23 to 2/28/23) did not include documentation of Resident #73 pre-dialysis vital signs for the following dates: 2/4/2023, 2/7/2023, 2/11/2023, 2/16/2023, and 2/25/2023.
- March 2023 eTAR (3/1/23 to 3/28/23) did not include documentation of Resident #73 pre-dialysis vital signs for the following dates: 3/2/2023, 3/4/2023, 3/7/2023, 3/11/2023, 3/14/2023, 3/21/2023, 3/23/2023, 3/25/2023, and 3/28/2023.
The eTAR dated 2/1/23 through 3/28/23, documented the following: Post-dialysis vital signs every evening on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, take vital signs and weight after dialysis, document in dialysis book after dialysis. Report any recommendations to MD after dialysis and document in the post-dialysis UDA.
-February 2023 eTAR (2/01/23 to 2/28/23) did not include documentation of Resident #73 post-dialysis vital signs for the following dates: 2/4/2023, 2/7/2023, 2/11/2023, 2/14/2023, 2/16/2023, 2/18/2023, 2/21/2023, 2/25/2023, and 2/28/2023. No weights were documented.
- March 2023 eTAR (3/1/23 to 3/20/23) did not include documentation of Resident #73 post-dialysis vital signs for the following dates: 3/2/23, 3/4/2023, 3/7/2023, 3/9/23, 3/11/2023, 3/14/2023, 3/16/2023, 3/18/2023, 3/21/2023, 3/23/23, 3/25/2023, and 3/28/2023. No weights were documented.
A physician order dated 3/21/2023 documented, the resident was to attend dialysis 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Pre dialysis weight and vital signs were to be documented in Resident #73 dialysis book.
During record review from 3/21/2023 through 3/31/2023 the medical record did not include documentation that pre and post dialysis assessments were completed for 5 out of 5 scheduled dialysis days.
The Dialysis Communication Book, reviewed on 4/4/2023 did not included the completed vital signs and weights for Resident #73 dialysis visits from 2/1/2023 to 3/30/2023. There was one completed form dated 3/3/2023 found in the resident's dialysis book.
During an interview on 4/03/2023 at 9:00 AM, the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #13 stated the residents who receive dialysis take their dialysis book with them. The nurses at dialysis document in them but wasn't sure what needed to be done with them. If there is anything wrong with the resident on return the LPNs can't assess the resident so the RN follows up. Vital signs (VS) are done before the resident leaves and when the resident comes back and put on the eTAR.
During an interview on 04/04/23 at 1:29 PM, the Registered Nurse Unit Manager (RNUM) stated nursing was responsible for completing the resident's dialysis communication log. Pre and post-dialysis notes are documented in the electronic Medical Record (EMR) with each resident's current VS information, and other pertinent data each time the resident goes to dialysis. The communication logs are typically kept by the residents. The nurse managers were responsible for monitoring the logs and pre/post notes in the EMR to ensure that they were being completed consistently. The RNUM wasn't sure why the resident's information had not been documented in the dialysis book.
During an interview on 4/4/23 at 1:57 PM, the DON stated reeducation was needed on the importance of documenting the pre and post vital signs for the dialysis residents. The facility was aware this was a problem.
Resident #105:
Resident #105 was admitted with the diagnoses of end stage renal disease (ESRD), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The MDS dated [DATE], documented the resident had mild cognitive impairment, could understand, and could make self-understood.
The comprehensive care plan (CCP) for ESRD dated 11/28/2022, documented the resident currently receives dialysis 3 times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 12:00 with interventions to encourage resident to attend scheduled dialysis appointments, and to maintain communication with dialysis center.
A physician order dated 11/28/2022 documented, resident to attend dialysis 3 times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Pick up time 11:00 AM for a chair time of 12:00 PM.
During a record review from 2/1/2023 through 3/30/2023 the medical record did not include documentation that pre and post dialysis assessments were completed for 24 out of 25 scheduled dialysis days and the Dialysis Communication Book did not document that pre and post dialysis monitoring was completed for 21 out of 25 scheduled dialysis days.
During an interview on 4/4/2023 at 9:35 AM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #4 said residents who receive dialysis treatments have a dialysis communication book which is sent with them to the dialysis each day. Nursing completes the top portion of the form, documents pre-dialysis vital signs, and documents a pre-dialysis note in the electronic medical record (EMR). The dialysis staff completes the bottom portion of the form, which includes post dialysis vital signs, weight, how the resident tolerated the procedure, and any recommendations. When the resident returns from dialysis nursing reviews the communication book, notifies the physician of any changes or recommendations, and then documents a post- dialysis note in the EMR. Upon review of resident #105's communication book, LPN #4 said a dialysis communication form was not completed for each day of dialysis, there should be documented communication between nursing and dialysis every day the resident received dialysis.
During an interview on 4/4/2023 at 10:00 AM, Resident #105 said the nurses only fill out the dialysis communication form once in a blue moon, dialysis staff ask them why they do not fill out the form and they told them they did not know.
During an interview on 4/4/2023 at 10:18 AM, Licensed Practical Nurse Unit Manager (LPNUM) #5 said nursing should be completing and reviewing the dialysis communication forms each time a resident has dialysis and should also document a pre and post dialysis notes in the EMR. LPN #5 said they were not aware that the dialysis communication forms were not completed or that pre and post dialysis notes were not consistently documented in the EMR. LPNUM #5 said as Unit Manager they should have been reviewing the dialysis communication books to ensure that communication was accurately documented.
During an interview on 4/4/2023 at 12:15 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) said the nursing staff on the units were responsible to complete the dialysis communication form before the resident goes to dialysis, and to review the form upon return, and they were also responsible to complete the pre and post dialysis notes in the EMR. The Unit Managers were responsible to monitor this and if non-compliance was identified the Unit Manager should have reeducated staff at that time or notified management or the nurse educator.
Resident #168:
Resident #168 was admitted to the facility with diagnoses of chronic kidney disease, obstructive and reflux uropathy, and sepsis. The Minimum Data Set (MDS - an assessment tool) dated 2/28/2023, documented the resident was usually able to make themselves understood, usually able to understand others, and severely cognitively impaired.
The Policy and Procedure (P&P) titled Dialysis Management, revised 5/2019, documented the facility would establish open communication with the resident's Dialysis Center, utilizing a Dialysis Communication Book. Prior to dialysis, the nurse would establish pre-dialysis vital signs, advance directive status, and any pertinent resident information. On return from dialysis the nurse would review the Dialysis Center communication, specifically, pre and post dialysis vital signs, treatment tolerance, any medications given, any new orders for resident care, and evaluate the resident post dialysis for mental status, pain, access site condition, response to treatment, and notify the physician (MD) as needed. The nurse's findings would be documented in a nurses' note.
A physician order, dated 2/21/2023, documented for Resident #168 to attend dialysis three times a week, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The Medication Administration Record (MAR), documented:
- Resident #168 attended dialysis on all their scheduled dialysis days in February, except 2/16/2023 (On hold by the MD).
- Resident #168 attended dialysis on all their scheduled dialysis days in March, except 3/28/2023 (the resident was documented as out of the facility on this date).
The Dialysis Communication Book, dated 2/1/2023 - 3/31/2023:
- Did not include documentation from the facility staff to the Dialysis Center on 2/2/2023, 2/7/2023, 2/11/2023, 2/14/2023, 2/18/2023, 2/21/2023, 2/28/2023.
- Did not include documentation from the facility staff to the Dialysis Center on 3/9/2023, 3/14/2023, 3/28/2023, & 3/30/2023.
- On 3/18/2023 facility staff documented the resident's pre-dialysis vital signs only.
- On 3/23/2023, facility staff documented the resident's pre-dialysis vital signs and fluid restriction status only.
Pre-dialysis notes in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), dated 2/1/2023 - 3/31/2023:
- February 2023: did not include documentation from the resident's dialysis dates on 2/2/2023, 2/7/2023, 2/14/2023, 2/18/2023, 2/2/20231, 2/23/2023, and 2/28/2023.
- March 2023: did not include documentation from the resident's dialysis dates on 3/2/2023, 3/7/2023, 3/9/2023, 3/14/2023, 3/16/2023, 3/18/2023, 3/21/2023, and 3/23/2023.
Pre-dialysis notes in the EMR, dated 2/1/2023 - 3/31/2023:
- February 2023: did not include documentation from the resident's dialysis dates on 2/2/2023, 2/4/2023, 2/7/2023, 2/9/2023, 2/14/2023, 2/18/2023, 2/21/2023, 2/23/2023, 2/28/2023
- March 2023: did not include documentation from the resident's dialysis dates on 3/2/2023, 3/7/2023, 3/9/2023, 3/14/2023, 3/16/2023, 3/18/2023, 3/21/2023, 3/23/2023
During an interview on 4/3/23 at 11:58 AM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #3 stated facility policy regarding communication with the Dialysis Center, was that staff needed to document in the resident's Dialysis Communication Book prior to them leaving for dialysis, and they needed to complete pre-dialysis and post-dialysis notes in the EMR. Information documented in the Dialysis Communication Book and in the pre-dialysis and post-dialysis notes, included resident Vital Signs (VS), medications given, and other pertinent information. The Dialysis Center documented in the Dialysis Communication Book.
During an interview on 4/4/23 at 10:56 AM, Registered Nurse Unit Manager (RNUM) #3, stated communication with the Dialysis Center involved facility staff documenting in the resident's Dialysis Communication Book, as well as pre-dialysis and post-dialysis notes in the EMR. This documentation included things like VS, medications received, and any resident changes in condition. Additionally, the nurses documented that they reviewed the documentation from the Dialysis Center in the Dialysis Communication Book in the post-dialysis note. Nursing staff should have documented pre-dialysis notes, and post-dialysis notes, and in the Dialysis Communication Book every day the resident received dialysis in February 2023 and March 2023. They were supposed to be following up on the staff to ensure this documentation was being completed consistently, but they did not; they took it for granted that it was being completed consistently and correctly.
During an interview on 4/4/23 at 12:17 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) stated the Dialysis Communication Book, pre-dialysis notes, and post-dialysis notes should be completed consistently, and completely each time the resident has dialysis; staff should not leave blank spaces on the form in the Dialysis Communication Book. The Unit Managers were responsible for ensuring the Dialysis Communication Book, pre-dialysis notes, and post-dialysis notes were completed.
10NYCRR 415.12