St Anthony Senior Services
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Carroll, Iowa.
- Location
- 406 East Anthony Street, Carroll, Iowa 51401
- CMS Provider Number
- 165796
- Inspections on file
- 25
- Latest survey
- April 1, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 6
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at St Anthony Senior Services during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A cognitively impaired, non-verbal resident with Alzheimer’s disease and total dependence for ADLs was being assisted by two CNAs with evening toileting and dressing using a mechanical lift when the resident became agitated and combative. One CNA reported that the other CNA appeared irritated, raised her voice, continued care despite the resident’s resistance, and, while the reporting CNA was holding both of the resident’s hands to calm him, struck the resident’s face with an open hand, causing a cut to the lip and a scratch to the cheek. A nurse later documented fresh facial injuries consistent with this account, and subsequent notes recorded healing scratches and bruising, demonstrating that the resident was not kept free from physical abuse by staff as required by the facility’s abuse policy.
A resident with a history of repeated falls and neurological impairment experienced multiple falls resulting in serious injuries, including a head laceration and hip fracture, due to the facility's failure to consistently implement and follow effective fall prevention interventions and supervision as outlined in the care plan. Staff did not always monitor the resident after meals, left her unattended during transfers, and failed to ensure timely or effective use of safety equipment, leading to preventable accidents and a decline in the resident's condition.
The facility failed to ensure proper food storage and labeling, with open and undated food items found in the kitchen. Additionally, staff did not follow hand hygiene practices during meal service, as observed with Staff J and Staff K, who served residents without sanitizing hands between tasks. The facility's policies require food to be labeled and dated, and staff to maintain hand hygiene to prevent contamination and illness.
A facility failed to accurately verify and document a resident's advanced directive, resulting in a discrepancy between the resident's documented DNR status and the physician's orders. The resident was not listed on the Full Code list, and visual indicators for code status were missing. Staff interviews and observations confirmed the inconsistency, and the DON acknowledged the expectation for accurate records.
A facility failed to include a resident's urinary tract infections (UTIs) in their care plan, despite the resident's history of UTIs and physician orders for treatment. The care plan lacked necessary interventions to prevent or monitor the condition, contrary to facility policy requiring comprehensive care plans. The omission was confirmed by the MDS Coordinator.
A facility failed to accurately account for Schedule II medications, resulting in a missing dose of Ativan for a resident with complex needs. Staff inconsistencies in counting procedures and a lack of specific orientation on medication management contributed to the deficiency.
Failure to Protect Cognitively Impaired Resident From Physical Abuse During Toileting Care
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect a resident from physical abuse by a staff member during provision of evening care. The resident had severe cognitive impairment with a BIMS score of 0, diagnoses including Alzheimer’s disease, non-Alzheimer’s dementia, heart failure, and stroke, and required complete assistance with ADLs, including two-person assistance and a stand-up mechanical lift for toileting. Care plans documented impaired cognition, poor comprehension, impaired communication, episodes of sudden mood and behavior changes, and a tendency to become resistive or combative with care. Staff were directed in the care plan to use calm approaches, diversion, nonpharmacological interventions, and to intervene as necessary to protect the safety and rights of the resident and others. On the evening of 3/12/2026, two CNAs (Staff A and Staff B) assisted the resident with bedtime care in the bath house, including changing clothes and toileting with a mechanical lift. According to progress notes and Staff B’s written and verbal statements, the resident became agitated and aggressive while staff attempted to change his clothes, hitting and elbowing Staff A. Staff B reported that Staff A appeared irritated, had a temper, raised her voice, and continued trying to change the resident’s clothes despite his agitation, rather than stopping or changing approach. After transferring the resident to the toilet with the mechanical lift, Staff A removed the resident’s pants and socks and began putting on new socks while Staff B, standing to the resident’s left, held both of the resident’s hands to calm him. Staff B stated that at this point the resident was no longer aggressive. Staff B reported that while she was holding both of the resident’s hands, she saw Staff A bring up her right hand and with an open hand strike the resident in the face, causing an immediate cut to the right upper lip and a scratch to the right cheek. Staff B denied that the resident hit his face or hands on the wall and stated she was present in the bathroom for the entire interaction. A nurse (Staff C) assessed the resident shortly after the report and observed a 3 cm scratch under the right eye/cheek and a 1–0.5 cm cut to the lip with fresh blood. Subsequent progress notes over the following days documented the evolution and healing of facial injuries, including scratches and bruising to the right cheek and lower lip. In interviews, Staff A denied intentionally striking the resident and initially attributed a “smack” sound to the resident’s arm contacting the wall, but later stated, “I don’t know the time I hit him,” and could not explain how the resident sustained the facial abrasion and lip injury. The facility’s investigative conclusion stated that there was some degree of staff-to-resident contact, whether a swiping motion or open-handed slap/hit, resulting in the resident’s facial injuries, in violation of the facility’s abuse policy that prohibits residents from being subjected to abuse by anyone.
Failure to Provide Adequate Supervision and Fall Prevention for High-Risk Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to provide adequate nursing supervision and implement effective interventions to prevent falls for a resident with a known history of repeated falls and high fall risk. The resident, who had progressive neurological conditions, hypertension, and depression, experienced eight falls over several months. Despite being assessed as requiring partial to moderate assistance with mobility and transfers, the resident was frequently left unattended or allowed to self-transfer, particularly when returning to her room after meals. The care plan included interventions such as encouraging the resident to use the call light, ensuring appropriate footwear, moving her room closer to the nurse's station, and providing additional call lights, but these measures were inconsistently implemented or ineffective. Multiple incidents documented that staff did not always follow the care plan or facility policy. For example, the resident was left alone on the toilet, not provided with a gait belt during transfers, and staff failed to consistently monitor her movements after meals. The use of a floor mat alarm was delayed due to equipment compatibility issues, and when it was eventually implemented, it was later removed because it was not functioning properly and the resident or her husband would move it out of the way. There was a lack of additional interventions during the period when the floor mat alarm was unavailable. Staff interviews revealed that the resident was known to be impulsive and quick, often leaving the dining room unassisted, and staff were not always able to anticipate or intercept her movements in time to prevent self-transfers. The resident sustained significant injuries as a result of these falls, including a laceration to the forehead requiring emergency care and a left hip fracture that necessitated surgical intervention. Documentation showed that staff education following falls was often verbal and not formally recorded, and there was confusion among staff regarding the implementation and timing of interventions such as auto-lock brakes and alarms. The facility also experienced staff turnover and use of agency staff, which may have contributed to inconsistent supervision and adherence to the care plan. The cumulative effect of these actions and inactions resulted in the resident suffering repeated falls, injuries, and ultimately a decline in health following the final fall and subsequent surgery.
Deficiencies in Food Storage and Hand Hygiene Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper food storage and labeling practices, as well as adequate hand hygiene during meal service. During an observation in the main kitchen, it was noted that there were two open and undated bags of pasta and graham cracker crumbs. Staff I, the Food and Service Director, acknowledged the expectation that food should be dated, labeled, and sealed after opening, which was not adhered to in this instance. The facility's Food Storage Guidelines policy, revised in December 2024, mandates that unused foods be identified, labeled, and dated to prevent contamination or spoilage. Additionally, the facility did not ensure that staff followed proper hand hygiene practices during lunch service. Staff J was observed serving residents without sanitizing hands between tasks, such as plating food, touching utensils, and handling residents' food and drink items. Similarly, Staff K also failed to sanitize hands between serving residents, touching various surfaces and residents' items. The Director of Nursing and Staff I both stated the expectation for staff to sanitize hands between serving residents, as outlined in the facility's Infection Prevention and Control policy, which emphasizes the importance of hand hygiene to prevent foodborne illnesses and communicable diseases.
Failure to Verify and Document Resident's Advanced Directive
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accurately verify and document a resident's advanced directive choice, leading to a discrepancy between the resident's documented code status and the physician's orders. The resident's dashboard indicated a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNR) status, while the Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (IPOST) initially documented Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and later DNR. Additionally, the Order Summary Report confirmed a physician's order for DNR. However, the resident was not listed on the Full Code list at the nurse's station, and the visual indicators for code status, such as a star on the name tag, a red band on the bed or wheelchair, and a purple chart, were not present. Interviews with staff revealed that the facility's protocol for identifying full code residents was not followed for this resident, as evidenced by the absence of the required visual indicators. The Director of Nursing confirmed the inconsistency between the physician's order and the IPOST, acknowledging the expectation for records to be accurate and consistent. The facility's policy on advanced directives mandates that changes to a resident's choices be documented, included in the care plan, and communicated to staff, which was not adhered to in this case.
Failure to Include UTI Management in Resident Care Plan
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for a resident with a history of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The resident, diagnosed with Non-Alzheimer's Dementia and frequently incontinent of urine, had experienced UTIs twice since admission. Despite physician orders for Macrobid and Cefurixine to treat the UTIs, the resident's care plan did not include these diagnoses, treatments, or any interventions to prevent or monitor the condition. The facility's policy requires care plans to include measurable objectives and time frames to address the resident's medical, nursing, mental, and psychosocial needs, which was not adhered to in this case. The MDS Coordinator confirmed the omission of the UTIs from the care plan during an interview.
Failure in Accurate Accounting of Schedule II Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure an accurate accounting of Schedule II controlled medications for a resident, leading to a missing dose of Ativan. The resident in question, who was rarely understood and required substantial assistance with daily activities, had a care plan that included administering medication as ordered and monitoring for side effects and effectiveness. However, discrepancies in the medication count were discovered, indicating a failure in the facility's medication management practices. On the morning of January 3rd, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) discovered that the number of Ativan syringes did not match the expected count. The resident's controlled substance record showed that 50 syringes were accounted for after a delivery on December 31st, but only 42 syringes remained after being used seven times. Staff interviews revealed inconsistencies in the counting process, with some staff members admitting to not verifying the number of syringes in each bundle, leading to the missing dose. Further investigation showed that staff were not consistently following the facility's policy on narcotic medication management, which required narcotic counts to be conducted at shift change by both the oncoming and outgoing nurses. The Director of Nursing confirmed that agency staff were oriented on processes and expectations, but the orientation checklist lacked specific reference to the counting and verification of Schedule II medications. This oversight contributed to the failure in maintaining accurate medication records.
Latest citations in Iowa
An LPN, unfamiliar with residents on a medication cart and faced with two residents sharing the same first name, failed to correctly identify a resident and administered a full set of another resident’s medications in addition to the resident’s own ordered morning medications, including PRN oxycodone. The resident, who had severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease, subsequently experienced declining BP, reported not feeling well, and became increasingly fatigued. The facility’s policy required resident identification before medication administration, and the LPN acknowledged not knowing the residents and finding the EHR photos too small, despite their availability. Hospital records later documented hypotension, treatment with IV fluids, and a drug overdose after accidental ingestion of another resident’s medications plus the resident’s own, with persistent sinus bradycardia requiring admission for further hemodynamic monitoring.
A cognitively impaired, wandering resident with Alzheimer’s disease and behavioral symptoms was care planned as an elopement risk but was able to leave the memory care unit by holding an emergency exit door bar for 15 seconds and exiting into a stairwell and then to the employee parking lot. The door alarm functioned, but staff in the noisy dining room did not hear it while they were feeding multiple residents, including several needing extensive assistance, and only realized the resident was missing when another staff member encountered him outside and brought him back. In addition, several residents who required staff assistance for transfers and toileting experienced prolonged call light response times well beyond the facility’s 15‑minute expectation, including one who reported waiting up to an hour during meals and having an in‑room accident, another observed waiting about 25 minutes while calling out for help, and a third waiting about 17 minutes before a CNA responded.
A cognitively intact resident reported that a CNA ripped her incontinence brief during care and then refused to change it, despite the resident stating she could not wear it due to the tear. The resident became upset and informed housekeeping staff, who then asked an LPN to assist. On assessment, the LPN observed a large rip extending around the back of the brief, changed the brief, and provided peri care at the resident’s request. The resident stated the ripped brief was uncomfortable and that she did not feel treated with dignity or respect. In interviews, the CNA acknowledged telling the resident the torn brief would still work and did not change it, while the DON confirmed the CNA had refused the resident’s request for a brief change, in conflict with the facility’s dignity policy.
A deficiency was identified when a CNA did not follow manufacturer instructions for a mechanical stand while transferring a resident with severe cognitive impairment, a history of hip fracture, dementia, and muscle wasting who required substantial assistance for transfers. The resident’s care plan called for use of a mechanical stand, but during observed toileting and return-to-chair transfers, the CNA repeatedly locked and unlocked only one wheel of the device and did not keep the brakes unlocked during the actual transfer, contrary to the operator’s instructions that brakes be locked only when raising and lowering the resident during ambulation. In an interview, the DON confirmed staff were expected to follow these operator instructions and keep the wheels unlocked during transfers.
A resident with dementia, behavioral symptoms, and multiple psychotropic and cardiovascular medications was discharged to another nursing facility without a thorough or accurate discharge summary. The care plan contained a discharge planning focus but was never updated to reflect the actual discharge, and the EHR lacked documentation of discharge planning, the reason for discharge, or a recapitulation of stay, despite a family member stating they initiated the discharge due to dissatisfaction with care. The discharge instructions contained multiple medication discrepancies and omissions, including missing drugs, incorrect dosages, and absent administration frequencies, and several PRN constipation medications were not listed, contrary to the facility’s written discharge planning policy.
A resident was admitted from a hospital without a completed Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) in the medical record, as required prior to admission. The PASRR was only completed several days later by the Hospital Liaison/Admissions Coordinator after a call alerted staff that it was missing. Both the admissions coordinator and the Administrator acknowledged that the facility relies on the hospital to provide the PASRR and that, in this case, it was missed and not done before the resident’s admission.
A resident with Alzheimer's disease, severely impaired cognition, and documented nutrition/hydration risk required partial to moderate assistance with eating and was care planned for assisted feeding with a general diet and thin liquids. During a breakfast observation, the resident was seated in a reclined Broda chair while staff placed food and beverages on an overbed table and attempted to offer chocolate milk and hot cereal without first positioning the resident upright, causing the resident to struggle to reach the cup. Facility policy on feeding required residents needing assistance to be positioned comfortably in an upright position, and the DON stated she expected residents to be upright whenever food or drink was offered, but there was no separate positioning policy in place.
A resident with a left leg fracture, muscle wasting, and impaired mobility was dependent on a mechanical lift for transfers. Staff positioned the lift at the side of the wheelchair instead of straight on, and the lift tipped and struck the resident’s forehead with the sling-holding part, causing a bruise and protruding bump. Staff interviews confirmed the transfer was done from the side and that the resident’s care plan required straight-on positioning for the lift.
Failure to Provide Scheduled Bathing and Personal Hygiene Assistance: Several residents did not receive bathing and hygiene assistance as scheduled. One resident with intact cognition and a stroke history was observed unshaven and said staff did not always shave him during showers, while staff noted the bath sheets no longer tracked shaving or nail care. Other residents with severe cognitive impairment or dependence for bathing went extended periods without baths, and one cognitively intact resident reported missing baths and wanting them. Facility records and staff interviews showed bathing schedules were not consistently followed or documented as required.
QAPI program failed to address repeated deficiencies. Review of the facility’s visit history showed repeated F689, Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices, and F880, Infection Prevention and Control, across multiple annual surveys and complaint investigations. The QAPI plan stated it would review sources of information for gaps or patterns in care systems, and the Administrator acknowledged the repeated deficiencies and said the facility would review and discuss plans to improve.
Significant Medication Error From Misidentification During Med Pass
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure residents were free from significant medication errors and to follow the 5 rights of medication administration, resulting in one resident receiving another resident’s medications in addition to their own. The resident had diagnoses including hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, and toxic encephalopathy, with a BIMS score of 3 indicating severe cognitive impairment. On the morning in question, review of the MAR showed the resident received their ordered medications, which included aspirin, calcium carbonate, vitamin C, vitamin D, fluoxetine 20 mg, furosemide 40 mg, galantamine, a lidocaine patch, memantine, acetaminophen, and PRN oxycodone around 8:00 a.m. According to the incident report and nursing progress notes, the LPN (Staff A) administered another resident’s full set of morning medications to this resident while the resident was in the dining room. These additional medications included metoprolol 60 mg, Lyrica 75 mg, oxycodone 7.5/325 mg, furosemide 40 mg, celecoxib 100 mg, Prozac 60 mg, hydroxyzine 10 mg, cetirizine 10 mg, Neuriva, Protonix 20 mg, potassium 99 mg, a multivitamin, and vitamin D3. These medications were given in addition to the resident’s own morning medications and PRN oxycodone. The nurse’s notes documented that the resident’s blood pressure readings declined from 100/50 to 85/48 and then to 73/48, and the resident complained of not feeling well and was increasingly fatigued. Staff A reported during interview that the resident had been screaming and yelling and that she did not realize there were two residents with the same first name in the back hallway. She stated it was her first time working in that hallway after training and that, although resident pictures were available in the EHR to assist with identification, she felt they were small and she did not know the residents. The facility’s medication management policy required staff to identify the resident before administering medications. Staff A’s employee record showed a prior medication occurrence in which she administered the wrong medications (including furosemide and potassium) to a resident, and she had documented previously that she was not familiar with residents when working on that cart. The resident was ultimately sent to the ER, where records documented hypotension on admission, treatment with IV fluids, and a chief complaint of drug overdose after accidental ingestion of another resident’s multiple medications in addition to the resident’s own medications, with continued sinus bradycardia requiring admission for further hemodynamic monitoring.
Elopement of Wandering Resident and Delayed Call Light Responses
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide adequate supervision to prevent an elopement for a cognitively impaired, wandering resident and failure to respond to resident call lights within the facility’s stated 15‑minute expectation. One resident with Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder had a care plan identifying risk for elopement due to wandering and documented behaviors of agitation, aggression, restlessness, and continuous pacing/wandering within the unit. This resident ambulated independently with a walker and had a BIMS score indicating impaired cognition. On the evening of the incident, the resident finished supper in the memory care dining room and then repeatedly walked the hallway with his walker, eventually approaching an emergency exit door at the far end of the hall, away from the dining room. Video and documentation show that the resident stood at the emergency exit door, held the door bar down for the required 15 seconds to release the egress, and then exited through the door into a stairwell and out to the employee parking lot. The door alarm and 15‑second egress functioned, but staff in the dining room did not hear the alarm due to noise from residents, staff conversation, and the television. At the time, two CNAs and one LPN were in the dining room feeding multiple residents, including several who required assistance, and staff reported that the resident was very quick, wandered constantly, and was difficult to keep seated. Staff interviews revealed that one CNA noticed the resident was no longer in the dining room around the same time another staff member reported they were looking for him, and only then did staff recognize the back exit door alarm sounding. A nurse arriving for her shift in the parking lot encountered the resident outside with his walker and escorted him back inside, after which he was assessed and found in stable condition. The deficiency also includes failure to respond to resident call lights within the professional standard of 15 minutes for multiple residents. One resident with intact cognition but dependent or substantial/maximal assistance needs for toileting reported that during meal hours it could take up to an hour for staff to answer the call light, resulting in an in‑room accident. Another resident, alert and oriented but occasionally forgetful and requiring two‑person assistance for transfers, was observed with the call light on for approximately 25 minutes in the morning while repeatedly yelling for help; staff walked past in the hallway without answering the light until a staff member finally entered the room. A third resident, requiring one‑person assistance for transfers, was observed with the call light on for about 17 minutes before a CNA entered to assist. The DON stated that the facility’s expectation is that call lights be answered within 15 minutes, and the facility’s policy directs all staff from all departments to respond to call lights and either assist or obtain appropriate help, but the observed response times exceeded this standard for the residents involved. Staff interviews further described the conditions contributing to these call light delays and supervision gaps. Staff on the memory care unit reported that typical evening staffing consisted of one nurse, one CMA, and two CNAs, and that while this was manageable when routines went smoothly, it became inadequate when residents had behaviors, were sundowning, or when events such as falls or changes in condition occurred. A CMA stated that at least three CNAs were needed on the memory care unit due to multiple residents requiring two‑person assistance, noting that when two CNAs were in a room providing care, they could not monitor the rest of the unit. Staff also reported that the back exit door alarm was faint and difficult to hear from the dining room, and some staff were not fully aware of the configuration of the back stairwell and exit leading to the parking lot. These conditions, combined with high resident care needs and noise levels during meals, contributed to the resident’s elopement and to prolonged call light response times for several residents. Maintenance and administrative staff confirmed that the south/back exit door from the unit led to another unalarmed door and then to the outside employee parking lot, and that the facility did not receive system reports when door alarms were activated. The Administrator was unable to verify when a door alarm went off or when an exit door was breached. The facility’s Wandering Resident policy stated that residents at risk for elopement should receive adequate supervision to prevent accidents and that staff must be vigilant in responding to alarms in a timely manner, and the call light policy required prompt response by all staff. Despite these policies, the documented events show that the resident at risk for elopement was able to leave the secured unit and reach the parking lot without timely staff detection, and that multiple residents experienced call light response times significantly longer than the facility’s stated 15‑minute standard.
Failure to Honor Resident Request for Brief Change and Maintain Dignity
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to resident dignity and respect when a cognitively intact resident’s request for a brief change was not honored. The resident, with a BIMS score of 15 indicating no cognitive impairment, reported being upset because a CNA (Staff N) ripped her brief during care and then refused to change it. The resident self-propelled down the hallway stating she was upset about the ripped brief and that staff would not change it. A housekeeping staff member (Staff M) observed the resident’s distress, was told that the CNA had refused to change the brief despite a large rip, and then asked an LPN (Staff O) to assist with changing it. During the subsequent brief change, Staff O performed hand hygiene, used gloves, removed the resident’s pants and brief, and provided peri care at the resident’s request before applying a new brief and redressing the resident. Observation of the removed brief revealed a large rip on the left side extending past the middle of the resident’s back. The resident stated the brief with the hole was uncomfortable and that she felt staff did not provide her with dignity and respect when her request for a new brief was not honored. Staff O confirmed that the brief had a very large hole and that the resident was very upset, reporting she did not feel treated with dignity or respect and that the ripped brief was uncomfortable. In an interview, Staff N acknowledged caring for the resident that day, stated the resident had been upset and had “behaviors,” and reported that when the resident said she wanted her brief changed because it was ripped, Staff N told her the brief would still work and that urine would not get everywhere, characterizing the tear as “just a little tear.” Staff N stated the resident did not explicitly ask her to change the brief. The DON later stated that Staff N had ripped the brief, the resident had requested a brief change, Staff N said she would not change it, and acknowledged that a lack of dignity occurred when Staff N refused to change the resident’s brief, contrary to the facility’s dignity policy.
Improper Use of Mechanical Stand Brakes During Resident Transfers
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to accident prevention when staff failed to properly use a mechanical stand’s brakes during transfers for one resident. The resident had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 7 indicating severe cognitive impairment, required substantial assistance for transfers, and had diagnoses including hip fracture, dementia, and muscle wasting. The care plan documented initiation of a mechanical stand for transfers. During observation, a CNA applied a sling, locked the right wheel of the mechanical stand, lifted the resident from a chair, then unlocked the right wheel and positioned the resident over the toilet. The CNA then lowered the resident onto the toilet and locked the right wheel. After the resident finished, the CNA lifted the resident from the toilet, unlocked the right wheel, positioned the resident over the chair, locked the right wheel, and lowered the resident, thereby failing to keep the mechanical stand brakes unlocked during the transfer as required by the operator’s instructions, which specified that brakes should only be locked when raising and lowering the resident during ambulation. In an interview, the DON stated that staff were expected to follow the operator’s instructions and keep the wheels unlocked during transfers, confirming that the observed practice did not align with the manufacturer’s guidance for safe operation of the mechanical stand.
Failure to Complete Accurate and Thorough Discharge Summary and Documentation
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a failure to complete a thorough and accurate discharge summary and related discharge documentation for one resident who was discharged from the facility. The resident was admitted in early March with moderate cognitive impairment, a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 08, and documented delusions and behavioral symptoms. Diagnoses included dementia with agitation, anxiety disorder, and depression. Although the care plan contained a discharge planning focus initiated shortly after admission, it did not contain any updates or documentation related to the resident’s actual discharge later that month. The electronic health record (EHR) contained a communication note indicating that transport to another nursing facility was arranged and a health status note stating that the resident was discharged, with physician orders and a face sheet faxed and a report called to the receiving facility. The resident’s EHR did not contain documentation of the discharge planning process, the reason for the discharge, or a recapitulation of the resident’s stay. A family member reported that the family initiated the discharge due to dissatisfaction with care, but there was no documentation in the EHR reflecting that the family initiated the discharge. The Long Term Care Ombudsman reported that no one contacted her during the resident’s stay, although her office did receive notice of the transfer. The facility’s own discharge planning policy required that discharge planning begin on admission, be routinely updated in the comprehensive care plan, and that the evaluation of discharge needs and the final discharge plan be completely documented in the clinical record and discussed with the resident or representative. Review of the resident’s discharge instructions and March medication administration record revealed multiple discrepancies and omissions in the discharge summary. One medication (Amlodipine 10 mg) was listed without any frequency or time of administration. Several medications that the resident was receiving, including Donepezil 10 mg, Lisinopril 5 mg, and Buspirone 10 mg twice daily, were not included on the discharge summary. Other medications were inaccurately documented, such as Memantine, which was ordered as 20 mg once daily but listed as 10 mg twice daily, and Seroquel, ordered as 50 mg twice daily but listed as once daily. Several PRN constipation medications were also omitted. The Regional Nurse Consultant confirmed that the facility’s EHR contained a discharge assessment tool that was not completed for this resident and acknowledged the multiple medication discrepancies on the discharge summary form.
Failure to Complete PASRR Evaluation Prior to Admission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete a required Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) evaluation for a resident with an admission date of 4/22/26. The resident’s electronic health record documented admission from a hospital on 4/22/26, but review of the record showed no PASRR completed at the time of admission. A PASRR form for this resident was later obtained and showed it was completed on 4/27/26 by the Hospital Liaison/Admissions Coordinator, several days after the resident had already been admitted. During interview, the Hospital Liaison/Admissions Coordinator stated that the hospital usually completes the PASRR, acknowledged receiving a call the previous night that the PASRR was not in the chart, and admitted she had missed completing it prior to admission even though it should have been done. The Administrator similarly reported that the facility relies on receiving the PASRR from the hospital admission records and that, in this case, the PASRR was missed and not completed prior to the resident’s admission. This resulted in a deficiency for failure to ensure a PASRR evaluation was completed prior to admission for 1 of 3 reviewed residents, in accordance with PASRR requirements.
Failure to Properly Position Resident Upright During Assisted Feeding
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in resident positioning during mealtime for a resident with Alzheimer's disease and severely impaired cognition, as evidenced by a Brief Interview for Mental Status score of 2. The resident’s MDS indicated a need for partial to moderate assistance with eating, and the care plan documented nutrition and hydration risk related to end-stage diagnosis, cognitive limitations, and weakness, with directions for a general diet, thin liquids, and assistance with eating. During a breakfast observation on the Magnolia Unit, the resident was seated in a Broda chair that was reclined back. A dietary aide placed food on the table in front of the resident, and a CNA then placed beverages and food on an overbed table before walking away, while the resident remained reclined with eyes closed and the plate of food untouched. Later in the same observation period, another CNA offered the resident chocolate milk while the Broda chair remained tilted backward, and the resident had to struggle to move her head up and forward to reach the cup. The same CNA then offered hot cereal, which the resident declined by saying “later.” A different CNA subsequently offered another drink of chocolate milk, again without adjusting the reclined position of the Broda chair. Policy review showed the facility’s “Feeding of Residents by Staff” policy required that residents unable to feed themselves be assisted per their care plan and be positioned comfortably in an upright position. In an interview, the DON stated there was no specific positioning policy, that staff received positioning education in training, and that her expectation was that residents be placed in an upright position whenever food or drink was offered.
Mechanical Lift Transfer Caused Resident Forehead Injury
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe and adequate mechanical lift transfer for Resident #18, who had a left leg fracture, muscle wasting, and impaired gait and mobility, but no cognitive impairment based on a BIMS score of 15. The resident’s care plan required two staff members to use a mechanical lift for transfers because the resident was nonweight-bearing on the left leg. The care plan update also directed staff to approach the wheelchair straight on and not from the side, and to have the resident bend the right leg and turn away from the lift during transfers. During a wheelchair transfer, staff positioned the mechanical lift at the side of the wheelchair and began the transfer. The lift tipped and struck the resident’s forehead with the part that held the sling. The resident sustained a bruise and a protruding bump on the left forehead, and the incident documentation noted the resident’s head was hit on the lift. The resident later reported that the lift almost fell to the floor and that additional staff were needed to return it upright. Staff interviews confirmed that the transfer was performed from the side of the wheelchair. One CNA stated the lift may have caught on bars under the wheelchair and acknowledged that staff had been educated not to use the lift from the side. Another CNA stated the lift was used from the side because the resident did not want her leg hit by the lift, and identified the sling-holding part of the lift as the piece that struck the resident’s forehead. The DON stated the proper procedure was to position the mechanical lift directly in front of the wheelchair rather than to the side.
Failure to Provide Scheduled Bathing and Personal Hygiene Assistance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide care and assistance with activities of daily living for 5 of 8 residents reviewed, specifically related to bathing and shaving. Resident #3 had a BIMS score of 15 and was dependent on staff for personal hygiene, with diagnoses including renal insufficiency, stroke, hemiplegia, and seizure disorder. The resident was observed unshaven, stated he was getting showers but not shaved every time, and said he needed help shaving since his stroke. Facility records showed showers were documented without indicating whether shaving was completed, and staff interviews confirmed the bath sheets no longer tracked shaving or nail care, while the DON stated male residents should be offered shaving during showers and it should be documented if completed or refused. Resident #1 had a BIMS score of 4, diagnoses including muscle weakness, diabetes, and hip fracture, and was care planned as an extensive assist for bathing. Review of the follow-up report showed the resident went 17 days without a bath and later 19 days without a bath. Resident #11 had a BIMS score of 3, diagnoses including depression, hypertension, and anemia, and was scheduled for bathing on Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon, but the follow-up report showed gaps of 6 days, 6 days, and 18 days between baths. Resident #27 also had a BIMS score of 3 with depression, hypertension, and anemia, was scheduled for bathing on Monday and Thursday afternoon, and the follow-up report showed the resident went 19 days and then 20 days without a bath, with refusals documented on two occasions. Resident #85 had a BIMS score of 15, diagnoses including hypertension, depression, and need for assistance with personal care, and stated she did not get 2 baths the prior week and wanted them. Her care plan identified her as dependent for bathing, but lacked bathing frequency, and the task list scheduled bathing for Monday morning and Wednesday afternoon. The follow-up report showed multiple extended gaps between baths, including 12 days, 7 days, 18 days, and 7 days. Facility policy stated bathing is intended to promote cleanliness, provide comfort, and observe skin condition, and the Regional Nurse Consultant stated bathing should be completed as scheduled.
QAPI Program Failed to Address Repeated Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a comprehensive and effective QAPI program and did not have a plan that described the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities. Review of the DIAL website visit history showed repeated deficient practices identified during the facility’s annual survey and complaint investigation on 3/27/25 and during the annual survey, complaint, and facility-reported incident investigation on 4/19/26. The repeat deficiencies included F689, Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices, which had been repeated in the previous three consecutive annual surveys, and F880, Infection Prevention and Control, which had been repeated in the previous four consecutive annual surveys. The facility’s QAPI plan stated that it would review sources of information to determine whether gaps or patterns existed in systems of care that could result in quality problems or opportunities for improvement. During an interview on 4/23/26 at 1:28 PM, the Administrator acknowledged the repeated F689 and F880 deficiencies and stated the facility would review and discuss plans to improve.
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