F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
J

Failure to Provide Ordered Pressure Ulcer Care and Monitoring for Two High-Risk Residents

Goldwater Care Peoria HeightsPeoria Heights, Illinois Survey Completed on 02-13-2026

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to identify, assess, and treat pressure ulcers, prevent a facility-acquired pressure ulcer, prevent existing ulcers from worsening, administer wound treatments as ordered, and develop and implement appropriate pressure-relieving interventions and care plans for two residents. One resident was admitted with severe cognitive impairment, was bedbound, nonverbal, and fully dependent for all ADLs, with a Braden score of 9 indicating very high risk for pressure ulcers. Despite this, the resident’s care plan did not include a problem or interventions related to pressure ulcer risk or prevention. The facility’s own policies required skin inspections, Braden risk assessments, weekly wound assessments, prompt notification of the physician and representative at the earliest sign of skin problems, and care plan revisions when skin integrity was altered, but these were not followed. For the first resident, the skin condition report initially documented no wounds, but on a later date a wound to the coccyx was identified by a CNA and evaluated by the wound nurse, who described an open area with moderate serous drainage and scarring. A treatment order for medicated dressing and gauze twice daily was placed, but the treatment administration record showed delays in starting the treatment and multiple missed or undocumented treatments on several dates, even after the order was changed to every shift due to drainage. The wound nurse later stated the wound was getting worse, needed debridement, and that there was still no care plan for the wound, acknowledging it was her responsibility to add one when the wound was identified. Progress notes documented that the wound progressed from a stage 3 to a stage 4 ulcer with deep tunneling, purulent, odorous drainage and concerns for infection, and nursing notes described copious dark yellow drainage and worsening of the coccyx wound before the resident was sent to the hospital. For the second resident, who was originally admitted with a stage IV coccyx pressure ulcer, tracheostomy status, gastrostomy status, critical illness myopathy, osteomyelitis, and dependence on staff for all ADLs and mobility, the care plan documented the presence of a pressure ulcer and the need for a pressure-relieving/reducing mattress and treatments as ordered. Physician orders included use of a rectal tube to protect the wound from stool contamination and specific wound care regimens, including wound vac and later wet-to-dry dressings twice daily and PRN, as well as sodium hypochlorite solution every 12 hours. Treatment administration records showed multiple missed scheduled wound treatments, no PRN wound treatments documented, and numerous missed sodium hypochlorite applications. There was no documentation of site monitoring or assessments for the rectal tube and no daily nursing skin checks in the electronic record. The rectal tube fell out and, although the physician ordered monitoring and follow-up with the surgeon, the surgeon was not notified, the rectal tube was not replaced, and there was no documentation that the gastric surgeon was contacted. The NP documented that the rectal tube had come out on two occasions, that replacement tubes were out of stock, and that the family wanted it reordered, but the tube remained unavailable. The resident’s family reported observing stool-soaked wound dressings remaining in place for over four hours before being changed. Nursing notes also documented orders for labs and imaging related to a leaking G-tube, but the electronic record contained no laboratory results for the entire admission. Staff interviews confirmed that wound care was often not completed on night shift due to workload, that missed treatments meant they were not done, that nurses were not consistently assessing skin daily, and that the DON and medical director were unaware that ordered wound treatments, skin assessments, labs, and rectal tube monitoring were not being completed.

Removal Plan

  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced all licensed nurses on Physician Orders—Entering and Processing, and Documentation in the Health Record (including the Physician Orders—Entering and Processing policy).
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced all licensed nurses on Pressure Injury and Skin Condition Assessment (including the Electronic Health Record policy).
  • Conducted a facility audit to identify all residents with pressure ulcers, including completing wound assessments, contacting the physician, contacting the wound nurse, reassessing the wound in 24 hours, and obtaining consents to see the wound physician.
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced staff on Pressure Injury and Skin Condition Assessment (including the Pressure Injury and Skin Condition Assessment policy) and developed a process requiring the direct care nurse to review the Treatment Administration Record prior to providing wound care.
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced staff on Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Med Error/Adverse Drug Reaction, Physician Orders—Entering and Processing, Documentation—Health Record, and Comprehensive Care Plan/Baseline Care Plan (including related policies) and implemented a process to ensure staff are trained to develop and provide interventions to prevent pressure areas and prevent pressure ulcers from worsening, including: educating staff to review the care plan before care; educating nurses on the facility skin policy; educating nurses on weekly skin assessments; educating nurses on following physician orders; educating staff on residents with pressure ulcers who are dependent on staff for repositioning; educating clinical and dietary staff to follow physician orders and meal tickets to ensure correct diet and supplements; educating nurses on following physician orders and reviewing the MAR/TAR prior to medication pass and wound care; educating nurses on conducting skin assessments upon return from hospital; educating nurses to open risk management for skin breakdown and notify the wound nurse and DON.
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced all staff on Pressure Injury and Skin Condition Assessment and Skin Condition Assessment and Monitoring—Pressure and Non-Pressure (including the Pressure Injury and Skin Condition Assessment policy).
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced all nurses and certified nursing assistants on Pressure Ulcer Prevention (including the Pressure Ulcer Prevention policy).
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced all staff on Change of Condition and Physician-Family Notification (including the Physician-Family Notification—Change in Condition policy).
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced all staff on Comprehensive Care Plan/Baseline Care Plan (including the Baseline Care Plan).
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced all staff on admission of residents (including the admission of Resident Care Plan).
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced all staff on the admission of Resident/Admission-readmission Checklist (including the admission checklist).
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced the IDT on Comprehensive Care Plan (including the Comprehensive Care Plan).
  • V2/Interim Director of Nursing and V4/Assistant Director of Nursing/Wound Nurse in-serviced all staff on Infection Prevention and Control Program (including the Infection Prevention and Control Program policy).
  • V14/Vice President of Operations in-serviced administration on ensuring all new admissions (referrals) equipment and supplies are obtained prior to admission.
  • Held a QAPI meeting with the medical director and IDT to discuss deficiencies and facility action plans.
  • Conducted a facility-wide audit for all residents’ wound care plans.
  • Conducted a facility-wide audit of residents with wounds to identify any changes needed and updated the physician.
  • Planned to conduct audits seven days per week for six weeks for all residents with pressure injuries.

Penalty

Fine: $346,52534 days payment denial
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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 F0686 citations
Failure to Obtain Timely Wound Consultation and Implement Ordered Pressure Ulcer Treatments
G
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident with multiple comorbidities was admitted with an unstageable sacral pressure ulcer and placed on Medi-Honey dressings three times weekly. Over several weeks, the wound enlarged and remained covered with slough, but a wound specialist NP was not consulted until the ulcer had significantly worsened. When the NP did evaluate the wound, she performed debridements and ordered daily Dakin’s solution and later Dakin’s with Silvadene and calcium alginate, but the facility’s TAR showed staff largely continued Medi-Honey three times weekly, applied Dakin’s on only a few days, and never administered Silvadene. The wound progressed to a stage 4 ulcer with odor and signs of infection, later cultured positive for MRSA and diagnosed in the hospital as an infected stage 4 decubitus ulcer with osteomyelitis requiring surgical debridement, contrary to the facility’s own policy requiring timely reassessment and implementation of MD/NP-directed wound care.

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 Implement Wound Specialist Orders for Unstageable Heel Pressure Ulcer
G
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident with dementia, anemia, impaired mobility, and a high Braden risk score developed an in-house acquired right heel pressure injury that progressed to an unstageable ulcer with eschar, slough, malodor, and increasing size. Although a wound specialist repeatedly evaluated the wound, performed debridements, and issued updated orders to change from betadine and foam dressing to specific regimens using Vashe, medical-grade honey, and later 0.125% Dakin’s solution with dampened gauze and silicone foam adhesive dressings, staff continued to provide only the original betadine and foam treatment. Review of the TAR showed the specialist’s later orders were never implemented, and the DON confirmed the wound care recommendations were not followed, during which time the wound deteriorated and caused actual harm.

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.
Improper Infection Control During Pressure Ulcer Dressing Change
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident with an unstageable sacral pressure ulcer and hospice status had ordered daily wound care, including cleansing with normal saline, packing with calcium alginate silver, and covering with a border foam dressing. During an observed dressing change, an LPN, while wearing clean gloves, handled a pen marker from under PPE, adjusted a scrub jacket cuff to check the time, and labeled the dressing, then used the same contaminated gloved hand to pick up the calcium alginate silver and place it into the wound bed. These actions did not follow the facility’s clean dressing change policy or infection control standards for wound care.

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 assess, document, and report new pressure ulcers
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

Failure to assess, document, and report new pressure ulcers: A resident with a pelvic fracture and intact cognition developed stage II pressure ulcers on both inner buttocks and a new pressure ulcer on the heel. Staff interviews and record review showed the DON/wound nurse did not document the heel wound or notify the MD, did not notify the MD when the left buttock ulcer was identified, and wound monitoring was not completed daily as required by the facility's own process.

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.
Improper Aseptic Technique During Pressure Ulcer Wound Care
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

A resident with a stage 4 pressure injury on the right lateral lumbar region did not receive wound care consistent with aseptic technique and facility policy. An LPN placed scissors and wound supplies on a PPE cart and an uncleansed bedside table, then used the same scissors to cut silver alginate that was applied directly to the wound bed. The LPN also sprayed gauze with wound cleanser and set the wet gauze on the outside of its package, which had contacted soiled surfaces, before using it in the wound care process. The DON acknowledged that these actions could contaminate the wound and were not in accordance with the facility’s pressure injury prevention and management policy requiring evidence-based treatment to promote healing and prevent infection.

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 Implement and Adjust Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment Interventions
D
F0686 F686: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Short Summary

Two residents at risk for or with existing pressure ulcers did not receive appropriate, individualized pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. One resident with hemiplegia, severe cognitive impairment, total ADL dependence, and incontinence developed multiple heel and ankle wounds after initial blanchable redness was noted; ordered Prevalon boots were repeatedly unavailable, the order to use them at all times was not promptly updated in the NAR, a turning schedule was not entered into the EHR, tissue analytics were missed on a scheduled date, and a nutrition consult and initiation of ordered supplements for wound healing were significantly delayed. Another resident with a stage 2 pressure ulcer was repeatedly observed on a DermaFloat LAL mattress left on the firmest setting, and the DON confirmed staff had not followed the manufacturer’s instructions to adjust and verify the mattress setting to prevent bottoming out.

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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