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 Provide Timely BLS/CPR and Appropriate Choking Response

Whispering Pines LodgeLongview, Texas Survey Completed on 02-20-2026

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide basic life support (BLS), including CPR and appropriate choking interventions, to a resident in distress prior to EMS arrival, in accordance with AHA/BCLS guidelines, physician orders, and the resident’s advance directives. The resident was an elderly female with diagnoses including senile degeneration of the brain, CHF, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, respiratory failure, muscle weakness, and a cardiac pacemaker. Her MDS indicated severe cognitive impairment, need for assistance with eating and mobility, incontinence, and a mechanically altered diet. Her care plan noted a diet other than regular but did not address choking risk. On the morning of the incident, video footage showed the resident seated in the dining room in a wheelchair, eating breakfast when she began to choke. LVN A responded promptly after the resident gestured to her back, and LVN A began lightly tapping the resident’s back. The resident violently shook her head "no" and later appeared to vomit, then nodded "yes". LVN A continued lightly patting the resident’s back and appeared to yell for help. The resident’s body then became limp and unresponsive while still in the wheelchair. LVN A briefly left toward the edge of the dining room, then returned, and RN B entered the dining room. LVN A resumed lightly patting the resident’s back, then positioned the resident’s limp body forward with her head on the table and began more aggressive back patting. During this period, appropriate back blows and the Heimlich maneuver were not performed for over a minute while the resident was in distress and then unresponsive. MA C then attempted the Heimlich maneuver while the resident remained limp in the wheelchair, followed by RN B attempting the Heimlich maneuver after the wheelchair was moved away from the table. RN B also attempted to shake the resident’s shoulder while MA C appeared to perform a sternal rub. Staff then pushed the resident in the wheelchair out of the dining room toward a nearby room to initiate CPR. The facility’s own timing and observations indicated that CPR initiation was delayed by approximately two minutes after the resident became unresponsive. The facility’s choking/aspiration policy addressed signs of choking and use of the Heimlich maneuver, including abdominal thrusts if the resident was on their back, but did not address what to do if the resident became unconscious or non-responsive. The facility’s CPR policy required at least one staff member trained in CPR/BCLS at all times and that trained staff maintain current certification. Record review showed that LVN A’s BCLS certification had expired, RN B’s BCLS certification had expired, and MA C was not currently certified in BCLS. Interviews confirmed that LVN A believed back slapping was the right action when she suspected choking and that she was scared and felt the event "felt like an eternity". RN B reported that when she arrived the resident was already blue and purple and unresponsive, that she checked the code status, called 911, and then attempted the Heimlich maneuver even though the resident was unconscious, acknowledging she panicked and knew CPR should be initiated when a choking victim becomes unresponsive. These actions and inactions—failure to promptly perform appropriate back blows and Heimlich on a conscious choking resident, failure to initiate CPR immediately once the resident became unresponsive, and allowing staff to work with expired or absent BCLS certifications—resulted in the resident not receiving basic life support while choking and constituted the cited deficiency.

Removal Plan

  • Conduct an audit of all residents who expired in the facility during the last 30 days to ensure CPR was performed according to AHA/BCLS guidelines, including the Heimlich maneuver.
  • Conduct an audit of all charge nurses for current CPR/BCLS certifications.
  • Provide CPR/BCLS classes for all charge nurses to ensure current certifications, including return demonstration of skills (including the Heimlich maneuver).
  • Provide 1:1 in-service training for the Administrator and ADON (with post-test) on: Abuse and Neglect policy (including failure to perform Heimlich/CPR timely as potential neglect), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (initiate CPR immediately when unresponsive with no pulse), and Choking/Heimlich per AHA/BCLS guidelines.
  • Provide 1:1 in-service training for LVN A, RN B, and MA C (with post-test) on: Abuse and Neglect policy (including failure to perform Heimlich/CPR timely as potential neglect), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (initiate CPR immediately when unresponsive with no pulse), and Choking/Heimlich per AHA/BCLS guidelines.
  • Notify the Medical Director of the Immediate Jeopardy citation.
  • Hold an ADHOC QAPI meeting to review the Immediate Jeopardy citation(s) and the plan of removal.
  • In-service all medication aides and CNAs (with post-test) on: Abuse and Neglect policy (including failure to perform Heimlich/CPR timely as potential neglect) and Notification of change in condition (universal signs of choking and immediate Heimlich per AHA/BCLS; notify nurse; respond immediately); prohibit staff from working their next shift until completed; include new hires during orientation and agency staff prior to shift.
  • In-service all charge nurses (with post-test) on: Abuse and Neglect policy (including failure to perform Heimlich/CPR timely as potential neglect), Notification of change in condition (universal signs of choking and immediate Heimlich per AHA/BCLS), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (initiate CPR immediately when unresponsive with no pulse), and Choking/Heimlich per AHA/BCLS guidelines; prohibit staff from working their next shift until completed; include new hires during orientation and agency staff prior to shift.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $122,590
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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
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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
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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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