F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
J

Failure to Initiate Immediate CPR and Inadequate Emergency Cart Stocking

College Vista Post-acuteLos Angeles, California Survey Completed on 05-06-2024

Summary

The facility failed to provide immediate CPR to a resident, identified as Resident 41, who was found unresponsive, without a pulse, and not breathing. The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN 1) delayed initiating CPR because they first checked the resident's code status and called for assistance instead of starting CPR immediately. This delay occurred despite the facility's policy and procedure, which required immediate CPR initiation in such situations unless a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order was present. Resident 41 had a full code status, meaning they wished to be revived if their heart stopped beating or they stopped breathing. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including congestive heart failure, acute respiratory failure with hypoxia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On the day of the incident, the resident was found unresponsive in bed by LVN 1, who then left the room to verify the resident's code status before starting CPR. This delay in initiating CPR was critical, as the resident was later transferred to a General Acute Care Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Additionally, the facility's emergency cart was found to be inadequately stocked with essential items needed for CPR, such as an Ambu-bag, glucometer, and pulse oximeter. This lack of preparedness could have further contributed to the delay in providing life-saving measures. The facility's policy required that emergency carts be fully stocked and ready for use, but this was not adhered to, as evidenced by the missing items during the surveyor's inspection.

Removal Plan

  • (DON) had a 1:1 in-service with the licensed nurse assigned to Resident 41 regarding Medical Emergency Response. Disciplinary action was taken with licensed nurse who delayed the CPR on the full code resident and was suspended pending investigation.
  • The Medical Records Director (MRD) or designee completed a chart audit on every resident and compared the Advance Directive/Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) to the physician order for accuracy.
  • The facility emergency cart checklist was revised by the DON. The glucometer, glucose strips, lancets, nebulizer, and nebulizer kit were added. The updated form will be utilized by licensed nurses. The emergency cart was checked by the DON for appropriate supplies and equipment. No issues were identified.
  • The Resource Nurse Consultant (RNC) and Respiratory Therapy Consultant designee educated licensed nurses and certified nurse assistance (CNAs) on the facility's policy and procedure for Medical Emergency Response and location of code status for each resident. Licensed nurses and CNAs were not permitted to work a shift until education was completed. Nurses on leave will receive education prior to their next scheduled shift.
  • The RNC and Respiratory Therapy Consultant initiated Code Blue drill to be completed on all shifts randomly by using the facility landline's paging system located at the nurse's station, hallway outside room, between rooms, activity room, rehabilitation room and office rooms (Administrator, DON, Dietary, SSD office), and announcing Code Blue to room. Licensed nurses and CNAs were in-serviced by the RNC regarding the paging system. The licensed nursing and CNAs staffs who were not scheduled to work will participate in the Code Blue drill during their scheduled shift.
  • The RNC, (Director of Nursing) DON and (Director of Staff Development) DSD conducted an audit of licensed nurses and certified nurse assistants (CNAs) CPR certification. No issues were identified.
  • Newly hired licensed nurses and CNAs will have their CPR certification card on file and have competency prior to their scheduled shift.
  • DON or designee will audit new admissions chart to compare the resident's Advance Directives/ POLST to the physician orders for accuracy. This audit will continue for three months. Findings will be reviewed at the monthly QA (Quality Assurance) Committee meeting for discussion and recommendations.
  • Licensed nurse will print the daily code status from PCC orders and will place it in the binder labeled Code Status located at the nurse's station. The SSD will oversee that the code status is available and updated daily. In the absence of SSD, the license nurse working will verify that the code status is updated.
  • The POLST will be reviewed and verified by the DON and SSD immediately after admission of the resident to the facility. The RN Sup will oversee the POLST in the A Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) Performance Improvement Project (PIP) was implemented.
  • DON or designee to complete weekly mock code drills on all shifts and monitor code status compliance by interviewing licensed nurses about facility CPR policy and procedure, as well as requesting return demonstration of CPR process. Any trends will be discussed during monthly Quality Assurance meeting which will be held scheduled monthly. The DON will conduct compliance audits weekly for three months. Findings will be reported at monthly QA Committee meeting for discussion and recommendations.
  • The DON will randomly audit the emergency cart on a weekly basis in addition to the daily checks from licensed nurse to ensure that the equipment and supplies are stocked as indicated on the emergency cart checklist. This audit will continue for three months. Findings will be reviewed at the monthly QAA (Quality Assurance) Committee meeting for discussion and recommendations.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $28,031
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0678 citations
Failure to Provide Required CPR and Activate EMS for Full Code Resident
J
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with multiple cardiopulmonary conditions and a documented full code status was found unresponsive without pulse or respirations during the night shift. A CNA notified the RN, who either instructed CNAs to clean and cover the resident or, per her and an LPN’s account, called a code blue and performed CPR with the LPN for about 20 minutes before stopping, without calling 911. The RN believed the resident was on hospice and did not verify code status, then notified the DON, provider, and family instead of EMS. Several hours later, after the DON called the facility and asked whether 911 had been contacted, the RN called 911 and briefly reinitiated CPR shortly before EMS arrived and pronounced the resident deceased, documenting postmortem changes. The facility’s investigation and root cause analysis found that staff failed to follow policy requiring immediate EMS activation and continuous CPR for full code residents until EMS arrival, leading to an Immediate Jeopardy finding.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Initiate CPR for Resident With Unknown Code Status
J
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with multiple chronic conditions and severe cognitive impairment was found unresponsive and not breathing, with no documented code status, POLST, or DNR in the medical record. Nursing staff verified the absence of respirations and pulse but did not initiate CPR or call 911. An LPN reported she proposed starting CPR due to the unknown code status, but an RN declined. Leadership and clinical staff stated in interviews that facility practice and expectations are that, when a code status is unknown or no POLST is on file, the resident is to be treated as full code and CPR should be initiated.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Inaccurate Crash Cart Audits and Missing Emergency Equipment
E
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

The facility failed to maintain accurate and complete crash cart audits for multiple full-code residents. Surveyors, accompanied by the DON, found that daily crash cart checks did not include verification of supply expiration dates, and that an extension cord documented as present on several audit dates was not actually in the cart. Audit logs also conflicted with the cart’s contents by indicating that required items such as eye protection, saline, and clear plastic were present when they were not. These findings were inconsistent with the facility’s policy requiring the crash cart to be checked every 24 hours and after each use, with prompt replacement of equipment and supplies.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Initiate CPR and Contact EMS for Full Code Resident Found Unresponsive
J
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with NASH, diabetes, ascites, obesity, and a documented Full Code status was found unresponsive during early morning med pass, cool to the touch and without measurable vital signs. Her care plan and orders required staff to call 911 and start CPR and life-saving measures if she had no pulse or respirations, but the LPN and RN who assessed her did not initiate CPR, did not contact EMS, and did not verify her code status in the medical record at the time. The resident had not been checked for several hours overnight despite policies requiring at least q2h rounding for changes in condition. There was no documentation that she had been deceased for an extended period, no report of rigor mortis, and no evidence of any change in condition prior to being found unresponsive, resulting in a cited deficiency for failure to follow code status and emergency response policies.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Verify and Honor DNR Status Before Initiating CPR
D
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with documented dementia, depression, coronary artery disease, and a clearly established DNR/DNI status on the care plan, orders, and MOLST was found unresponsive in the bathroom without pulse or respirations. An LPN, notified by a CNA, initiated CPR without checking the resident’s code status in the paper chart or EMR. When the RN supervisor arrived and asked about code status, the LPN incorrectly reported the resident as full code, and another RN assisted with chest compressions without verifying code status. Staff experienced confusion and delay locating the MOLST and paper chart, and EMS requested confirmation of the resident’s code status. The MOLST ultimately confirmed DNR/DNI, but CPR had already been performed until EMS consulted their provider and stopped the code, after which the resident was pronounced deceased.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Provide Timely and Complete CPR to a Full Code Resident
J
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with multiple cardiac and renal conditions and a documented Full Code status was found unresponsive and not breathing by a transportation aide, who immediately sought help from an LPN and the assigned RN. The LPN refused to assist, stating it was not their resident, and the RN twice delayed responding despite being told it was an emergency, leading to a reported five- to ten-minute delay before any nurse entered the room. An LPN from another unit eventually initiated chest compressions, and other nurses joined, but no artificial respirations were provided at any time, even though the resident was apneic and an Ambu bag was available. This response did not follow the facility’s CPR policy or AHA guidelines for trained healthcare providers, which require full BLS with both compressions and rescue breaths for a Full Code resident prior to EMS arrival, and the situation was cited as Immediate Jeopardy with actual serious harm and subsequent death.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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