Inaccurate MDS Assessment of Wandering Behavior
Summary
A deficiency was identified when the facility failed to ensure the accuracy of a resident's Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment regarding wandering behavior. The resident in question had a history of Alzheimer's disease, anxiety, and dementia, with documentation indicating severe cognitive impairment and an inability to make decisions. Multiple progress notes and care plans described the resident as exhibiting wandering behavior, including entering other residents' rooms and taking their belongings, which required staff intervention and redirection. Despite this documented behavior, the MDS assessment completed for the resident did not indicate any wandering behavior. Interviews with facility staff, including a CNA, the MDS Coordinator Nurse, the Director of Nursing (DON), and the Social Service Assistant (SSA), confirmed that the resident did, in fact, wander and required frequent redirection. The DON and SSA both acknowledged that the MDS assessment was inaccurate and did not reflect the resident's actual behavior. The facility's policy and procedure on the Resident Assessment Instrument stated that each discipline assigned to complete a section of the MDS is responsible for the accuracy of the information. The failure to accurately document the resident's wandering behavior on the MDS assessment was confirmed through record review and staff interviews, resulting in a deficiency for not ensuring the assessment accurately reflected the resident's status.
Plan Of Correction
F641 Corrective action for residents found to have been affected by this deficiency: Resident number 1 was kept safe. Roommate that was involved was moved to another room immediately on 7/7/25. Resident 1 was monitored for any signs and symptoms of emotional distress, none noted. On 8/5/25, MDS consultant gave one-on-one in-service and education to SSA 1 regarding proper and accurate behavioral coding, i.e., resident exhibiting wandering behavior. Corrective action for residents that may be affected by this deficiency: On 8/5/25, MDS coordinator reviewed residents with behavior emphasizing on residents with wandering behavior. None were noted. Measures that will be implemented to monitor the continued effectiveness of the corrective action taken to ensure that this deficiency has been corrected and will not reoccur: On 8/5/25, MDS consultant provided in-service and education training to MDS nurses and Social Services staff in regards to proper and accurate behavior assessment and coding. MDS accuracy will be reviewed by IDT member to ensure behaviors were accurately captured and documented during admission record review and scheduled residents' care conference. MDS consultant will validate compliance twice a month as scheduled. Findings will be reported to DON for follow-up. Measures that will be put into place to ensure that this deficiency does not reoccur: The above POC will be reviewed in the QAPI committee for 3 months and as needed thereafter. Administrator and/or Designee will report trends.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
An MDS assessment failed to accurately reflect a resident's status when an antidepressant prescribed for insomnia was not documented on the admission MDS. The resident had Alzheimer's disease and major depressive disorder, and the MDS coordinator later confirmed the assessment was incorrect.
A resident with diabetes had quarterly MDS assessments that incorrectly coded insulin use despite current orders showing weekly semaglutide injections and no insulin orders. The resident stated she did not receive insulin, and an RN confirmed the MDS was coded incorrectly and needed modification. The DON stated the MDS should accurately reflect each resident’s status.
A resident was discharged to an acute care hospital, but review of MDS listings showed that no discharge MDS assessment was completed for that resident. The MDS Coordinator acknowledged that a discharge assessment is required whenever a resident leaves the facility and could not explain why it was missed. The Executive Director reported there was no specific facility policy for MDS assessments and that staff relied on the RAI manual for guidance.
A resident’s quarterly MDS failed to code use of a non-invasive ventilatory device, even though a BiPAP machine was observed at bedside and the resident stated staff assisted with it at night. The chart also included orders for CPAP/BiPAP use for OSA, and the MDS coordinator confirmed the assessment was coded incorrectly.
A facility failed to accurately code MDS assessments for code alert device use for multiple residents identified as at risk for elopement and wandering. Although a wander guard log showed several residents had code alert devices, the MDS often stated the devices were not in use and did not reflect wandering behavior. Several care plans also lacked elopement or wandering interventions, and staff interviews confirmed the MDS should reflect code alert placement because it drives the care plan.
Inaccurate MDS Coding for Insulin: A resident’s quarterly MDS was coded to show insulin use during the lookback period, but review of the physician’s orders and MAR found no evidence the resident received insulin. An LPN confirmed the assessment was coded inaccurately.
Inaccurate MDS Assessment Failed to Document Antidepressant Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure an MDS assessment accurately reflected a resident's status for 1 of 32 residents reviewed for MDS accuracy. Resident 23 had diagnoses including Alzheimer's disease and major depressive disorder. Review of the April 2026 MAR showed the resident was prescribed mirtazapine at bedtime on 4/2/26 for insomnia, but the 4/9/26 admission MDS assessment did not document an antidepressant prescription. During interview, the MDS coordinator stated the 4/9/26 MDS assessment was incorrect and should have included the antidepressant medication.
Inaccurate MDS Coding for Diabetes Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accurately code medication on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for 1 resident who was reported to be receiving insulin. The resident had a diagnosis of diabetes, and the quarterly MDS assessments accepted on 2/3/26 and 4/15/26 identified that the resident received an insulin injection 1 time during the last 7 days. However, the resident’s current physician orders showed no insulin orders. Instead, the orders included semaglutide, with instructions for a weekly subcutaneous injection on Wednesdays for diabetes with hyperglycemia, beginning at 0.25 mg and then increasing to 0.5 mg. During interview, the resident stated she did not receive insulin and instead received a weekly GLP-1 injection on Wednesdays. The RN confirmed she had incorrectly coded both quarterly MDS assessments as the resident receiving no insulin and stated she would need to complete and submit a modification of the assessment. The DON stated she would expect the MDS to be accurate and reflect each resident’s status.
Failure to Complete Required Discharge MDS Assessment
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to complete a required discharge Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for one resident. Record review showed that Resident 90 was admitted on an unspecified date and discharged on 2/10/26 to an acute care hospital, but the MDS listings contained no completed discharge assessment for this resident. During interview, the MDS Coordinator confirmed that a discharge assessment should be completed whenever a resident is discharged and could provide no reason why this assessment was missed for Resident 90. In a separate interview, the Executive Director stated there was no facility policy regarding MDS assessments and that assessments were completed using the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) manual. These findings were cited under 410 IAC 3.1-31(d).
MDS Incorrectly Omitted BiPAP Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accurately complete the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for one resident who used a non-invasive ventilatory device. The resident’s quarterly MDS dated [DATE] identified intact cognition with no hallucinations or delusions, but in Section O, the item for non-invasive mechanical ventilator use, including BiPAP and CPAP, was not checked, and Section Z1, “none of the above,” was marked instead. During observation, a BiPAP machine was seen on the resident’s bedside table with a gallon of water next to it, and the resident stated staff assisted with the machine at night. The resident later stated she had previously used CPAP and had been changed to BiPAP. The medical record included an order to resume CPAP with home settings and an after-visit summary documenting BiPAP home use with specified pressure settings for obstructive sleep apnea. An LPN stated staff assisted the resident with a CPAP machine, and the MDS coordinator confirmed the quarterly MDS was coded incorrectly because the resident did use a non-invasive ventilatory device.
Inaccurate MDS Coding for Code Alert Devices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure accurate MDS coding for the use of code alert devices for 14 of 14 residents identified as at risk for elopement and wandering. The code alert system log titled Wander Guard Monitor for 4/2026 identified residents R3, R4, R12, R13, R17, R18, R19, R22, R25, R28, R32, R34, R37, and R46 as having a code alert device in use, but their MDS assessments did not consistently reflect that information in Section P. Instead, the assessments frequently indicated that a wander guard alarm was not in use and that the residents had not exhibited wandering behavior. Several resident records also lacked corresponding care plan interventions for elopement and wandering. R3, R4, R18, R22, R28, R32, R34, R37, and R46 had care plans that did not include elopement or wandering interventions, and R22's care plan did not identify the placement location of the code alert device. R37's problem area for elopement was not initiated until 5/1/26. R46 was discharged on 4/20/26, and the care plan was requested but not received. R19's most recent elopement assessment identified low risk and included clothing labeled with identification and an identification band, but did not select the door alarm band applied as an intervention. R12's assessments similarly identified low risk and listed clothing labeling and an identification band, but did not select the door alarm band applied. The record also showed inconsistencies between assessments, documentation, and staff statements. R13 and R17 had elopement assessments completed on 5/1/26 and their code alert devices were removed, while R19's EMR lacked evidence that elopement assessments were completed quarterly. R12's EMR lacked evidence of quarterly elopement assessments, and progress notes stated the assessments were reviewed with no change despite later documentation of a successful exit of the building and attempts to exit. During interviews, staff stated that residents with wandering or elopement risks should be identified on the care plan, that code alert devices were kept in a book at the main entrance desk, and that the MDS should be coded to reflect code alert placement because it drives care and the care plan.
Inaccurate MDS Coding for Insulin
Penalty
Summary
Resident 2’s quarterly MDS dated March 22, 2026, was coded to indicate that the resident received insulin on one day in the last seven days in section N0350. However, review of the physician’s orders and the MAR showed no evidence that the resident received insulin during the assessment lookback period. During interview on April 23, 2026, at 1:35 p.m., licensed staff E4 confirmed that the assessment was coded inaccurately.
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