Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, clinical record review, facility documentation review, facility policy review, and interviews for one of three sampled residents for accidents (Resident #1), the facility failed to ensure supervision to prevent the resident from exiting the facility without staff knowledge, and failed to notify local law enforcement timely when a resident was identified missing, and failed to complete a quarterly elopement risk assessment timely in accordance with facility policy. The findings include:
Resident #1 was admitted to the facility with diagnoses that included dementia with agitation, anxiety, and difficulty in walking. A quarterly MDS assessment 4/25/2024 identified Resident #1 had severe cognitive impairment, and independent to transfer and walk. A resident care plan (RCP) dated 6/9/2024 identified Resident #1 had a cognitive impairment due to dementia and history of involuntary weeping, wandering, refusing to participate in care and exit seeking behaviors with a wander guard placed. Interventions directed to offer snacks or coffee if demonstrating exit seeking behavior, redirect, observe for changes in mental status that are different from baseline and to refer to a psych provider as appropriate and for new exit seeking behavior have resident reviewed by psych. Record review identified Resident #1 resided on the secure dementia unit.
A nursing note dated 6/15/2024 at 2:08 PM identified that Resident #1 was noted with increased behaviors; Resident #1 was observed standing in front of the unit attempting to hit a staff member. Staff attempted to redirect Resident #1 without success and a scheduled medication was administered. A call was placed to a family member who talked to Resident #1 with some success and Resident #1 was redirected to his/her room and offered coffee. At 12:35 PM, the unit nurse observed Resident #1 was standing on a chair in front of a partial opened secured window. Resident was placed on one to one (1:1) supervision and transferred to the hospital for evaluation.
A nursing note dated 6/15/2024 at 10:38 PM identified that Resident #1 returned from the hospital at 5:20 PM and received scheduled medications. Resident #1 was observed wandering on unit but was easily redirected.
A review of facility documentation dated 6/16/2024 identified Resident #1 was reported to have opened the window in room [ROOM NUMBER]. All windows on the secured dementia unit were evaluated by maintenance and determined to open approximately six (6) to eight (8) inches with a screw securely in place to prevent window from being opened further. All screens were noted to be intact.
A psychiatric evaluation dated 6/17/2024 identified that Resident #1 attempted to remove the screen from window over the weekend and had no recall of the event. Resident #1 was noted at baseline but due to given continued behaviors as well as some intermittent refusal of medications, Risperidone (medication that treats behavior) was increased.
A psychiatric evaluation dated 6/17/2024 identified that Resident #1 attempted to remove the screen from window over the weekend. Resident #1 had no recall of the event. Resident #1 was noted at baseline but due to given continued behaviors as well as some intermittent refusal of medications, Risperidone increased.
A psychiatric evaluation dated 6/19/2024 identified Resident #1 continued with confusion, but less agitation, and had no behaviors since last consult. The plan described to continue with redirection, may need to consider a higher level of care if continues with severe behaviors, and to continue to monitor symptoms.
A facility accident and investigation report dated 7/7/2024 at 2:30 PM identified an elopement event (missing resident). Resident #1 was not visualized on the unit during last rounds, a unit search was performed and the window in room [ROOM NUMBER] (not Resident #1's room) was open and the screen was removed. Dr. Hunt was initiated, and Resident #1 was found and returned to the unit without injury. Resident #1 was observed on the grass on an adjacent property (approximately 0.2 miles from the exit of window. The route took Resident #1 along a busy road with no sidewalks for 150 to 200 yards). Resident #1 was placed on 1:1 monitoring.
A nursing progress note dated 7/7/2024 at 5:45 PM identified that per the charge nurse, Resident #1 was not observed for 15 minutes prior to her being informed, and the DON, Administrator and family were notified. Assessment upon return to the facility was: vital signs Temperature 98.4, Heart Rate 81, Blood pressure 100/50, Respiratory Rate 18 with oxygen saturation at 93 percent.
A nursing note dated 7/8/2024 at 3:36 PM identified that the plan was to have Resident #1 remain on every 15-minute checks times 24 hours, then 30-minute checks times 24 hours then every 4-hour checks times 24 hours and then every shift checks times 48 hours.
A facility summary report dated 7/10/2024 identified that Resident #1's baseline behavior was that he/she walked freely throughout the unit with redirection if he/she wanders away from the common area.
A facility summary report dated 7/10/2024 identified that Resident #1's baseline behavior was that he/she walked freely throughout the unit with redirection if he/she wanders away from the common area. At 1:50 PM, staff confirmed they observed Resident #1 walking in the hallway on the unit. At approximately 2:00 PM, staff were not able to visualize Resident #1's whereabouts, a unit search was initiated, and it was noted that in another resident's room (409), there was a window open past the secure stopper and the screen was not in place. The window was 38 inches from the ground. At 2:07 PM (7 minutes after identified missing), Resident was observed on the property adjacent to the facility. An RN assessment was completed, no injury was identified, and Resident #1 denied any pain. After clearance from psych, Resident #1 was placed on every 15-minute check. All windows on the unit were check and all other windows had the safety stop in place and intact. Additional reinforcement was completed with 2 screws and an additional stopper device was placed to prevent the bending of any screws as this was what was determined to have happened for Resident #1 to force the window open.
Interview with NA #1 on 7/24/2024 at 11:15 AM identified that she was assigned to care for Resident #1 on 7/7/2024. During her last rounds, at approximately 2:00 PM she noticed that Resident #1 was no longer by the nurse's station or observed walking in the hallway. She immediately went to his/her room as a staff member told her they had redirected the Resident to his/her room. She looked in the room and Resident #1 was not there, so she began to check the other rooms. In room [ROOM NUMBER], she observed that the window was open, no screen and that a wheelchair had been placed by the window. She immediately told the charge nurse, and Dr. Hunt was called. NA #1 ran outside with another NA and proceeded to the left of the building and began to walk along the road. As she approached the building on the corner of the road, she could see Resident #1 lying on the ground on the other side of the building on a hill at the back of the side parking lot of the building. Resident #1 had taken all his/her clothes off except for pants and when she got to Resident #1, he/she stated he/she was hot. Another NA had driven her car over and they placed Resident #1 into the car and drove him back to the facility.
Interview and observations of Resident #1's route to the building adjacent to the facility with the DON on 7/24/2024 at 11:30 AM identified Resident #1 removed the screen from the window of room [ROOM NUMBER]. From there, a sidewalk runs along the side of the building that ends on the road in front of the facility. The road in front of the facility was a three-lane road, and included a three-way stop light intersection. A wooded area was located between the facility and the adjacent building next door with no visible paths through the wooded area and the adjacent building. The DON identified when he completed the investigation, he could see the adjacent building through the trees, and stated the ground was uneven with no path noted. Resident #1 had no scratches, cuts or bruises or any debris on his/her clothing when assessed on 7/7/2024 and was unable to identify if Resident #1 walked along the road or through the woods. The DON stated the last time Resident #1 was reported seen on the unit was at 1:45 PM, was discovered missing at 2: 00 PM and was then found at 2:07 PM, approximately 22 minutes after Resident #1 was last seen on the unit.
A review of weather temperatures recorded on July 7, 2024 identified that the outside temperature was recorded at 93 degrees Fahrenheit with a dew point of 70 percent (a dew point of 70 is considered oppressive and very uncomfortable).
The facility Elopement Policy directed in part, that the facility strived to promote safety for all residents at risk for elopement. Elopement is defined as the ability of a resident who is not capable of protecting himself or herself from harm to successfully leave the facility unsupervised and who may enter into harm's way.
a.
Interview with the DON on 7/25/2024 at 11 AM identified that he was notified by the nursing supervisor (RN #1) at approximately 2:00 PM that Resident #1 was not located on the unit, and he directed RN #1 to initiate a Dr. Hunt and start the search. The DON stated he was notified at 2:07 PM that Resident #1 was located off property grounds behind an adjacent building.
The facility policy Elopement directed in part, that the police should be notified as soon as the resident is not located with the facility or on immediate grounds.
b.
A quarterly elopement assessment dated [DATE] identified Resident #1 was at risk for elopement.
An elopement assessment dated [DATE] identified Resident #1 was completed when Resident #1 forced open a window on the secured dementia unit and left property unattended.
Resident #1's medical record lacked a completed quarterly elopement assessment due April 2024.
Interview with the DON 7/25/2024 at 11 AM identified that an assessment for elopement should be completed quarterly. The DON stated an assessment should have been completed three (3) months after the 1/23/2024 assessment and he did not know why one was not completed when due.
The facility policy Elopement directed in part, that a licensed nurse will conduct an Elopement risk screen on admission, annually, quarterly and upon a change in condition.