Hillcrest Health & Rehab
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Bellevue, Nebraska.
- Location
- 1702 Hillcrest Drive, Bellevue, Nebraska 68005
- CMS Provider Number
- 285133
- Inspections on file
- 19
- Latest survey
- December 30, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 5
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Hillcrest Health & Rehab during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Two residents at risk for pressure ulcers did not receive timely or appropriate interventions, including the use of pressure-relieving devices and specific care plan updates. One resident developed new pressure ulcers without the ordered Roho cushion or air mattress in place, while another was transferred without protective footwear, contributing to ulcer development. Additionally, practitioner-ordered wound care was not consistently provided or documented for a resident with a foot ulcer.
Staff did not consistently wear required masks during a COVID-19 outbreak, failed to implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions for a resident with a chronic wound, and allowed damaged recliners in a common area to remain in use despite being unable to be fully cleaned, as confirmed by direct observation and staff interviews.
The facility did not complete required neurological checks after unwitnessed falls for two residents, including one with significant cognitive impairment and another with mobility issues. Additionally, a resident was not provided with PRN bowel medications or monitored for bowel movements as required by facility policy, despite extended periods without a bowel movement. Staff interviews and documentation confirmed these deficiencies.
Two residents with significant fall risks and physical impairments were not adequately protected from accidents. One resident experienced a fall during an attempted transfer without proper staff assistance or a thorough post-fall investigation, while another resident was repeatedly observed without access to a call light or bell as required by their care plan, leaving them unable to request help for over an hour.
A resident with chronic heart failure and a prosthetic heart valve experienced multiple episodes of low oxygen saturation, with readings documented below facility alert thresholds. Staff failed to consistently notify a nurse or provider of these changes, and critical low readings were not escalated as required by facility policy. The resident was later found unresponsive, and interviews confirmed that protocols for monitoring and responding to changes in condition were not followed.
Two residents with severe cognitive impairment experienced multiple falls due to the facility's failure to ensure fall prevention measures, such as bed and wheelchair alarms, were consistently in place and functioning. Despite care plans indicating the need for alarms, incidents revealed that these interventions were not properly implemented, leading to falls and injuries.
A facility failed to comply with CMS regulations by extending a PRN order for Lorazepam without a rationale and did not identify target behaviors for Quetiapine Fumarate and Lorazepam for a resident. The DON confirmed the absence of a rationale and target behaviors, indicating a lapse in monitoring and managing the resident's conditions.
The facility's MRR Policy lacked specific time frames for each step of the process and did not outline steps for pharmacists when immediate action is required. The DON confirmed the policy was considered complete despite these omissions.
Failure to Implement Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Wound Care Interventions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement appropriate interventions for the prevention of pressure ulcers and did not provide practitioner-ordered wound care for two residents. One resident, who was at moderate to high risk for pressure ulcer development due to limited mobility, incontinence, and cognitive impairment, experienced a decline in skin integrity. Despite worsening Braden Scale scores and the development of a stage 2 pressure ulcer and an unstageable heel ulcer, the care plan was not updated in a timely manner to reflect new interventions. Observations revealed that ordered pressure-relieving devices, such as a Roho cushion and air mattress, were not in place, and heel protectors were only implemented after the heel wound developed. Staff interviews confirmed delays in obtaining and implementing these interventions. Another resident, who had multiple comorbidities and was dependent on staff for transfers and mobility, developed an unstageable pressure ulcer on the left foot related to not wearing appropriate footwear during transfers. The care plan did not include specific interventions addressing the cause of the ulcer, such as the requirement to wear shoes during all transfers. Observations showed that staff continued to transfer the resident using a sit-to-stand lift while the resident wore only socks, and staff interviews confirmed a lack of awareness regarding the need for protective footwear during transfers. The resident also confirmed that staff had not provided instructions to change transfer practices after the ulcer was identified. Additionally, the facility failed to consistently provide and document practitioner-ordered wound care for the resident with the left foot ulcer. Review of treatment records revealed multiple missed wound care treatments on specified dates, and staff interviews confirmed that these treatments were not completed as ordered. The wound nurse acknowledged that wound care was not always documented or performed according to the physician's orders.
Failure to Follow Infection Control Protocols During Outbreak and Inadequate Equipment Maintenance
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to adhere to the facility's infection prevention and control policies during a COVID-19 outbreak. Despite the facility's policy requiring all staff to wear source control (surgical mask or N-95 respirator) during outbreak status, multiple staff members, including nurse techs, an LPN, and an environmental services tech, were observed in various hallways and resident rooms without masks. This occurred even in areas with confirmed COVID-19 positive residents and in rooms with droplet precautions signage. Interviews with staff and the administrator confirmed that guidance had been provided to wear masks, but compliance was not maintained. The facility also failed to implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) for a resident with a chronic wound, as required by policy. The resident had an unstageable pressure ulcer and required EBP, including the use of gowns and gloves during high-contact care and appropriate signage outside the room. Observations revealed that no EBP signage was posted, gowns were not available, and staff, including the wound nurse, did not don gowns during wound care. Staff were observed performing wound care without proper PPE and then moving throughout the facility, and interviews confirmed that EBP was not in place as required. Additionally, six recliners in a commons area had vinyl coverings that were peeling away from the armrests and seats, making them unable to be fully cleaned. The Environmental Services Director confirmed that the damaged chairs could not be properly sanitized, increasing the potential for cross contamination in the shared area.
Failure to Complete Neuro Checks and Bowel Management Interventions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement required neurological checks following unwitnessed falls for two residents. For one resident with a history of infection, myasthenia gravis, and impaired mobility, neurological checks were ordered after an unwitnessed fall, but several scheduled assessments were missed over multiple days. Documentation confirmed that these checks were not completed as expected, and there was no additional evidence of the assessments being performed. Another resident, who was severely cognitively impaired, required extensive assistance with activities of daily living, and was receiving hospice care, experienced two unwitnessed falls. Record review and staff interviews confirmed that neurological checks were not conducted after either incident, despite facility policy requiring such assessments for unwitnessed falls. Additionally, the facility did not monitor or intervene appropriately for bowel management for the same cognitively impaired resident. Bowel records showed extended periods without a bowel movement, and the Medication Administration Record indicated that no PRN bowel medications were administered during these times. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident should have received PRN bowel medications according to facility policy, but this did not occur.
Failure to Prevent Accidents and Ensure Adequate Supervision for Residents at Risk of Falls
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified regarding the facility's failure to ensure a safe environment free from accident hazards and to provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents for two residents with significant fall risks and physical impairments. One resident, admitted with multiple diagnoses including infection due to a knee prosthesis, bacteremia, myasthenia gravis, essential tremors, and gait abnormalities, was dependent on staff for transfers and had impaired range of motion. Despite these risks, the resident experienced a fall while attempting to transfer from a recliner to bed. Documentation revealed that staff were aware the resident needed assistance and instructed the resident to wait, but upon returning, found the resident on one knee at the bedside. The incident was not fully investigated, as required by facility policy, with no comprehensive documentation, staff statements, or root cause analysis completed. Progress notes did not reflect the fall, and there was no evidence of a formal review during clinical meetings. Another resident, assessed as severely cognitively impaired and at high risk for falls, required extensive assistance with activities of daily living and had a history of multiple falls. The resident's care plan included interventions such as keeping a call light and bell within reach, frequent rounding, and environmental modifications to reduce fall risk. However, multiple observations showed the resident's bell was consistently out of reach, and at times, the call light was not accessible. Staff confirmed the call light was broken and a work order was supposedly placed, but the Environmental Service Director reported no such work order had been submitted. The resident was left without access to a call light or bell for over an hour, contrary to the care plan interventions. These events demonstrate lapses in both the implementation of individualized fall prevention interventions and the facility's investigative processes following incidents. The lack of thorough documentation, failure to ensure assistive devices were within reach, and incomplete post-fall investigation contributed to the deficiencies identified for both residents.
Failure to Evaluate and Respond to Change in Condition for Resident with Low Oxygen Saturation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly evaluate and respond to a change in condition for a resident with a history of infection related to a hip prosthesis, chronic systolic heart failure, and a prosthetic heart valve. The resident had moderately impaired cognitive function and was being monitored for oxygen saturation, with facility parameters indicating that levels below 90% required attention. Over several days, the resident's oxygen saturation levels fluctuated, with multiple documented readings below the facility's threshold, including a reading as low as 54%. Despite these low readings, there was no physician order for oxygen, and staff did not consistently notify a nurse or provider of the resident's declining oxygen saturation. On one occasion, a nurse aide recorded a critically low oxygen saturation but became busy and failed to report it to the nurse. Other staff members noted low oxygen levels but did not observe respiratory distress and did not escalate the issue appropriately. The situation escalated when dietary staff alerted a registered nurse that the resident was unresponsive, at which point the resident was found without signs of life. Facility policy required detailed observation and provider notification in the event of a change in condition, but this was not followed. Interviews with staff confirmed that expected protocols, such as rechecking oxygen saturation, ensuring oxygen was administered as ordered, and notifying the physician, were not consistently implemented. The failure to recognize and respond to the resident's significant change in condition directly contributed to the deficiency cited in the report.
Failure to Implement Fall Prevention Measures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement fall prevention interventions for two residents, leading to multiple incidents of falls. Resident 4, who was admitted with a displaced fracture and severe cognitive impairment, was identified as high risk for falls. Despite having a care plan that included a bed alarm and physical therapy consult, Resident 4 experienced falls on two occasions. On the second incident, the resident was found on the floor with a hip fracture, and it was confirmed that the bed alarm was not functioning as it should have been. Resident 7, also with severe cognitive impairment and dependent for transfers, had a care plan that included alarms on the wheelchair and bed. However, Resident 7 experienced multiple falls, including sliding out of the wheelchair and being found on the floor by the bed. The incidents revealed that the alarms were not consistently in place or functioning, as evidenced by the lack of initialing on the treatment administration record to confirm alarm checks. Interviews with staff, including a Medication Aide and the Director of Nursing, confirmed that the alarms were not in place or functioning during the falls. The Clinical Care Coordinator also acknowledged the absence of functional alarms and the need for staff education on ensuring fall interventions were in place. These deficiencies highlight a failure in the facility's fall prevention measures, leading to repeated falls for the residents involved.
Failure to Provide Rationale and Identify Target Behaviors for Psychotropic Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure compliance with CMS regulations regarding the use of psychotropic medications for a resident. Specifically, a PRN order for Lorazepam, an antianxiety medication, was extended for 365 days without providing a rationale for its continued use beyond the 14-day limit set by CMS. This was confirmed during an interview with the Director of Nursing, who acknowledged the absence of a rationale for the PRN Lorazepam order. Additionally, the facility did not identify target behaviors for the use of Quetiapine Fumarate, an antipsychotic medication, and Lorazepam for the resident. The orders required monitoring for target behaviors related to the resident's schizoaffective disorder and panic disorder, respectively. However, the Director of Nursing confirmed that target behaviors were not identified for either medication, indicating a failure to properly monitor and manage the resident's conditions as per the prescribed orders.
Deficiency in Medication Regimen Review Policy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that its Medication Regimen Review (MRR) Policy included the required procedural steps, as mandated by licensure reference number 175 NAC 12-006.12(A)(vi). A record review of the facility's MRR policy dated January 1, 2023, revealed that the policy lacked specific time frames for each step of the MRR process. Additionally, the policy did not outline the steps the pharmacist must take when an irregularity requires immediate action. During an interview on December 16, 2024, the Director of Nursing confirmed that the MRR Policy was considered complete as written, despite these omissions.
Latest citations in Nebraska
Surveyors found that the facility did not maintain a medication error rate below 5%, identifying multiple late and improperly timed medication administrations and a missing medication. A medication aide gave a cholesterol medication and wound-healing supplements significantly later than their scheduled times, and another aide administered acetaminophen well outside the ordered time window and could not obtain a prescribed dose of Ingrezza because it had not arrived from the pharmacy. An LPN administered fast-acting Humalog insulin before a meal when no food was available and was unaware of the required timing of insulin in relation to meals, while the facility’s insulin policy lacked guidance on meal-related timing despite manufacturer instructions specifying administration within 15 minutes before or immediately after eating.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment, a history of CVA, and total dependence for ADLs developed a new right ankle wound and a new DTI to the left heel. Facility policy and licensure rules require immediate notification of the resident representative and physician for significant changes in condition, but review of progress notes showed no documentation that the representative was informed. An LPN confirmed the representative was not updated about the new wounds, despite the requirement to do so.
A family member filed a written grievance about a staff member’s attitude toward a resident and the family member, but the facility did not complete the grievance documentation or ensure timely communication of the specific resolution. The grievance form lacked documented resolution and administrator review, the ADM was initially unaware of the grievance, and the SW delayed completing the form while awaiting permanent interventions from nursing leadership. Although staff reported discussing a general resolution with the resident and family, the family member later stated they had not been informed of the actual grievance resolution, and the grievance form was not fully completed until well beyond the facility’s stated 10–14 day timeframe for resolving grievances.
The facility failed to report an allegation of physical abuse to law enforcement as required by its abuse reporting policy. A cognitively intact resident with dementia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder reported refusing a shower when a NA placed a lift sling under them, after which the situation escalated and both the resident and the NA exchanged punches. Skin assessments documented multiple new bruises on both of the resident’s arms and hands that were not present the prior day. Although facility policy required timely notification of law enforcement for such allegations, documentation in the abuse report form and EHR showed no law enforcement notification, and facility leadership confirmed that the incident and bruising were not reported to police.
A resident receiving hospice services with a condition expected to limit life expectancy had a DNR order requested by their representative and entered into the medical orders, but the comprehensive care plan (CCP) was not updated to reflect this change in code status. Facility policy required the CCP to be reviewed and revised by the interdisciplinary team following MDS assessments, yet the CCP continued to show an earlier full code status instead of the current DNR. The SSS acknowledged that the code status should have been updated when the change was made.
A resident with ESRD on dialysis, Type 2 DM, A-fib, COPD, and CHF, and requiring total assistance with ADLs, had physician orders for sacral and coccyx skin care, including cleansing, application of preventative ointment up to four times daily and PRN, and use of a sacral mepilex dressing. The order appeared on the Order Listing Report but was absent from the Nurse Administration Record, so staff were not cued to provide the treatment. During observed incontinence care, the resident’s sacral area was pink and no mepilex dressing was in place. An LPN confirmed the treatment was ordered but not provided and attributed the omission to a possible electronic medical record glitch.
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.
A resident with ESRD on dialysis, along with multiple comorbidities including CHF, COPD, A-fib, and Type 2 DM, had physician orders and a care plan for a therapeutic renal diet, a 1200 ml/day fluid restriction divided across meals and med passes, and no water pitcher in the room, consistent with facility policy for dialysis residents. Observations showed a full water pitcher at the bedside and meal trays providing more than the ordered 240 ml of fluid per meal, while documentation also reflected conflicting fluid restriction amounts. Staff confirmed the resident had been offered more fluid than ordered and that a water pitcher had been present. In addition, on a dialysis day, multiple scheduled 9 a.m. medications were not administered because the resident was away at dialysis and the facility had not coordinated medication timing around dialysis services, contrary to its own policy.
The facility failed to respond to resident call lights within its stated goal of 7 minutes, with documented response times exceeding 30 minutes for multiple residents. A cognitively intact resident reported being left on the toilet for extended periods, and call system data showed call lights active for well over an hour on several occasions. Another resident with moderately impaired cognition had call lights unanswered for more than an hour, including after returning from dialysis. A third cognitively intact resident reported waiting up to two hours, with records confirming multiple call light activations lasting over an hour. The DON acknowledged that call light times over 30 minutes were not timely.
A resident with ESRD on thrice-weekly dialysis, along with DM2, A-fib, COPD, and CHF and moderate cognitive impairment, did not receive scheduled morning medications, including metoprolol and linagliptin, while away at dialysis. The MAR documented that the 9 AM metoprolol dose was not given because the resident was away from the facility without medications, and a progress note confirmed that morning medications were not administered due to the dialysis appointment. The DON later confirmed these omissions and identified them as medication errors.
Failure to Maintain Acceptable Medication Error Rate and Proper Medication Timing
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a medication error rate below 5%, with surveyors identifying 5 errors out of 39 opportunities, resulting in a 12.82% error rate. The facility’s policy allowed medications to be given within one hour before or after the scheduled time, but staff did not adhere to this window. One medication aide administered pravastatin 10 mg to a resident at 8:52 PM when it was scheduled for 7:00 PM, and confirmed it was given late. The same aide also administered LiquaCel 30 cc and Juven 1 packet to another resident at 9:20 PM, despite orders for these supplements to be given twice daily with morning and evening medications at 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and confirmed these were also late. Additional errors involved improper timing and availability of medications. An LPN administered 4 units of Humalog, a fast-acting mealtime insulin ordered to be given before meals, to a resident at 7:37 AM when the resident had no food present and did not receive a meal tray until 8:18 AM; the LPN stated they did not know how quickly food should be provided after fast-acting insulin. The facility’s insulin policy lacked guidance on timing relative to meals, while the manufacturer’s prescribing information specified administration within 15 minutes before or immediately after a meal. Another medication aide administered acetaminophen 500 mg (two tablets) at 7:30 AM instead of the scheduled 6:00 AM dose and was unable to locate the resident’s ordered Ingrezza 80 mg capsule, confirming the medication had not arrived from the pharmacy and required reordering. The DON confirmed that the acetaminophen should have been given at 6:00 AM.
Failure to Notify Resident Representative of New Wounds
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to notify a resident’s representative of a significant change in condition, specifically the development of new wounds. The facility’s policy titled "Change in Condition" dated 05-21-2023 states that changes in a resident’s condition or treatment are to be immediately shared with the resident and/or resident representative and reported to the attending physician or delegate. The policy requires notification of the resident, resident representative, and physician for events such as accidents resulting in injury with potential need for physician intervention, significant changes in physical, mental, or psychosocial status, and the need to significantly alter treatment. Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12-006.04(F)(i)(5) also requires immediate notification of the resident, the resident’s doctor, and a family member of situations that affect the resident. Record review showed that one resident, admitted on a specified date, had a history of cerebrovascular accident (stroke) affecting the right side, severe cognitive impairment with a BIMS score of 5, total dependence for toileting, hygiene, dressing, bed mobility, transfers, and bathing, frequent urinary incontinence, and constant bowel incontinence, and did not have a pressure ulcer at the time of the MDS dated 01-26-2026. A Tissue Analytics Document dated 03-03-2026 revealed the resident had developed a new wound on the right ankle and a new deep tissue injury to the left heel. Progress notes contained no indication that the resident’s representative was informed of these new wounds. In an interview, an LPN confirmed that the resident’s representative was not updated about the new wounds and acknowledged that they should have been.
Failure to Timely Complete and Communicate Grievance Resolution
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow its grievance policy and to resolve and communicate the resolution of a grievance submitted on behalf of a resident. The facility’s written policy required Social Services and department managers to investigate written grievances, submit a written report of findings to the administrator, and ensure the resident or complainant was informed of the investigation findings and corrective actions in a timely manner, with documentation on the grievance form. A family member filed a written grievance concerning a staff member’s attitude toward the resident and the family member. The initial grievance form obtained from the social worker showed the grievance was received, but the sections for resolution and administrator review were incomplete, and the administrator reported being unaware of the grievance until it was brought to attention by surveyors. Interviews revealed that the social worker left the grievance form incomplete because they were waiting for permanent interventions from nursing leadership and did not document the final, grievance-specific resolution until much later. The social services supervisor stated the grievance was being processed, and the assistant DON reported speaking with the staff member involved, who denied the allegation, and removing that staff member from the resident’s care. Although facility staff reported that grievance resolution had been provided to the resident and family through a one-to-one discussion, the resident’s family member later stated they had not been notified of the grievance resolution. The administrator indicated that a reasonable timeframe for grievance resolution, including completion and review of the form, was 10–14 days, but the grievance form was not fully completed until nearly two months after the grievance was filed, and the permanent, grievance-specific resolution was not communicated to the family at the time the grievance was initially addressed.
Failure to Report Alleged Physical Abuse and Resulting Bruising to Law Enforcement
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to report an allegation of physical abuse to law enforcement within the required timeframe. Facility policy, revised 08/08/2024, required the administrator or designee to notify multiple entities, including law enforcement, no later than two hours after an allegation involving serious bodily injury or within 24 hours if there was no serious bodily injury. The policy also specified notification of the state licensing authority, Ombudsman, resident representative, APS, the resident’s attending physician, and the facility medical director. Despite this written requirement, documentation showed that law enforcement was not notified following an allegation of physical abuse involving a resident. The resident involved had been admitted in 2019 and had diagnoses including moderate vascular dementia with agitation, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. A recent MDS showed a BIMS score of 15, indicating the resident was cognitively intact, and noted episodes of care rejection but no documented physical behavioral symptoms toward others. On the date of the incident, a NA entered the resident’s room, placed a lift sling under the resident, and informed the resident they would be taking a shower; the resident reported refusing the bath and stated that the situation escalated into both the resident and the NA exchanging punches. Subsequent skin assessments documented multiple bruises on both upper extremities that were not present the day before. A Potential Resident Abuse Report Form and the EHR contained no evidence that law enforcement was notified, and both the Administrator and Social Services Supervisor confirmed in interviews that the allegation of physical abuse and associated bruising were not reported to law enforcement, contrary to facility policy and reporting requirements.
Failure to Update Comprehensive Care Plan to Reflect Current DNR Status
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to update a resident’s comprehensive care plan (CCP) to reflect the current resuscitation status after a change in code status was ordered. Facility policy on Comprehensive Care Plans, last reviewed/revised on 09/02/2025, required the CCP to be reviewed and revised by the interdisciplinary team after each comprehensive and quarterly MDS assessment. Record review showed that the resident was admitted on 09/23/2024, had a condition or chronic disease that may result in a life expectancy of less than six months, and was receiving hospice services. A Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order dated 04/03/2026 documented that the resident’s representative requested DNR status, and an order listing report showed a DNR order dated 04/22/2026. However, the resident’s CCP printed on 04/28/2026 at 9:18 AM still reflected a “full code, do not resuscitate” status dated 10/02/2024, indicating the CCP had not been updated to match the current DNR order. In an interview, the Social Services Supervisor confirmed that the code status should have been updated at the time of the code status change.
Failure to Implement Physician-Ordered Sacral Skin Treatment
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to implement physician-ordered skin integrity interventions for a resident with multiple comorbidities. The resident’s MDS dated 03-24-2026 documented End Stage Renal Disease with dialysis dependence, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, A-Fib, COPD, and Chronic Heart Failure, as well as moderate cognitive impairment with a BIMS score of 12. The resident required setup and cleanup assistance with eating and total assistance with hygiene, toileting, bathing, dressing, bed mobility, and transfers, and was receiving dialysis services. The physician’s order, as shown on the Order Listing Report printed 04-28-2026, directed staff to cleanse the buttocks and coccyx with foam soap and water, pat dry, apply preventative ointment up to four times daily and as needed for soiling, and secure the area with a sacral mepilex dressing. Despite this order, the Nurse Administration Record for April 2026 contained no entry for the ordered wound care to the buttocks and coccyx, meaning the treatment was not listed to cue staff for administration. During an observation of incontinence care on 04-30-2026 at 10:40 AM, the resident’s sacral area showed pink skin discoloration and there was no mepilex dressing present on the sacral or coccyx area, indicating the ordered treatment had not been provided. In an interview later that day at 2:30 PM, an LPN confirmed that the resident was supposed to receive wound care to the sacral and coccyx area, acknowledged that the treatment had not been provided, and stated there must have been a glitch in the electronic medical record program because the order did not appear on the NAR.
Failure to Implement and Adjust Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment Interventions
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to develop, implement, and reevaluate effective interventions to prevent pressure ulcer development and to promote wound healing for two residents at risk or with existing pressure injuries. Facility policy required Braden Scale risk assessments on admission, weekly for four weeks, then quarterly or with significant change, and mandated a systematic approach including prompt assessment and treatment, monitoring, and modification of interventions as needed. The policy also required that interventions be adjusted when risk changed, when new or recurrent pressure injuries developed, when there was lack of healing progression, or when residents were non-compliant. The Braden Scale reference used by the facility defined scores of 10–12 as high risk and 13–14 as moderate risk for pressure ulcer development. One resident with a history of stroke, right-sided hemiplegia, severe cognitive impairment, total dependence for ADLs, and bowel and bladder incontinence was identified as at moderate to high risk for pressure ulcer development on admission, with a baseline care plan including a pressure-relieving wheelchair cushion and a comprehensive care plan identifying high risk for skin breakdown. The care plan listed general interventions such as Braden evaluations, observation and documentation of skin condition, use of a special mattress, skin hygiene, and nutritional and lab monitoring. A skin check initially showed no pressure ulcers, but a subsequent skin check documented blanchable redness to the right heel. An order was in place for Prevalon boots to be worn in bed, but progress notes over several consecutive days documented that the boots were not available, and heels were instead floated on a pillow. A pressure ulcer on the right heel was then identified, and later tissue analytics showed the wound had significantly enlarged, with additional findings of a new dark area consistent with a deep tissue injury on the right heel, a new wound on the right ankle possibly related to pressure or boot straps, and a deep tissue injury on the left heel. Practitioner instructions were to protect the heels at all times, including when out of bed and to avoid resting the feet on foot pedals, but the medication/nurse administration record was not updated to reflect the “at all times” order until many days after it was given. For this same resident, the facility did not promptly obtain a nutritional evaluation for wound healing, as the dietician’s assessment and recommendation for a nutritional supplement occurred several weeks after the first pressure ulcer was identified, and the ordered supplement was not started until several days after the recommendation. Tissue analytics documentation was also not completed on one of the scheduled dates, and interviews with nursing staff confirmed that a turning/repositioning schedule was not entered into the electronic health record to cue staff, despite the resident’s high risk and existing wounds. Staff interviews further confirmed that the resident was non-compliant with Prevalon boots and that the interdisciplinary team had not re-evaluated pressure-relief interventions for the feet during this period. Another resident, cognitively intact but totally dependent for bed mobility, transfers, and personal care, and always incontinent of bowel and bladder, was assessed as at risk for pressure ulcers and already had a stage 2 pressure ulcer. This resident was observed on multiple occasions lying in bed on a Joerns DermaFloat low air loss mattress that was consistently set at the firmest setting. The manufacturer’s instructions for this mattress required individualized adjustment of the comfort setting using a hand-check method to prevent bottoming out and directed that the proper setting be documented and re-evaluated as the resident’s condition warranted. The DON confirmed that the facility had not followed the mattress manual for setup for this resident and could not confirm that the mattress was at the correct setting to prevent bottoming out as described in the manual.
Failure to Adhere to Dialysis Resident Fluid Restriction and Medication Scheduling
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to follow its own policy for dialysis residents and to adhere to physician-ordered fluid restrictions and medication timing for one dialysis-dependent resident. The facility’s policy required that dialysis residents receive fluids only as ordered by the physician, that nursing and dietary staff organize the division and distribution of fluids, that no water pitcher be present when restricted, and that medications be administered before departure and after return from dialysis so as not to interfere with treatment. The resident had end stage renal disease on dialysis, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, COPD, and chronic heart failure, with a care plan and orders specifying a therapeutic diet, low potassium, no added salt, double protein, and a 1200 ml/day fluid restriction divided as 240 ml at each meal and 120 ml with each med pass, and no water pitcher in the room. Despite these orders and care plan interventions, observations showed a 600 ml water pitcher in the room filled to the 500 ml mark, and lunch trays that included a 240 ml milk carton plus additional juice and ice, exceeding the ordered 240 ml fluid allotment at meals. Record review further showed conflicting fluid restriction documentation, with an After Visit Summary listing a 1500 ml fluid restriction while the facility’s orders and care plan reflected a 1200 ml restriction, and staff interviews confirmed that the resident had been offered more than the ordered 240 ml of fluid with meals and that a water pitcher had been present contrary to the care plan. Additionally, the facility failed to coordinate medication administration around dialysis treatments. The Medication Administration Record documented that multiple scheduled 9 a.m. medications, including atorvastatin, fluticasone nasal spray, linagliptin, sennosides-docusate, metoprolol tartrate, mucinex ER, carboxymethylcellulose eye drops, and ipratropium-albuterol inhalation solution, were not given on a dialysis day because the resident was away from the facility without medications. The DON confirmed that these medications were omitted due to the resident being at dialysis and acknowledged not knowing that medication administration should be scheduled around dialysis services, contrary to the facility’s dialysis care policy.
Failure to Respond Timely to Resident Call Lights
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure timely response to resident call lights, with multiple documented instances of response times far exceeding 30 minutes. One cognitively intact resident (BIMS score 13) reported being left on the toilet for a very long time in mid-January and again on a later date in April, though for a somewhat shorter period. Alarm Average Response Time Reports (AARTR) showed that this resident’s call light remained on for 167 minutes and 51 seconds on one January date, and for 46 minutes and 32 seconds and 73 minutes and 34 seconds during two separate call light activations in April. Another resident with moderately impaired cognition (BIMS score 12) had a family member report that the resident had to wait an hour to be laid down after dialysis. AARTR data for this resident showed call light durations of 61 minutes and 38 seconds and 76 minutes and 33 seconds on separate occasions in April. A third cognitively intact resident (BIMS score 15) reported having waited as long as two hours for a call light to be answered, and AARTR records documented call light durations of 65 minutes and 18 seconds and 63 minutes on two separate occasions. The DON stated that the facility’s goal for call light response was 7 minutes and confirmed that call light times over 30 minutes were not timely.
Failure to Administer Ordered Medications During Dialysis Absence
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident was free from significant medication errors when required medications were not administered as ordered while the resident was away from the facility for dialysis. The resident had multiple serious diagnoses, including end stage renal disease requiring dialysis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, COPD, and chronic heart failure, and was assessed with moderate cognitive impairment. The resident required extensive assistance with most activities of daily living and was receiving dialysis services three times weekly. The comprehensive care plan documented scheduled dialysis on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On a documented dialysis day, the resident did not receive the scheduled 9 AM dose of metoprolol tartrate 25 mg because the resident was away from the facility without medications. The medication administration record showed a code indicating the medication was not given due to the resident being away, and a progress note stated that morning medications were not administered because the resident was at dialysis that morning. Later, the physician ordered metoprolol to be given after the resident’s heart rate was found to be 116. In an interview, the DON confirmed that the resident did not receive metoprolol and linagliptin on that date and acknowledged that the omission constituted a medication error.
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