Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to provide necessary treatment and services to prevent the occurrence of avoidable Pressure Ulcer/Pressure Injury (PU/PI) for 1 of 4 sampled residents (Resident 32) who was admitted without a PU/PI and had multiple co-morbidities with an increased risk for PU/PI development. Resident 32 experienced harm when they developed a Stage 3 (defined as full thickness loss of tissue) PU/PI to the resident's coccyx (tailbone region). The facility did not document refusals to reposition, or recognize the need to evaluate/modify the interventions to prevent a PU/PI when Resident 32 was non-compliant with repositioning. Thes failures placed other residents at risk for developing PU/PI's, medical complications, and unmet care needs.
Findings include .
Review of the Minimum Data Set (MDS), an assessment tool, 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument manual, dated 2019, shows a PU defined as a localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, because of intense and/or prolonged pressure or pressure in combination with shear. The PU/PI can present as intact skin or an open ulcer and may be painful. A stage 3 PU is defined as full thickness tissue loss, subcutaneous fat may be visible, but bone, tendon or muscle is not exposed. Slough (non-viable [dead] tissue) may be present but does not obscure the depth of tissue loss.
Review of the facility policy titled, Skin Integrity - Skin Tears and Pressure Injury, undated states that the facility will manage in accordance with professional standards of practice to prevent PU/PI. The attending physician will assume responsibility for the overall care and treatment of the residents wound, with referral to wound care specialist. The facility will notify the attending physician of the progression of the wound or lack of healing. The interventions will be modified in the resident's plan of care if the resident is non-compliant.
Resident 32 admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including depression, heart failure, and low nutritional levels (had low potassium and magnesium levels in their blood).
Review of the admission MDS Assessment, dated 09/23/2023 showed Resident 32 had a moderate cognition impairment, had no refusal of care, required extensive assist from one person for bed mobility, transfers, ambulation, toilet use and personal hygiene. The resident was always incontinent (no voluntary control) of bowel and bladder. The resident admitted without a PU/PI and was deemed at risk to develop a PU/PI, interventions were to be a reduction mattress (a mattress to evenly disperse body weight) and topical ointment (prescribed ointment applied directly to the skin).
Review of the Braden Assessments (pressure ulcer assessment tool) for Resident 32, dated 09/15/2023, 09/18/2023, 09/26/2023, and 10/4/2023 placed the resident at risk for development of a PU/PI.
Review of the nutritional assessment for Resident 32, dated 09/15/2023 showed the resident was deemed malnourished.
Review of Resident 32's care plan with a focus, dated 09/28/2023 showed the resident had potential for development of a PU/PI related to dehydration, decreased mobility, incontinence, malnutrition, and depression. Interventions included administer treatment and monitor effectiveness, educate on repositioning, follow facility policy and procedures for prevention/treatment of skin breakdown, if the resident refused care the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) was to determine alternative methods to gain compliance, and document the alternatives.
Review of Resident 32's skin evaluation, dated 09/26/2023 showed the residents coccyx area was red in color.
Review of Resident 32's skin evaluation, dated 10/04/2023 showed the resident's coccyx area had an open area that measured 1.6 centimeters (cm) in length by 0.8 cm wide. The evaluation stated the resident laid supine (on their back) only.
Review of Resident 32's progress note, dated 10/04/2023 at 9:38 PM, showed the resident's had developed an open area to their coccyx.
Review of Resident 32's care plan with a focus, dated 10/05/2023 showed the resident had an actual PU/PI with interventions for a pressure reduction mattress for the bed.
Review of Resident 32's progress note, dated 10/20/2023 at 7:27 PM, showed the open area to the coccyx measured 1.7cm in length by 0.5cm wide by 0.1cm in depth. Review of the Resident 32's medical records dated 10/04/2023 - 10/20/2023, showed no documentation that the open area to the coccyx had been monitored, or whether the interventions put in place were effective.
Review of Resident 32's physician orders, showed on order, dated 10/05/2023, instructed the nurse to clean the coccyx wound, apply a prescription wound treatment and cover with a secured dressing as needed.
Review of Resident 32's nursing notes or Treatment Administration Record (TAR) or electronic medical record (EMR), showed no documentation the as needed dressing had been implemented.
Review of Resident 32's physician orders, showed on order, dated 10/07/2023, instructed nursing to cleanse the coccyx wound, apply prescription wound treatment and cover with a secure dressing every Wednesday and Saturday.
Review of Resident 32's EMR, from 10/04/2023 through 10/26/2023, showed no assessment of the effectiveness of the wound treatment.
Review of Resident 32's physician orders, showed an order, dated 10/20/2023, showed a referral to the wound care specialist.
In an observation on 10/25/2023 at 9:23 AM, and 3:28 PM, Resident 32 was observed lying on an air mattress on their backside in bed where their wound was located. Resident 32 was not interviewable.
In an observation and interview on 10/25/2023 at 1:22 PM, Collateral Contact (CC) 4, Physician Assistant for the wound care specialist, was at Resident 32's bedside to assess the coccyx area wound. CC4 stated they were going to surgically debride (remove dead tissue) from the wound. CC4 stated the wound was a Stage 3, and it appeared the resident had not been repositioning from lying on their back.
Review of Resident 32's wound care specialist note, dated 10/25/2023, showed that the nursing had reported the resident had a PU/PI to the coccyx. The note stated wound has had delayed wound closure likely secondary to poor repositioning from lying on their back. The resident was encouraged to rotate sides every two hours.
In an observation on 10/26/2023 at 8:40 AM, and 9:32 AM, Resident 32 was observed lying on their back in bed.
In an observation on 10/27/2023 at 8:05 AM, 10:32 AM, and 1:07 PM, Resident 32 was observed lying on their back in bed.
In an interview on 10/27/2023 at 10:37 AM, Staff J, Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC), stated Resident 32 would refuse to reposition off their back. Staff J was unaware that the resident had a PU/PI to their coccyx area.
In an observation on 10/30/2023 at 8:58 AM, 10:22 AM, 12:14 PM, and 2:51 PM, and 10/31/2023 at 9:08 AM, Resident 32 was observed lying on their backside in bed where their wound was located.
In an interview on 10/31/2023 at 9:20 AM, Staff M, NAC, stated they had tried to place pillows under Resident 32 to reposition them, but they will refuse and throw the pillows on the ground. Staff M stated they did not document refusals of care, only verbalized to the nurse.
In an interview on 10/31/2023 at 9:27 AM, Staff N, NAC/Restorative Aide (RA) stated they tried to place pillows on Resident 32's side to reposition them, but they refuse all the time. Staff N stated when a resident refused care, they were instructed to inform the nurse, they can also chart in the electronic record as well.
In an interview on 10/31/2023 at 9:31 AM, Staff O, Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) stated Resident 32 required encouragement to reposition. Staff O stated they were not consistent about documentation of resident refusal of care/treatment.
In an interview on 10/31/2023 at 9:36 AM, Staff L, Registered Nurse (RN)/Nurse Manager stated they notified the provider on 10/04/2023 when they first discovered the open area to the coccyx. Staff L was unaware if the provider had assessed the open area. Staff L stated they had tried to encourage the resident to reposition on of their back. Staff L was asked what was done when the resident continued to refuse the interventions in place, Staff L did not provide an answer.
In an interview on 10/31/2023 at 10:00 AM, CC2, Nurse Practitioner (NP), stated they were aware the resident had an open area to the coccyx. CC2 stated they had not discussed the status of the wound, or the ineffectiveness of the interventions that had been in place with the facility. CC2 stated they were aware that the wound care specialist had been in to assess and that the wound was a Stage 3 PU/PI.
In an interview on 10/31/2023 at 12:56 PM, Staff B, Director of Nursing Services (DNS) stated that all residents are assessed for potential skin breakdown when they are admitted to the facility. A Braden Assessment was completed, and based on the results of that interventions were put into place. Staff B stated they discussed all skin issues on a weekly basis, that was documented in the resident's medical record. Staff B stated the expectation was that if the wound had worsened the provider would be notified and modifications to the plan of care should occur. Staff B was asked if Resident 32's interventions were discussed and if there was any collaboration with the provider on the plan of care for the wound, Staff B did not offer any information.
Refer to WAC 388-97-1060(3)(b)
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