PruittHealth- Columbia

2451 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC 29204 (964) 341-6758
For profit - Corporation 185 Beds PRUITTHEALTH Data: November 2025 2 Immediate Jeopardy citations
Trust Grade
1/100
#166 of 186 in SC
Last Inspection: July 2025

Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.

Overview

PruittHealth-Columbia has received a Trust Grade of F, indicating poor performance with significant concerns about care quality. It ranks #166 out of 186 facilities in South Carolina, placing it in the bottom half of state options, and #11 out of 14 in Richland County, where only a few local facilities perform better. The facility is showing some improvement, with the number of issues decreasing from 9 in 2024 to 7 in 2025. Staffing is rated at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average, with a turnover rate of 52%, slightly above the state average, but there is good RN coverage, surpassing 79% of other facilities, which is a positive sign. However, they have incurred $101,973 in fines, raising concerns about their compliance with regulations. Specific incidents include failures in properly documenting and implementing advanced directives, which could lead to critical issues regarding patient care, and delays in meal service that may affect residents' nutrition and satisfaction. Overall, while there are some strengths, such as RN coverage, the facility's poor trust grade and concerning incidents warrant careful consideration.

Trust Score
F
1/100
In South Carolina
#166/186
Bottom 11%
Safety Record
High Risk
Review needed
Inspections
Getting Better
9 → 7 violations
Staff Stability
⚠ Watch
52% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
Penalties
✓ Good
$101,973 in fines. Lower than most South Carolina facilities. Relatively clean record.
Skilled Nurses
○ Average
Each resident gets 32 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for South Carolina. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
Violations
⚠ Watch
27 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
★☆☆☆☆
1.0
Overall Rating
★★☆☆☆
2.0
Staff Levels
★★★☆☆
3.0
Care Quality
★☆☆☆☆
1.0
Inspection Score
Stable
2024: 9 issues
2025: 7 issues

The Good

  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record

Facility shows strength in fire safety.

The Bad

1-Star Overall Rating

Below South Carolina average (2.8)

Significant quality concerns identified by CMS

Staff Turnover: 52%

Near South Carolina avg (46%)

Higher turnover may affect care consistency

Federal Fines: $101,973

Well above median ($33,413)

Significant penalties indicating serious issues

Chain: PRUITTHEALTH

Part of a multi-facility chain

Ask about local staffing decisions and management

The Ugly 27 deficiencies on record

2 life-threatening
Jul 2025 5 deficiencies
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Safe Environment (Tag F0584)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to ensure that Resident (R)90 was provided with a func...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to ensure that Resident (R)90 was provided with a functioning television, compromising the resident's right to a homelike environment. This failure affected 1 of 1 residents reviewed for a homelike environment.Review of R90's Face Sheet revealed R90 was admitted on [DATE] with diagnoses that included but not limited to: displaced fracture of the fifth cervical vertebra, unsteadiness on the feet, difficulty in walking, and central cord syndrome at the specified level of the cervical spinal cord.Review of R90's Annual Minimum Data Set (MDS), with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 06/03/25, showed R90 had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 12 out of 15, indicating moderate cognitive impairment. Under Section F0400, Interview for Daily Preferences, R90 indicated that doing his/her favorite activities was very important, with the resident serving as the primary respondent. The MDS also documented that R90 is dependent on staff for transfers and is wheelchair-bound.Review of R90's Care Plan with the last conference date 07/02/25 revealed Category: Activities R90 prefers activities that identify with prior lifestyle. Goal- R90 will express satisfaction with daily routine and leisure activities. Approach- Encourage R90 to become involved with activities: R90 prefers staying in room, games on iPad, watching TV, Ladies group social with food, Bible study on iPad, and eating popcorn. Provide a setting in which activities are preferred: own room, day room.Review of a Maintenance handwritten log dated May-June 2025 revealed R90's room [ROOM NUMBER](1) Needs a new TV.Review of a work order dated 05/30/25 entered by the Maintenance Department revealed Some channels don't play, but TV still works.During an observation and interview on 07/15/25 at 12:15 PM, with resident R90 in her room. She was found lying in bed with the head of bed elevated approximately 45 degrees and appeared visibly frustrated while attempting to change the channel on her television using the remote control. R90 shared that she considers herself antisocial and prefers to remain alone in her room, with watching television (TV) being her favorite activity. She expressed ongoing frustration regarding her TV not functioning properly, stating that it frequently freezes when she tries to change the channel, turns off by itself, and that about half of the channels-many of which are her favorites-have no audio. She noted that as a result, she ends up watching the same programs repeatedly. R90 emphasized that she is bed-bound and dependent on staff for assistance with the TV. She reported that she has been experiencing these issues for several months and has informed staff daily, including members of the maintenance team, yet no corrective action has been taken. R90 stated that she has been a resident at the facility for approximately one year and expressed disappointment and concern that her repeated requests for help with the television have not been addressed. During an interview on 07/18/25 at 8:48 AM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)1 stated he was unaware of any current issues involving R90's television not functioning. He recalled that the resident had previously voiced complaints about her TV a few months ago, at which time Maintenance was notified of the issue. He further stated that R90 prefers to remain in her room and is dependent on staff for assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and transfers.During an interview on 07/18/25 at 8:57 AM, the Maintenance Director revealed that he is aware of R90's ongoing issues with her television not working. He stated that he has a replacement TV available to install in her room but has not yet had the opportunity to do so. He confirmed that R90 has been experiencing TV problems since approximately May 2025. The Maintenance Director assured that a working television would be placed in her room by the end of the day.During an interview on 07/18/25 at 10:13 AM, with the Facility Interim Administrator (FIA), Nurse Consultant (NC1), and [NAME] President (VP) revealed that they were previously unaware that Resident R90 did not have a functional television. Upon learning of the situation, all three agreed that it is unacceptable for the issue to have remained unresolved for such an extended period. They collectively assured that R90 would have a fully functioning TV by the end of the day. Furthermore, they expressed a clear expectation that the Maintenance Department is to follow up promptly and ensure R90 is provided with a new television. NC1 revealed there is no policy for a homelike environment.
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0761 (Tag F0761)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on review of facility policy, observations and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that the medication refrigerator temperature logs were checked daily in 1 of 4 medication storage rooms. ...

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Based on review of facility policy, observations and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that the medication refrigerator temperature logs were checked daily in 1 of 4 medication storage rooms. Review of the facility's policy titled Medication Storage in the Healthcare Centers states Medications and biologicals are stored safely, securely, and properly following the manufacturer's recommendations or those of the supplier . Procedure #8, the temperature will be logged daily on the refrigerator and room temperature log.During an observation on 07/16/25 at 03:29 PM, the 200 hall refrigerator revealed a large amount of ice pooled in the freezer. The ice is dripping on the medication. A pool of water is resting at the bottom of the refrigerator in the container with the new insulin.During an observation on 07/17/25 at 08:33 AM, the staff moved the 200 hall refrigerated medications to the 300 hall refrigerator.During an observation on 07/17/25 at 08:40 AM, the 300 hall refrigerator logs revealed that 3 out of 4 months observed were not checked daily.During an interview on 7/17/25 at 9:23 AM, DON stated, We moved the medications to hall 300 hall refrigerator. The 200-hall refrigerator is inoperable. We ordered another refrigerator. It is the responsibility of the day and night nurses to record the refrigerator temperatures daily.
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Infection Control (Tag F0880)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility procedures, observation and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that appropriate infection con...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility procedures, observation and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that appropriate infection control procedures related to wound care were implemented for 1 of 1 Residents (R)6 reviewed. Specifically, during a dressing change Registered Nurse (RN)4 was observed removing a soiled dressing from R6's wound and replacing it with a clean dressing, without changing gloves and performing appropriate hand hygiene.Review of the facility's clinical procedure titled, Clinical Procedure: Infection Control-Wound Dressings copyrighted 2025, revealed, Pre-Procedure, Infection control during a dressing change is important to wound care management. By following a standardized protocol, healthcare professionals ensure safety and compliance with evidence-based practices. Procedure.apply clean gloves to remove the soiled dressing, placing it directly into the waste bag to avoid contaminating surrounding surfaces. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene. Apply a new pair of gloves.Apply clean or sterile gloves to apply the new dressing.Review of R6's Face Sheet revealed R6 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to: unspecified, pressure ulcer of left upper back, unstageable (history of), pressure ulcer of left hip, unstageable (history of) and unspecified wound of left shoulder.Review of R6's Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 06/26/25 revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 06 indicating severe cognitive impairment.Review of R6's Medication Administration Record (MAR) dated July 1-17, 2025, revealed the following orders: 1. Enhanced Barrier Precaution with a start date of 09/17/242. Dakin's Solution 0.25 percent % as needed (PRN) with a start date of 07/10/25 and special instructions to: Cleanse wound to coccyx with Dakins Solution, pat dry. Skin prep peri wound, allow to air dry. Lightly fill the wound cavity with Calcium Alginate Ag to the wound bed and cover with dry gauze. Secure with foam border dressing every day and as needed. Monitor for signs and symptoms of infection.Review of (R) Progress Note dated 07/09/25 revealed wound location at the coccyx, with a volume of 18.625 cc, an area of 18.75 square centimeters, a length of 7.5 cm, a width of 2.5 cm, and a depth of 1.1 cm. Granulation tissue is 80% present, with a soft texture and pink color. Necrotic tissue accounts for 10%, yellow in color. Drainage is serous, with a moderate amount. The primary dressing is calcium alginate with silver, and the secondary dressing is zinc-based barrier cream applied to the periwound area, covered by bordered gauze dressing. Dressing is changed daily.During an observation of wound care on 07/17/25 at 1:38 PM, RN4 sanitized their hands, then placed a gown and gloves on. RN4 then removed the dirty wound dressing and placed on clean gloves. RN4 took a bag of chips from the resident and placed it in the trash can. RN4 labeled the dressing with a black marker with the date and R4's initials. During an observation of wound care on 07/17/25 at 1:48 PM, RN4 sanitized hands and donned gloves. RN4 then removed the soiled dressing. RN4 proceeded to remove the Dakin's solutions from the cup and cleaned the wound using circular motion. RN4 proceeded to dry the wound with a 4x4 gauze, afterward, RN4 removed gloves. RN4 sanitized hands and placed on a new pair of gloves and placed on the clean dressing.During an interview on 07/17/25 at 2:03 PM, RN4 stated, I do have a certification in wound care. I go by the policy and procedures on how to change wound dressings. I realized I should have changed gloves before cleaning with the Dakins' solution. I receive additional education through attending in-services, if they introduce new products.During an interview on 07/17/25 at 3:49 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) stated, The wound nurse gets her continuing education from Relias. She came in knowing her information. She was a wound care nurse from a different agency. We will continue doing Relias training and competencies. The Relias walks them through on how to change a dressing, and then I will check her off for competency. During an interview on 07/17/25 at 3:54 PM, the Administrator stated, We also have a wound boot camp that we send the wound care nurses to. The additional training is given by Medline services. The [NAME] teams will conduct education calls, or sometimes the wound nurse can go in person to the trainings.
CONCERN (F)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0802 (Tag F0802)

Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, direct observations, and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure resident meals were...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, direct observations, and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure resident meals were served and distributed in a timely manner. This failure to adhere to established meal service protocols had the potential to impact residents' nutritional intake, satisfaction, and overall quality of care.Review of facility policy titled Mealtimes with a revision date of 10/18/2017 revealed: .2. Meals must be established at regular intervals comparable to those in the community.Review of designated mealtimes revealed the following schedule: Breakfast is served from 7:45 AM to 8:45 AM, Lunch from 11:40 AM to 1:00 PM, and Supper from 5:00 PM to 6:15 PM.An observation on 07/16/25 at 9:17 AM revealed a resident in room [ROOM NUMBER] yelling out, Give me something to eat. At the time of the observation, no meal carts or trays were present on the floor.An interview with the Dietary Manager (DM) on 07/16/2025 at 10:24 AM revealed that food preparation is completed and temperatures are to be taken by 11:30 AM. Following this, tray line service begins immediately, and hotbox carts are dispatched to the units in 30-minute intervals.An observation conducted on 07/16/2025 at 11:30 AM, 11:45 AM, and 11:50 AM revealed that food temperatures had not been taken and the tray line had not yet started during any of these times. Kitchen staff were observed engaging in non-dietary-related conversations, washing dishes, and completing other non-tray line-related duties. An interview with a Dietary Aide (DA) on 07/16/2025 at 11:53 AM revealed that the tray line had not started due to staffing issues, including staff arriving late and others calling out. She stated that these delays push the entire meal service schedule behind. The aide further noted that this is not the first time such delays have occurred and expressed concern that the issue will likely continue if staffing shortages persist.An observation on 7/16/2025 at 12:06 PM noted staff beginning to take temperatures of the lunch meal and start plating the meals. On 07/17/2025 at 9:15 AM, the first hotbox for breakfast arrived on Unit 3. At that time, ten residents were present in the Unit 3 dining area, waiting to be served. Residents were observed asking for breakfast, and staff responded by informing them that they were waiting for the second hotbox to arrive before they could begin service. The second hotbox arrived at 9:20 AM, and the first breakfast tray was served at 9:22 AM. On 07/17/2025 at 12:30 PM, no lunch trays were observed on the 100 Hall. Residents were seated in the dining area waiting for their meals. Although no concerns were voiced by the residents at that time, the delay in meal service was evident. At 12:52 PM, tray carts were brought in by the dietary aide, and the first resident was served at 12:55 PM. On 07/17/2025 at 1:09 PM, meal trays were delivered to Unit 4 while residents were seated in the dayroom. The first tray was served to a resident at 1:12 PM. On 07/17/2025 at 2:04 PM, the lunch hotboxes arrived on Unit 200. At that time, residents were observed sitting in the main dining area of Unit 200, waiting for their lunch to be served. On 07/18/2025 at 9:26 AM, breakfast for Hall 200 arrived on the floor while residents were seated in the dayroom waiting to be served.A follow-up interview with the Dietary Manager (DM) on 07/18/2025 at 10:47 AM, confirmed the delays in meal service times. She explained that these delays are primarily due to staffing shortages. The DM stated that there was a time when she would overstaff as a precaution to ensure adequate coverage; however, she was subsequently instructed not to overstaff due to budget constraints. As a result, she has experienced increased staff callouts and late arrivals. Additionally, she noted that the majority of dietary staff are new and still in training, which further contributes to the delays in meal preparation and service.An interview with Nurse Consultant (NC1) on 07/18/2025 at 10:45 AM, conducted in the presence of the [NAME] President (VP), revealed that NC1 was aware that meal trays had been extremely late over several days. She was informed that the dietary department had been experiencing staff callouts and that many employees were still new and in training. In addition, the VP stated that the facility is fully staffed overall and expressed the opinion that the dietary staff are not taking accountability for the delays in meal service.An interview on 07/18/2025 at 1:29 PM with the Facility Interim Administrator (FIA) revealed that she is aware of ongoing staffing concerns affecting non-clinical departments, including Housekeeping and Dietary. She confirmed that additional staff are needed and acknowledged the facility is experiencing a high turnover rate. The FIA stated that within the past 100 days, there have been 35 new hires, with a new hire retention rate of 71 percent. She noted that she has been actively working with [NAME] Health Recruiters and participates in weekly calls to discuss current staffing levels, new hires, and potential candidates. She emphasized that staffing for non-clinical departments remains a work in progress.
CONCERN (F)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Food Safety (Tag F0812)

Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents

Based on a review of the facility's dietary policies, observations, and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure proper sanitation of kitchen equipment, maintain overall cleanliness of the main...

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Based on a review of the facility's dietary policies, observations, and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure proper sanitation of kitchen equipment, maintain overall cleanliness of the main kitchen, and properly label and discard expired foods in the 1/1 main kitchen. This deficiency posed a potential risk to the health and safety of the 140 residents who reside in the facility and consume food prepared in the kitchen.Review of facility policy titled Labeling, Dating, and Storage with a revision date of 11/11/2022 states, 1. Food and beverage items will have an identifying label as well as a received date and opening date, as applicable; for items prepared on site, a 'use by' date will also be indicated. 2. Foods will be stored in their original or approved container and, if opened, shall be wrapped tightly with film, foil, etc.Review of facility policy titled Foodborne Illnesses with a revision date of 10/18/2017 states, 3. It is the responsibility of the Dietary Manager to see that dietary employees practice safe and sanitary methods when preparing foods to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria. 4. It is the responsibility of the Dietary Manager to see that food is properly stored to reduce the chance of foodborne illness. 6. Hands, equipment, utensils, and work areas must be cleaned and properly sanitized to prevent cross-contamination of foods. All equipment must be dismantled, cleaned, and sanitized between uses.During the initial walk-through of the facility kitchen on 07/15/25, starting at 10:30 AM, with the Dietary Manager (DM), revealed the following:1. In the Freezer: An aluminum pan approximately 9x13 inches (in) size, covered with aluminum foil, was labeled Dressing with a handwritten date of 6/26/25. No use-by or discard date was present.2. In the Cooler: A stainless-steel pan containing three heads of cabbage, not stored in their original packaging or box, was labeled Cabbage with a date of 07/01/25. No use-by or discard date was included on the label. Approximately 18 croissants were observed stored in a cardboard-like packaging box, wrapped in plastic. Visible gray spots were present on the tops of the croissants. The label on the plastic stated Croissants with a prep date of 07/07/25, but no use-by or discard date was observed.3. The industrial stove was found to be filthy. The backsplash, originally stainless steel, was completely blackened with buildup. Significant accumulation of grime was observed on the side backsplash, and the stove burners appeared rusted.4. The exhaust hood was tested and found to not be functioning at full capacity. The lighting inside the hood was dim, with only 4 of the 8 lights were operational. Additionally, the hood exhibited visible rust on both the exterior and interior surfaces, and the paint was observed to be chipping.During a follow up kitchen observation on 07/16/25 at 11:31 AM, the exit door leading to outside was observed with a heavy accumulation of dark brown grime and debris running down its surface. A lime green fly trap was hanging near the exit sign with multiple visible flies stuck to it. These findings were confirmed by the DM.Review of a facility invoice from Southeast Restaurant Cleaning, LLC dated 01/11/25, documented a quarterly inspection under NFAA Code 96 standards for the hood exhaust system. The description also noted that some pilot lights on the stove were out at the time of inspection.Review of a facility invoice from Southeast Restaurant Cleaning, LLC dated 06/14/25, documented that cleaning services were performed on the hood, ductwork, and exhaust system. However, the invoice specifically stated that no equipment was replaced during this service.During an interview on 07/15/25 at 11:07 AM, the DM stated dietary staff are expected to check the coolers daily to ensure all items are properly labeled and stored. DM noted maintaining proper labeling and storage is the responsibility of all dietary staff. She reported that kitchen cleanings are performed daily after each meal, and deep cleanings-which include wiping down equipment-are conducted weekly. The DM explained that dietary staff are assigned specific duties, and upon completion, they are to initial a duty checklist and submit it to her or the Dietary Supervisor. A visual inspection is then performed to verify that the assigned tasks were completed appropriately. Regarding the overall kitchen cleanliness, she acknowledged that she and her staff do their best to maintain standards despite being short-staffed. The DM also agreed that the stove's backsplash is in poor condition and needs to be fully replaced. During an interview on 07/17/25 at 10:30 AM, the Facility Interim Administrator (FIA) revealed the kitchen remains an ongoing area of focus. She stated that her expectation is for dietary staff to properly label all food items, include accurate dates, and promptly discard any visibly expired food. She also acknowledged that some of the kitchen equipment is outdated and in need of replacement.During an interview on 07/18/25 at 10:45 AM, with the [NAME] President (VP) and Nurse Consultant (NC1), both individuals are in agreement regarding the dietary and environmental concerns observed in the facility. They acknowledged that the current conditions are unacceptable and confirmed that the issues will be addressed. The VP stated that he is actively working with vendors and has contracts in place to resolve the identified concerns.
Jan 2025 2 deficiencies
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Accident Prevention (Tag F0689)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interviews and record reviews, the facility failed to provide an environment free from potential accident hazards. Spec...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interviews and record reviews, the facility failed to provide an environment free from potential accident hazards. Specifically, the facility used a mattress to transport Resident (R)1 down the stairwell, when the facility elevators were not working, for 1 of 3 residents reviewed. Furthermore, the facility failed to provide training and documentation related to the safe transportation of resident when the facility's elevator is not working. Findings include: The Facility Policy was requested on 01/29/25 from the Administrator. The Administrator indicated that the facility did not have a policy pertaining to the operation of the elevator or an emergency plan. Review of R1's Face Sheet revealed R1 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses including but not limited to: acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins, paroxysmal tachycardia, Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, generalized anxiety disorder, dizziness and giddiness and cognitive communication deficit. Review of R1's Annual Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 11/26/24, revealed R1's Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 10 out of 15, indicating R1 was moderately cognitively impaired. Further review of the MDS revealed R1 uses a wheelchair for mobility. Review of a facility document titled, Code Black: Utility Outage, documented that the Maintenance Director (MD) notified [NAME] Elevator of the outage and inquired about the projected duration on 01/15/25 and 01/25/25. Review of the MD's emails dated 01/15/25 at 11:12 AM and 01/25/25 at 8:40 AM, revealed that [NAME] Elevator was dispatched for service request. Review of the Maintenance Activity Logs from 11/01/24 through 01/29/25, revealed no documentation of maintenance records about the elevator being inoperable. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 10:24 AM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)2 revealed that the elevator has been down over the weekend and was back in operation on the afternoon of 01/27/25. LPN2 states, in case of an emergency, staff calls 911 if they need to move a resident from upper floors. She also states, staff reschedules appointments for the dependent residents if the elevator is down. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 10:43 AM, Registered Nurse (RN)1 revealed she works on the third floor, and she confirmed the elevator was down when she returned to work on 01/27/25. RN1 states in the case of an emergency, staff transfers the residents via the stairwell in wheelchairs, or they call 911 if they are unable to transfer the resident from upstairs. RN1 further stated that in the past they have transported a dialysis patient on a mattress down the stairwell. She has only seen that technique done at this facility but hasn't been trained on it. RN1 states dependent residents that have outside appointments, are rescheduled when the elevator is inoperable. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 11:18 AM, LPN1 states the elevator has been going in and out lately. LPN1 states the elevator was inoperable this week 01/27/25, but started back working that evening. LPN1 states he hasn't been provided training or directives on what to do if the elevator isn't working for dependent residents on second, third or fourth floors. He states that if a dependent resident has an appointment and the elevator is inoperable, staff will reschedule the resident's appointment. LPN1 states he's never heard of, nor has he ever used the mattress technique for transporting residents. In case of an emergency LPN1 states that he will get the residents downstairs by any means necessary. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 11:40 AM, the MD revealed that the elevator has been giving them issues for over a week. The MD states the elevators are contracted with [NAME] Elevator, and he will contact them if there is an issue, so they can come out for service. The MD further stated on Monday 01/27/25, the MD assisted with bringing a dialysis resident from the fourth floor down the stairwell on a mattress with a cover under and over the resident for safety and security. The MD further stated that on the same day he assisted another resident from the third floor down the stairwell with the mattress technique as well. The MD states that when the elevators are inoperable, he must open all doors and cut the alarms off during that time. The MD states he had training on the mattress technique by the previous Administrator. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 12:30 PM, R1 revealed she was placed on a mattress by two men and transported down the stairwell for a Radiology appointment outside the facility. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 12:55 PM, RN1 stated that R1 went out for an appointment on Monday 01/27/25. RN1 states the resident was transported down the stairwell via wheelchair by LPN1, and a male therapist. R1 was transferred from the third floor to first floor. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 1:13 PM, LPN1 stated he transferred R1 from the third floor, by putting a blanket underneath a mattress and slowly assisting her down to the first floor, with the assistance of other staff. R1 was not apprehensive about the transfer and there were not any injuries or mishaps during the transfer. LPN1 confirmed that he never received any formal training on the mattress technique or what to do in an emergency situation. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 2:40 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) states that the elevator has been inoperable for hours in the past, but this time it has been down for days. The DON states that all hands are on deck in situations when residents need to get downstairs, or the staff will call Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for assistance. She is not sure if there is a standard policy. The DON's expectations are for staff to follow emergency preparedness training, but there is not one specific to the elevator. In the case of an emergency, staff would use a mattress, in which she thinks is the safest measure for the resident. The DON doesn't recall any formal education on the mattress technique or what to do in case of an emergency in the facility when the elevator is out of service. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 3:50 PM, the Administrator states that his job is to ensure the residents are safe and secure. The Administrator includes they transfer residents down the stairs with the use of a stretcher from transportation, with their supervision, or by placing a resident on a mattress, if the mattress has handles. He feels this is the least hazardous way to transport the resident's downstairs, when the elevator is not working. The Administrator stated that there were no falls or injuries for the residents that were transported down the stairwell. The Administrator states the previous Administrator provided communication of best practices to staff to use when the elevator is not working, but there is no documentation. He also states the facility doesn't have an Emergency Plan in place to use when the elevator is out of service. He states that they need to properly train and educate staff on all shifts about an Emergency Plan.
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0838 (Tag F0838)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and review of the Facility Assessment, the facility failed to include the use of an elevator as part of the F...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and review of the Facility Assessment, the facility failed to include the use of an elevator as part of the Facility Assessment, as it is utilized to transport residents during daily operations. Findings include: Facility Policy was requested on 01/29/25 from the Administrator. The Administrator indicated that the facility did not have a policy pertaining to the operation of the elevator or the completion of the Facility Assessment. Review of a facility document titled, Code Black: Utility Outage, documented that the Maintenance Director (MD) notified [NAME] Elevator of the outage and inquired about the projected duration on 01/15/25 and 01/25/25. Review of the Facility Assessment, with a revision date of July 2024, Section III. Physical Environment, Technology, and Equipment did not document information in reference to occupying an elevator in the facility. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 10:24 AM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)2 revealed that the elevator has been down over the weekend and was back in operation on the afternoon of 01/27/25. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 10:43 AM, Registered Nurse (RN)1 revealed she works on the third floor, and she confirmed the elevator was down when she returned to work on 01/27/25. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 11:18 AM, LPN1 states the elevator has been going in and out lately. LPN1 states the elevator was inoperable this week 01/27/25, but started back working that evening. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 11:40 AM, the Maintenance Director (MD) revealed that the elevator has been giving them issues for over a week. The MD states the elevators are contracted with [NAME] Elevator, and he will contact them if there is an issue, so they can come out for service. The MD states that when the elevators are inoperable, he must open all doors and cut the alarms off during that time. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 1:56 PM, the Administrator states that the Senior President of the facility stated that it wasn't a requirement to list the elevator as a piece of physical equipment in the Facility Assessment. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 2:40 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) states that the elevator has been inoperable for hours in the past, but this time it has been down for days. The DON further stated that she is not sure if there is a standard policy. The DON's expectations are for staff to follow emergency preparedness training, but there is not one specific to the elevator. During an interview on 01/29/25 at 3:50 PM, the Administrator states that his job is to ensure the residents are safe and secure. The Administrator further stated the elevator was not included in the Facility Assessment because he received communication from upper management that it didn't need to be included. He understands that the elevator is a part of the facility, but since the facility doesn't provide maintenance, quarterly inspections or repairs to it, it didn't need to be incorporated in the Facility Assessment.
Aug 2024 8 deficiencies
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0578 (Tag F0578)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, record review, and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure that Resident (R)521's advanced ...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, record review, and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure that Resident (R)521's advanced directives were updated as requested by their Resident Representative in a timely manner, for 1 of 1 resident reviewed for advanced directives. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Advanced Directives: South Carolina last revised on 11/28/17, revealed, This healthcare center recognizes the right of patients/residents to control decisions related to their medical care. Advanced Directives relate to the provision of care when the patient/resident lacks the capacity to make healthcare decisions. Advanced Directives executed in accordance with state law will be honored by the healthcare center. Patients/residents may revoke their advanced directives at any time without regard to the patient/resident's mental state or capacity. Revocation of any advanced directive for healthcare will become effective only upon communication to the attending physician by the patient/resident or by a person acting at the patient/resident's direction. The attending physician shall record in the patient/resident's medical record the time and date when the attending physician received notification of the written revocation. The healthcare center shall enter in the patient/resident's medical record any change in or termination of the advanced directive for health care that becomes known to the healthcare center. Review of R521's Face Sheet revealed R521 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses including but not limited to: vascular dementia with behaviors, type 2 diabetes, muscle weakness, and hypertension. Review of R521's admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 07/08/24, revealed R521 had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15 out of 15 which indicates that he is cognitively intact. Review of R521's admission Agreement dated 07/03/24, revealed, Patient/Resident elects to appoint their Resident Representative (RR) as my authorized agent to act on my behalf and in my name of all purposes necessary for admission to the facility including but not limited to, the execution of admission agreements, payments forms, and arbitration agreements. This appointment in no way precludes the Patient/Resident's ability to also sign agreements for himself/herself, nor does this revoke any previously executed General Power of Attorney or Healthcare Power of Attorney. Further review of the admission Agreement revealed that R521 has not executed an advanced directive, and did not wish to discuss advanced directives further at this time. Review of a Nurses Note dated 07/10/24, for R521 revealed, Spoke with [R521] Resident Representative, discussed code status and she would like the patient to be a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). She would like Power of Attorney (POA) paperwork, will make the Social Worker aware, she plans to attend the care plan meeting scheduled for 07/15/24. Review of R521 Physician Orders for July 2024, revealed R521 with an order for Full Code. Review of R521's Care Plan last reviewed/revised on 07/03/24, revealed, Advanced Directive: Full Code interventions include Patient/Resident's Advanced Directives are in effect, and their wishes and directions will be carried out in accordance with their advanced directives on a ongoing basis. Advise patient/resident and or appointed healthcare representative to provide copies to the facility of any updated Advanced Directives, all staff to be made aware of patient/resident wishes. During a phone interview on 07/30/24 at 4:37 PM, R521's Resident Representative (RR) revealed they wish for R521 to be a DNR and spoke with the facility staff related to R521's wishes a few weeks ago (07/10/24). R521's RR further stated that she makes medical decisions for R521 because he no longer is able to make his own due to his progressed dementia. During the interview with the RR, they mentioned about not being able to physically visit the facility due their own health issues but contact the facility by phone for everything regarding the resident. During a phone interview on 07/31/24 at 11:02 AM, the Nurse Practitioner (NP) revealed that R521's RR, requested that his code status be changed from a full code to DNR on 07/10/24, and told the Social Worker at the time but is unsure if the Social Worker was able to send R521's RR the appropriate documentation because they no longer work at the facility and the facility does not currently have a full time Social Worker. The NP further stated they are unsure of the facility's process for updating advanced directives when the resident representative is not able to come to the facility and physically sign the appropriate paper work. During an interview on 07/31/24 at 4:15 PM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)1 revealed R521's code status is full code. During an interview on 07/31/24 at 5:09 PM, the Temporary Social Worker (TSW) revealed they are not the Social Worker for this facility and work at the sister facility nearby. The TSW did not know about R521's RR but reviewed the nursing notes related to a request in advanced directives and was in agreement that it should have been completed in a timely manner. The TSW concluded that advanced directives can be mailed to resident representatives if they are not physically able to come to the facility to sign. During an interview on 08/01/24 at 6:39 PM, the Administrator revealed R521's advanced directives should have been updated in a timely manner.
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

ADL Care (Tag F0677)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of facility policy, the facility failed to provide Activities of Dail...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of facility policy, the facility failed to provide Activities of Daily Living (ADL) care to Resident (R)46, who is dependent on staff, for 1 of 7 residents reviewed for ADL care. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Documentation: Charting ADLs last revised on 02/18/21, revealed It is required for ADL care given by Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) and Nurses to be documented under Care Assist in patient/resident's Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR). For the healthcare centers not utilizing EHR, all documents will be completed using the CNA ADL Flow Sheet Form. Procedure: the monthly ADL tracking is utilized to code self-performance and coding all ADL's when support is provided. When the Care Assist is unavailable, the ADL documentation should be completed using the CNA/ADL Flowsheet form. CNAs are required to enter documentation at the point of care. Review of R46's Face Sheet revealed R46 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses including but not limited to: acute embolism and thrombosis of left femoral vein, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes with diabetic neuropathy, muscle spasm, and complete rotator cuff tear or rupture of right shoulder. Review of R46's admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 05/27/24, revealed R46 has a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 14 out of 15, which indicates that R46 is cognitively intact. Further review of the admission MDS revealed R46 requires substantial/maximal assistance with shower/bathing. Review of R46's ADL Documentation for July 2024, revealed no indications that showers/bed baths were provided or offered to R46 on the following days: 07/02/24, 07/07/24, 07/08/24, 07/10/24, 07/12/24, 07/13/24, 07/14/24, 07/15/24, 07/19/24, 07/20/24, 07/21/24, 07/22/24, 07/23/24, 07/25/24, and 07/26/24. During an observation and interview on 07/29/24 at 12:45 PM, R46 was observed in her wheelchair with long fingernails, there was a buildup of an unknown substance underneath R46's fingernails. Further observation revealed R46 had greasy hair and a noticeable amount of dandruff. R46 and her Resident Representative (RR) revealed that staff don't always provide her ADL care in a timely manner. During an observation and interview on 07/31/24 at 9:11 AM, R46 was in bed. R46 had long fingernails, there was an unknown substance under her finger nails. R46's hair was long and greasy, and a noticeable amount of dandruff. R46 revealed that the last time staff offered to wash her hair was about a month ago and was provided by therapy staff using a shower cap technique. R46 further stated, when therapy staff washed her hair they washed it while R46 was in bed. R46 concluded she prefers to have bed baths but would like her hair washed more than once a month. During an interview on 07/31/24 at 9:15 AM, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)1 revealed they were the resident's assigned CNA for the day and have been the CNA for the resident on and off since the resident was admitted to the facility. CNA1 stated that she was unsure of the last time R46 had her hair washed and was also unsure of when the last time they offered to wash R46's hair. During an interview on 07/31/24 at an unspecified time, the Unit Manager and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)2 revealed their expectation is for resident to receive a shower 3 times a week and offer residents a bed bath daily. LPN2 stated that for residents that prefer to have bed baths, they expect staff to wash a resident's hair during a bed bath as needed. LPN2 concluded staff are expected to document ADL care and the description in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Respiratory Care (Tag F0695)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to accurately provide Residen...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to accurately provide Resident (R)30 with correct oxygen rate per physician orders, for 1 of 1 resident reviewed for respiratory therapy. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Oxygen Administration with a revised date of 08/02/23, revealed, It is the policy of PruittHealth Hospice and Healthcare Centers/Veteran Homes to provide oxygen safely and accurately to appropriate patients/residents. Procedure: Oxygen will be administered by licensed personnel only when ordered by the physician, PA or NP. The physician order may be written PRN for comfort/dyspnea or may specify the number of liters, method of administration and length of time the oxygen is to be administered. Review of R30's Face Sheet revealed R30 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses including but not limited to: Secondary malignant neoplasm of right lung, pulmonary nocardiosis, acute respiratory failure with hypoxia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation, pneumonia, and dependence on supplemental oxygen. Review of R30's Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 07/09/24, revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15 out of 15, indicating R30 was cognitively intact. Review of R30's Care Plan with a start date of 07/30/24 documented, Oxygen Use related to: DX COPD, Acute Respiratory Failure w hypoxia, Malignant Right Lung Mass at risk for acute respiratory distress. Further review of the Care Plan directed staff to, administer medications as ordered, monitor for s/s acute respiratory distress despite use of continuous O2 as ordered, and Oxygen as ordered. Review of R30's Physician Order with a start date of 05/30/24, documented, Oxygen: Oxygen at 3 LPM [liters per minute] via Nasal Cannula continuous and ipratropium-albuterol solution for nebulization; 0.5 mg-3 mg (2.5 mg base)/3 mL; Amount to Administer: 3 ml; inhalation. During an observation of R30s room on 07/29/24 at 11:21 AM, revealed the oxygen flow rate was set at 4L/min (liters per minute). During an observation of R30's room on 08/01/24 at 8:31 AM, revealed R30 receiving oxygen at 4L/min. During an interview on 08/01/24 at 8:17 AM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)4 stated, He [R30] is hospice. He wears his O2 continuously. He is on 3L/min. I am unaware of him changing his O2. He is on 3 L/min. During an observation on 08/01/24 at 8:31 AM, R30 was receiving oxygen at 4L/min. During an observation on 08/01/24 at 8:32 AM, LPN4 entered R30's room to adjust R30's oxygen to the ordered rate. During an interview on 08/01/24 at 3:11 PM, LPN2 revealed that she performs audits on oxygen and verify all orders making sure the oxygen signs are on the door. LPN2 stated, I don't think his order has changed to 4L/min. He has a history of COPD, technically he should be on 3L/min. His oxygen sats are 92-95% on 3L/min. During an interview on 08/01/24 at 6:11 PM, the Administrator revealed we will implement that every time staff go in the room they will review the oxygen level. During an interview on 08/01/24 at 6:13 PM, the Nurse Consultant revealed, We will re-review the cause of why the O2 is not at the ordered rate.
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0761 (Tag F0761)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure expired medications and biological...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure expired medications and biological's were removed from storage in 1 of 2 medication storage rooms. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Medication Storage in the Healthcare Centers revised on 04/09/24, states, Medications and biologicals are stored safely, securely, and properly following manufacturer's recommendations or those of the supplier. The medication supply is accessible only to licensed nursing personnel and pharmacy personnel. Respiratory Therapists may access medications used in the provision of respiratory services. 3. Nurses are required to check all medications for deterioration and expiration before administration. Nurses are also required to inspect medication storage facilities, including medication carts, routinely. Medication storage areas are to be kept clean, well-lit, and free of clutter. Nursing staff who administer medications are responsible for the cleaning and organization of medication carts and storage areas. During an observation on 07/30/24 at 3:36 PM, of the Unit 100 Medication Storage Room, revealed the following: Aerobika - not labeled, no expiration date, and no patient name. [NAME] RCI Adult Non Rebreathing Mask Ref # 1069 expired on 07/17/24. During an interview on 07/30/24 at 3:48 PM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)6 verified the concerns identified in the medication storage room and stated, We discard all expired medications. I don't know how the Aerobika medication was distributed without a resident's name on it and being unlabeled. LPN6 discarded the medication and biological.
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Garbage Disposal (Tag F0814)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on review of facility policy, observation, and interviews, the facility failed to dispose of garbage and refuse properly for 1 of 2 dumpsters reviewed for garbage disposal. Specifically, trash/g...

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Based on review of facility policy, observation, and interviews, the facility failed to dispose of garbage and refuse properly for 1 of 2 dumpsters reviewed for garbage disposal. Specifically, trash/garbage was not contained in the dumpster, leaving food and debris surrounding the dumpster. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Waste Disposal: Dietary Services with a complete revision date of 04/11/16, states, It is the policy of PruittHealth for the Dietary Department to dispose of waste in an effective manner to prevent a breeding place for insects, rodents, and transmission of diseases . Procedure: 6. Dumpster lids, doors, and plugs should be kept always closed. 7. Dumpster and surrounding areas should be kept clean and free of debris. During an initial walk-through of the outside dumpster/refuse area on 07/30/24 at 4:01 PM, revealed 1 of the 2 dumpsters was observed with the doors open. Trash and debris was observed on the ground, surrounding the dumpsters. During a follow up observation on 07/31/24 at 9:19 AM, of the outside dumpster/refuse area, revealed the same concerns and was verified by the Dietary Manager (DM). During an interview on 07/31/24 at 9:19 AM, the DM verified the concerns of the dumpster/refuse area, and observed trash on the ground surrounding the dumpsters. The DM states, Trash gets taken out daily, and technically whoever is responsible for taking the trash out is responsible for ensuring all trash and debris is placed in the dumpster and not leaving trash on ground around the dumpster. During an interview on 07/31/24 at 10:38 AM, the Administrator stated, Typically, kitchen staff and maybe housekeeping are responsible for looking at dumpsters daily when they check outside for trash during morning walk-through. The trash company (drivers) are not allowed to get out of their truck so if trash drops on the floor, the facility staff are then responsible for ensuring it gets picked up and thrown in the trash, the next time they go outside.
CONCERN (E)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Infection Control (Tag F0880)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, record review, review of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, and review of the faci...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, record review, review of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, and review of the facility policy, the facility failed to ensure appropriate signage or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was donned and doffed, for residents (Resident (R)92, R29, R6, R113, and R35.) on Enhanced Barrier Precautions, for 5 of 7 residents reviewed. Findings include: Review of facility policy titled Enhanced Barrier Precaution last revised on 04/30/24, revealed It is the policy of this facility to implement Enhanced Barrier Precaution (EBP) for the prevention of transmission of Multi-Drug-Resistant Organisms (MDRO). EBP refers to an infection control intervention designed to reduce transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms that employ targeted gown and gloves use during high-contact resident care activities. Procedure: all staff receive training on enhanced barrier precautions upon hire and at least annually and are expected to comply with all designated precautions. All staff receive training on high-risk activities and common organisms that require the use of EBP. The facility will have the discretion to communicate to staff which residents require the use of EBP, as long as staff are aware of which residents require the use of EBP prior to providing high-contact care activities. Initiation of EBP: the facility will have the discretion in using EBP for residents who do not have a chronic wound or indwelling medical device and are infected or colonized with an MDRO that is not currently targeted by the CDC. An order for EBP will be obtained for residents with any of the following: wounds (chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, unhealed surgical wounds, and chronic venous statis ulcers) and/or indwelling medical devices (central lines, urinary catheters, feeding tubes, tracheostomy/ventilator tubes) even if the resident is not known to be infected or colonized with a MDRO. Implementation of EBP: make gowns and gloves available immediately near or outside of the resident ' s room. PPE for EBP is only necessary when providing high-contact care activities and may not need to be donned prior to entering resident ' s rooms. High-contact resident care activities include dressing, bathing, transferring, providing hygiene, changing bed linens, changing briefs or assisting with toileting, device care or use: central lines, urinary catheters, feeding tubes, tracheostomy/ventilator tubes, or wound care: any opening requiring a dressing. Review of the CDC guidance titled Implementation of Person Protective Equipment Use in Nursing Homes to Prevent Spread of MDROs last revised on 07/12/22, revealed, Multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) transmission is common in skilled nursing facilities, contributing to substantial resident morbidity and mortality and increased healthcare costs . EBP are an infection control intervention designed to reduce transmission of resistant organisms that employs targeted gown and glove use during high contact resident care activities. EBP may be indicated (when Contact Precautions do not otherwise apply) for residents with any of the following: wounds or indwelling medical devices, regardless of MDRO colonization status; infection or colonization with an MDRO; effective implementation of EBP requires staff training on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the availability of PPE and hand hygiene supplies at the point of care. Standard Precautions, which are a group of infection prevention practices, continue to apply to the care of all residents, regardless of suspected or confirmed or colonization status. Review of R92's Face Sheet revealed R92 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses including but not limited to: gastrostomy status, epilepsy, personal history of other mental and behavioral disorders, and hypertension. Review of R92's Significant Change Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 06/04/24, revealed R92 had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 0 out of 15, which indicates R92 has severe cognitive impairment. Further review of the Significant Change MDS revealed that while a resident, R92 received nutrient through a feeding tube in the last seven days. During an observation on 07/30/24 at 11:55 AM, revealed R92's room did not have appropriate signage outside the door related to EBP, due to tube feeding status. Review of R29's Face Sheet revealed R29 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses including but not limited to: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hypertension, major depressive disorder, and muscle weakness. Review of R29's Quarterly MDS with an ARD of 07/15/24, revealed R29 had a BIMS score of 99 out of 15, which indicates the BIMS was not conducted due to resident refusal/nonsensical answers. Further review of R29's Quarterly MDS revealed R29 is dependent on staff for most Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). During an observation on 07/31/24 at 11:00 AM, revealed R29's room without appropriate signage outside of their door related to EBP, due to a diagnosis of HIV. During an interview on 07/31/24 at 3:45 PM, the Administrator revealed that they were unaware that residents were recommended to be placed on EBP. The Administrator further stated that they believed that signage only had to be placed when residents had active infections. Review of R6's Face Sheet revealed R6 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses including but not limited to: HIV, chronic respiratory failure, bipolar disorder, and functional quadriplegia. Review of R6's Quarterly MDS with an ARD of 07/23/24, revealed R6 had a BIMS score of 15 out of 15, which indicates that she is cognitively intact. Further review of the Quarterly MDS revealed that R6 is dependent on staff for toileting, hygiene and shower/bathing. During an observation on 07/30/24 and 07/31/24, revealed R6 without appropriate signage outside of the door, related to EBP, due to a diagnosis of HIV. Review of R113's Face Sheet revealed R113 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses including but not limited to: encounter for attention to gastrostomy, quadriplegia, adult failure to thrive, and pressure ulcer sacral region. Review of R113's Quarterly MDS with an ARD of 06/24/24, revealed R113 had a BIMS score of 99 out of 15, which indicates that she was unable to complete the interview due to resident refusal/nonsensical responses. Further review of the Quarterly MDS revealed R113 is dependent on staff for all ADLs, is always incontinent with bowel and bladder, and has a Foley catheter. During an interview on 07/31/24 at an unspecified time, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)4 revealed that R113 has a Foley catheter and the facility is only required to have EBP and use PPE when residents have an active infection. During an observation and interview on 08/01/24 at 8:38 AM, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)4 was providing ADL care to R113, after a bowel movement. R113 was observed with a Foley catheter, CNA4 was observed not wearing appropriate PPE. CNA4 stated they were unaware that they are required to wear PPE when providing personal care to residents with EBP. Review of R35's Face Sheet revealed R35 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses including but not limited to: pressure ulcer sacral region, dementia without behaviors, contracture multiple sites, and muscle weakness. Review of R35's Quarterly MDS with an ARD of 07/08/24, revealed R35 had a BIMS score of 7 out of 15, which indicates that she has severe cognitive impairment. Further review of the Quarterly MDS revealed that R35 is dependent on staff for all ADLs and has an indwelling catheter. During an observation and interview on 08/01/24 at 2:08 PM, revealed CNA5 and CNA6 providing Foley catheter care to R35. CNA5 and CNA6 were not wearing appropriate PPE while providing catheter care. CNA5 and CNA6 stated that PPE is only required to be worn during care when the resident has an active infection. During an observation and interview on 08/01/24 at 10:18 AM, revealed LPN5 providing wound care to R35. LPN5 was not wearing appropriate PPE while providing wound care. LPN5 stated that a gown is only required to be worn during wound care when the wound is infected, since R35's wound is not infectious only gloves are required when providing dressing changes. During an interview on 08/01/24 at 4:27 PM, the Infection Preventionist (IP) revealed that they were unaware of the CDC guidance or facility policy related to signage and PPE for residents on EBP, regardless of active infection.
CONCERN (F)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Food Safety (Tag F0812)

Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents

Based on observation, interview, and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure proper sanitation of kitchen equipment and overall kitchen cleanliness in 1 of 1 main kitchen. The facilit...

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Based on observation, interview, and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure proper sanitation of kitchen equipment and overall kitchen cleanliness in 1 of 1 main kitchen. The facility also failed to discard expired foods in 1 of 1 main cooler. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Labeling, Dating, and Storage with a revision date of 11/11/22, states 1. Food and beverage items will have an identifying label as well as a received date and opening date, as applicable; for items prepared on site, a use by date will also be indicated . 2. Foods will be stored in their original or approved container and, if opened, shall be wrapped tightly with film, foil, etc. 3. Bulk food dispensing utensils (scoops) shall be stored: a. In a clean, protected location if the scoops are used only with a food that is not a time/temperature controlled for safety food. Review of the facility policy titled Foodborne Illnesses with a revision date of 10/18/17, states 3. It is the responsibility of the Dietary Manager to see that dietary employees practice safe and sanitary methods when preparing foods to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria . 4. It is the responsibility of the Dietary Manager to see that food is properly stored to reduce the chance of foodborne illness . 6. Hands, equipment, utensils, and work areas must be cleaned and properly sanitized to prevent cross-contamination of foods. All equipment must be dismantled, cleaned, and sanitized between uses. During the initial walk-through of the main kitchen on 07/29/24 at 10:30 AM, along with the Dietary Manager (DM), revealed the following: Main cooler: 2 plastic bags, one containing Turkey Bologna and the other containing Turkey Salami. The use-by date was 07/04/24. The contents in the bags were not in the original packaging. No open date was observed on the label. 4 Quart clear plastic container, half full, containing pepperoni. Not in original packaging, with a use-by date of 07/04/24. Main preparation area: 1 bin containing bread crumbs, scoop observed in the bin. The label on top of the bin states Breadcrumbs use by date 7/24. 2 bins containing flour, scoop observed in the bin. The scoop had a layer of caked up flour. The label on top of the bin states, Flour use by date 07/06/2024. Kitchen Equipment: The industrial double-door oven was dirty. Both the top and bottom doors to the oven had an accumulation/build up of a brown substance covering most of the front topside of the oven. The glass to both oven doors had a build up of grease, it was cloudy, and dirty. The brown substance was noted throughout the oven doors. The deep fryer had a heavy accumulation of old food debris and an accumulation/build up of grease throughout the front and side panels. There was a dark brown/black build up on the top lid of the deep fryer. The industrial stove was dirty, with a heavy accumulation of old food debris and an accumulation/build up of grease was observed on the side of the stove. The backsplash of the stove was completely covered with an accumulation/build up of a black substance. The burners on the stove top were rusted. Review of an invoice from Southeast Restaurant Cleaning, LLC. dated 3/11/24, revealed under description, Hood Fan Duck Work Exhaust Cleaning Additional Comments One Fan not working. Review of an invoice from Southeast Restaurant Cleaning, LLC. dated 06/16/24, revealed under description, Hood Fan Duck Work Exhaust System. Additional Comments The Fan does not work. During an observation on 07/30/24 at 9:15 AM, the DM attempted to turn on the Hood Exhaust System and it was not working. During a walk through of the main kitchen on 07/30/24 at 11:18 AM, revealed all previous noted concerns from 07/29/24 at 10:30 AM, was not addressed. In addition, the exit door had a heavy accumulation/build up of a black substance and there was food debris running down the door. During an interview on 07/29/24 at 3:49 PM, the DM revealed staff are expected to check coolers daily to make sure everything is properly labeled and stored. The DM further revealed the main cooking methods we use are the deep fryers, stoves, and ovens. The DM states the kitchen gets cleaned after each meal, and at the end of the day. Deep cleans are done weekly. Each staff member has designated duties, and they are expected to follow their designated tasks, which is a form they are given and they must sign or initial when items are completed and return the signed form. The DM verified the condition of the kitchen equipment, the expired foods, and the concerns in the cooler. The DM states it is unacceptable, and her expectation is for the equipment to be wiped down after every use and for dietary staff to check the coolers daily to keep track of dates, and to place scoops where they belong. During a follow up interview on 07/31/24 at 9:10 AM, the DM revealed she was unaware that the hood fans were not operable. The DM states the company did not tell her and is not sure if they communicated that with the Dietary Supervisor. During an interview on 07/31/24 at 9:45 AM, the Director of Maintenance (DOM) revealed working at the facility has been a challenge. The staff have his direct number for around-the-clock services. The DOM stated, I told them [Dietary Manager and Supervisor] about a month ago, that the hood fans were not working. The shaft on the rooftop, on the exhaust fan is worn out and needs to be replaced. The DOM states dietary doesn't notify him about any equipment that needs to be fixed. The DOM verified the condition of the door and kitchen equipment were dirty and could be cleaned with some hot water and soap. The DOM concluded, the kitchen is responsible for all cleaning, including walls, and doors. If there is an area, they can't reach he will assist. During an interview on 07/31/24 at 10:38 AM, the Administrator stated, I was unaware of the hood issue because it would have gotten corrected if I was aware. I walked in and I agree with what you saw . I mean I understand what you saw. I do believe the staff took it strongly to heart. There will be some extra validation of the process. I believe the kitchen staff will pull this, together.
CONCERN (F)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Social Worker (Tag F0850)

Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents

Based on interview, the facility failed to have a qualified Social Worker, on a full-time basis, on site at the facility, for 4 of 4 units. Findings include: No policy regarding Social Services was pr...

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Based on interview, the facility failed to have a qualified Social Worker, on a full-time basis, on site at the facility, for 4 of 4 units. Findings include: No policy regarding Social Services was provided by the facility. During an interview on 07/30/24 at an unspecified time, the Administrator revealed that the facility does not currently have a full time Social Worker on site at the facility. During a phone interview on 07/31/24 at 11:02 AM, the Nurse Practitioner (NP) revealed that the facility does not currently have a qualified Social Worker at this time. During an interview on 07/31/24 at 5:09 PM, the Temporary Social Worker (TSW) revealed that they are not the Social Worker for this facility and work at the sister facility nearby. The TSW stated that they are unsure of how long the Social Worker for this facility has been absent from work but was asked to come and assist for the survey. During an interview on 08/01/24 at 6:36 PM, the Administrator revealed that the Social Worker for the facility is not returning and the position had been empty for a few weeks, but was uncertain of specifically which date. The Administrator concluded that the facility does not have a policy related to Social Services but follows the federal regulation related to guidance.
Mar 2024 1 deficiency
CONCERN (E) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0602 (Tag F0602)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, interview, and record review, the facility failed to protect 6 of 6 residents from misapprop...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, interview, and record review, the facility failed to protect 6 of 6 residents from misappropriation of controlled substances. Specifically, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)1 diverted medications from Residents (R)6, R9, R10, R11, R12, and R13 during the month of [DATE] and December of 2023. Findings Include: Review of the Facility Policy titled Prevention of Patient Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Mistreatment and Misappropriation of Property dated [DATE], states, It is the policy of [NAME] Health and its affiliated entities to actively preserve each patient's rights to be free from . misappropriation of patient property. Review of the Facility Policy titled Controlled Substances for Healthcare Centers dated [DATE], states, It is the policy of [NAME] Health Pharmacy that medications listed as controlled substances under federal or state regulations will be properly stored with maintained accountability. Review of R6's Face Sheet revealed R6 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to: osteomyelitis of vertebra, paraplegia, hereditary and idiopathic neuropathy, chronic pain syndrome, and neuromuscular dysfunction of bladder. Review of R6's Controlled Drug Record (CDR) and Medication Administration Record (MAR) dated [DATE], for Oxycodone 10 mg every 6 hours revealed several discrepancies. On [DATE]th at 6:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM doses were marked as not given due to Drug/item unavailable. The CDR dated [DATE] revealed the quantity received 30 of 60; further review revealed on [DATE] at 12:00 AM, R6 had 0 doses of Oxycodone 10 mg left. Review of R9's Face Sheet revealed R9 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to: chronic pain, osteoarthritis of knee, and cirrhosis of liver. Review of R9's CDR and MAR dated [DATE] for Hydrocodone 5-325 mg every 6 hours as needed revealed several discrepancies. R9's MAR revealed that on [DATE] at 2:00 PM, 1 dose of Oxycodone was noted as given, however the resident was deceased as of 10:40 AM on [DATE]. Review of a Nurses Note found in R9's Electronic Medical Record (EMR) dated [DATE] at 11:04 AM, stated Patient found on the toilet unresponsive, no pulse at 1040am, lowered to floor and cpr started immediately 30 compressions to 2 breaths by writer. Helped arrive within a few minutes a code cart was called for and AED was attached to the patient with oxygen. Facility nursing team notified the doctor at 1050am 911 was called at 1045am and the daughter was notified at 1055am. Fire and EMT arrived at 11am. CPR was being done by writer and wound care nurse until met and fire rescue arrived on scene in the patients room. Patient is a full code with multiple cormidities. Patient has HTN, respiratory distress followed by COPD. Patient also had end stage cirrhosis of the liver, tachycardia and venous issues. Patient taken to the hospital and left the facility and 11:10am. Review of R10's Face Sheet revealed R10 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to: chronic pain, spinal stenosis, cirrhosis of liver, and osteomyelitis of vertebra. Review of R10's CDR and MAR dated [DATE] for Oxycodone 10-325 mg every 8 hours as needed revealed several discrepancies including white out was used to alter the dates from [DATE] to [DATE]. The CDR dated [DATE] revealed doses signed out on [DATE] at 11:42 AM; [DATE] at 6:00 PM; [DATE] at 9:00 AM; [DATE] at 5:00 PM; [DATE] at 12:00 AM; [DATE] at 11:00 AM; [DATE] at 7:00 PM; [DATE] at 10:00 AM; [DATE] at 6:00 PM; [DATE] at 9:15 AM; and [DATE] at 5:30 PM. However, R10's MAR revealed only one entry for the month of December which showed [DATE] at 7:35 PM. Review of R11's Face Sheet revealed R11 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to: gout, malignant neoplasm of endometrium, and chronic pain syndrome. Review of R11's CDR dated and MAR for Oxycodone 10-325 mg every 6 hours and three times a week prior to dialysis on Tuesday revealed several discrepancies. R11's CDR dated [DATE] revealed on [DATE] at 5:00 AM and 8:00 AM doses were signed out. R11's MAR for December shows that the resident did not receive any doses of oxycodone. Review of a Progress Note dated [DATE] at 3:35 PM, revealed R11 was admitted to [the ICU of a local hospital] with diagnosis of bradycardia and ESRD. Review of R11's Face Sheet revealed R11 expired on [DATE] at a [local hospital]. Review of R12's Face Sheet revealed R12 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to: gout, pain in right arm, pain, and end stage renal disease. Review of R12's CDR and MAR dated [DATE] for Oxycodone 5-325 mg every 6 hours as needed for pain revealed several discrepancies including white out was used to alter the date received from [DATE] to [DATE]. R12's CDR also revealed that whiteout was used to alter the following dates: [DATE] at 1:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 7:00 PM and on [DATE] at 1:15 AM. During an interview on [DATE] at 1:16 PM, the Director of Health Services (DHS) revealed LPN1 called the pharmacy on [DATE] to report that R12 was out of medication. LPN1 was given authorization to remove 2 tabs of oxycodone from the emergency kit (E-KIT). The DHS states that R12 was not out of medication and that on [DATE] the facility received 30 tabs of oxycodone. Review of R13's Face Sheet revealed R13 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to: chronic pain, muscle weakness, and cellulitis. Review of R13's CDR and MAR dated [DATE] and [DATE] for tramadol 50 mg twice daily as needed for pain revealed several discrepancies. The CDR for R13 revealed that on [DATE] at 12:00 AM there was a falsified signature written not belonging to any nurses working. On the following dates medications were signed out: [DATE] at 9:00 AM; [DATE] at 11:30 AM; [DATE] at 2:00 PM; [DATE] at 9:15 AM and 3:30 PM; [DATE] at 9:20 AM and 3:30 PM; [DATE] at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM; [DATE] at 5:00 PM; [DATE] at 9:30 AM and 12:00 PM; [DATE] at 12:00 AM, 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM; and [DATE] at 10:15 AM. Review of R13's MAR dated for November and [DATE] revealed entries on [DATE] ,[DATE], 11/23-24/23, [DATE], [DATE] and [DATE]. No other entries for R13 were noted. Review of a Packing Slip dated [DATE] revealed that R6 received 2 cards containing 30 pills of Oxycodone 10 mg and R12 received 1 card containing 30 pills of Oxycodone 5-325 mg. Further review revealed that R10 received 1 card containing 30 pills of Oxycodone 10-325 mg, which were all signed for by LPN2. During an interview on [DATE] at 11:34 AM, LPN3 stated, It was brought to my attention about 3 days after the passing of [R9], that medications had been signed out on the narcotic log. LPN3 further stated that she did not sign out any medications nor was her signature on the narcotic sheet. During an interview on [DATE] at 11:46 AM, LPN4 stated that she reported to the Director of Nursing (DON) after speaking with the pharmacist concerning R6 being out of medication. LPN4 stated that the pharmacist would not give her the code to access the medications in the E-Kit to give to [R6], so he went without his oxycodone. During an interview on [DATE] at 1:16 PM, the DHS and Unit Manager (UM), The DHS stated that the UM reported to her that the narcotic count was off, and the DHS replied that she needed to go and investigate to see what the issue was. The DHS further stated that the UM reported to her that LPN1 had come to her and stated that she had wasted medications for a resident but that she did not sign off on it. The UM acknowledged that she went and signed off on the medications with LPN1 although she did not witness the waste. The DHS stated that she informed her corporate nurse of the situation, and she was advised to watch LPN1 and pull her from the medication cart. The DHS further stated on [DATE]th the UM and LPN4 reported that R6 was out of medication and the pharmacy confirmed that the resident should have had 15 doses left. The DHS noticed that the controlled drug sheets for multiple residents had been altered with white out and that medications were missing. The DHS and UM confirm that LPN1 called the pharmacist on [DATE] to request medication refills for multiple residents but those residents should not have been out of medication due to them just receiving a shipment from the pharmacy. The DHS confirmed that LPN1 signed off on multiple resident narcotic sheets even though the residents were not in the building. The DHS concluded she decided to fire LPN1 when she returned to the office, but LPN1 never returned.
Jul 2023 2 deficiencies
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Pharmacy Services (Tag F0755)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews and review of facility policy, the facility failed to perform medication accountability, discr...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews and review of facility policy, the facility failed to perform medication accountability, discrepancy reconciliation, and disposal of four controlled medications ordered for Resident (R)2. Findings Include: Review of the facility policy titled Controlled Substances for Healthcare Centers revised [DATE] revealed in the section titled Discrepancies: 1. In the event that the physical inventory reveals an incorrect count, the discrepancy will be investigated and resolved during the audit. Review of facility policy titled Disposal of Medications revised [DATE] states It is the policy of PruittHealth Pharmacy Services that medications which have expired, been discontinued, or remain in the healthcare center after a patients/resident's discharge shall be removed from active stock and placed in disposal. Furthermore, in the section titled South Carolina: 6. Controlled medications no longer needed in the healthcare center will be removed from the medication cart and logged on the Certificate of Inventory and Destruction Form Reverse Distribution. There will be two licensed professionals present, one (1) being DHS (or their representative) during the removal, logging, and placement of the controlled medication into the collection receptacle kiosk, both nurses will initial be the medication on the log that the medication as placed into the Kiosk. This must be completed within 3 days of the discontinuation of use. Both licensed professionals initial the Control Drug Record form that accompanies the medication that is being placed in the kiosk. Review of R2's Physician Order Report revealed R2 was prescribed Lorazepam 0.5 milliliters (ml) 4 times a day as needed (PRN), morphine concentrate 0.5 mls 4 times a day (QID) PRN, morphine concentrate 0.5mls every 12 hours and tramadol 50 milligrams (mg) twice a day (BID) with a discontinuation date of [DATE]. Observation of Registered Nurse (RN)1's narcotic count on [DATE] at 12:20 PM of the 4th floor Medication Cart revealed the following: Twenty-three mls of a 30 ml bottle of PRN morphine was observed, however, the controlled narcotic log showed 18.5 mls, a 4.5 ml difference (8.5 doses). 19.5 mls of a 30 ml bottle of morphine scheduled every twelve hours with the narcotic log showing 21 mls, a 1.5 mls difference (3 doses). Sixteen 50 mg Tramadol tablets for R2 last given on [DATE] at 5:00 PM. Twenty-seven mls of a 30 ml bottle of lorazepam for R2 last given on [DATE] at 10:00 AM. Review of R2's Progress Notes revealed the following: On [DATE] at 08:00 PM Resident observed lying in bed eyes open and fixated, pupils dilated. Skin cool to touch. No rise and fall of chest. No signs of breathing. Unable to obtain vital signs. Apical pulse auscultated for 5 minutes with no pulse. Family and Hospice nurse at bed side, aware of condition. [DATE] at 10:12 PM Hospice nurse reports time of release of body from the coroner at 10:12 PM. [DATE] at 11:00 PM Funeral home transfer resident body out of facility on stretcher. During an interview on [DATE] at 12:25 PM, RN1 stated that he is aware of facility policy and that it is facility policy to complete a narcotic audit every shift change and if there are discrepancies to notify the DON, and review medication administration record of the resident to see where the discrepancy occurred. RN1 also stated that he and the night shift Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) completed their narcotic audit around 7:20 AM this morning. During an interview with the Director of Healthcare Services (DHS) on [DATE] at 12:30 PM, the DHS stated that R2 was deceased and her medications should have not been in the medication cart. DHS also stated that nurses should report to her whenever the narcotic count is incorrect and reconciliation should be done.
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0761 (Tag F0761)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on observations, interviews and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure 2 of 2 medication carts located on the fourth floor were locked and inaccessible to unauthorized personne...

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Based on observations, interviews and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure 2 of 2 medication carts located on the fourth floor were locked and inaccessible to unauthorized personnel. Findings Include: Review of the facility's policy titled Medication Storage in the Healthcare Centers, revised 09/15/22 states Medications and biological's are stored safely, securely, and properly following manufacturer's recommendations or those of the supplier. The medication supply is accessible to only licensed nursing personnel and pharmacy personnel. 2. Medication rooms, carts, and medication supplies are locked or attended by persons with authorized access. During an observation of the facility's 4th floor on 07/18/23 at 12:15 PM; two medication carts were noted to be unlocked and unattended, as indicated by the metal lock on both carts, which were noted to be popped out instead of pressed in and closed. At 12:16 PM, the Registered Nurse (RN) was notified that both carts were not locked and then locked both carts. During an interview on 07/18/23 at 12:18 PM, RN1 stated that he had the keys to both med carts and that he had just left them, and that he was aware of the facility's policy regarding safeguarding medication carts. During an interview on 07/18/23 at 3:10 PM, the Director of Healthcare Services (DHS) stated that it is her expectation that nurses are to keep their medication carts locked, when unattended.
Jun 2023 4 deficiencies 2 IJ (2 affecting multiple)
CRITICAL (K) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation

Deficiency F0578 (Tag F0578)

Someone could have died · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of the facility policy, interviews and record reviews, the facility failed to ensure that Advanced Directives we...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of the facility policy, interviews and record reviews, the facility failed to ensure that Advanced Directives were correctly documented and/or implemented for 3 of 3 residents reviewed, Resident (R)5, R9, and R20. On [DATE] at 5:52 PM, the Interim Administrator (IA) was notified that the facility's failure to maintain and implement written policies and procedures regarding advanced directives caused a resident to not receive Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, the IA was then notified that the allegation constituted Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) at F 578, with an effective date of [DATE] and the IJ template was presented. On [DATE] at 2:27 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) provided an acceptable IJ removal plan for F 578. On [DATE], the immediacy of the IJ was removed and the IJ was lowered to the scope of severity of E, no actual harm with potential for more than minimal harm that is not IJ. Findings Include: Review of facility policy titled, Advance Directives: South Carolina with a review date of [DATE] revealed This healthcare center recognizes the right of patients/residents to control decisions related to their medical care. Advance Directives relate to the provision of care when the patient/resident lacks the capacity to make healthcare decisions. Advance Directives executed in accordance with state law will be honored by the healthcare center.The healthcare center shall enter in the patient/resident's medical record any change in or termination of the advance directive for health care that becomes known to the healthcare center. Review of R20's quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of [DATE] revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15 indicating the resident was cognitively intact. Record review of R20's Hospice notes titled Skilled Nursing Visit Note dated [DATE] revealed that R20 stated that she wanted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) if her heart or lungs stop working which was evidenced/reaffirmed by patient/ responsible party. R20 also stated that they would like life-sustaining treatments other than CPR. Review of Skilled Nursing Visit Note under section titled Clinical Record Items- Advance Directive stated that the Document type/Instruction was Full resuscitation and a copy was supplied. A Physician's Order for R20 dated [DATE] revealed R20's was a Full Code. Review of R20's Care Plan with a last review date of [DATE] revealed that If the patient/ resident's heart stops, or if patient/ resident stops breathing, CPR WILL be initiated in honor of the wishes through the next review period. With Approaches listed as: All staff to be made aware of patient/ resident's wishes and Review Advance Directive with patient/ resident and/ or appointed health care representative quarterly. Notify MD of any changes Review of R20's Progress Notes dated [DATE] revealed Resident expired at 1430. DHS and Hospice made aware. Review of R20's medical record revealed no documentation of resuscitation or CPR occurring. During an interview with the DON on [DATE] at 12:15 PM, she confirmed CPR was not performed. Review of R9's quarterly MDS with an ARD of [DATE] revealed R9 scored 12 on a BIMS, indicating the resident has moderate cognitive impairment. Review of R9'S Face Sheet under section titled Advance Directives revealed that R9 is a Full Code. Review of R9's Hospice Notes titled, DNR dated [DATE] revealed a DNR Order stating that no resuscitative efforts be made in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest. Review also revealed a DNR authorization for Patient /Resident Without Decision-Making Capacity: Florida, North Carolina & South Carolina. Review of R5's quarterly MDS with an ARD of [DATE] revealed R5 scored 11 on a BIMS, indicating the resident has moderate cognitive impairment. Review of R5'S Face Sheet revealed that R5 is a Full Code. Review of R5's Hospice Notes titled, DNR dated [DATE] revealed a DNR Order stating that no resuscitative efforts be made in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest. Review also revealed a DNR authorization for Patient /Resident Without Decision-Making Capacity: Florida, North Carolina & South Carolina. Review of R5's Care Plan with a last revised date of [DATE] revealed Problem: Advanced Directive; Full Code with a goal of: If the patient/ resident's heart stops, or if patient/ resident stops breathing, CPR WILL be initiated in honor of the wishes through the next review period. Approaches listed as All staff to be made aware of patient/ resident's wishes and Review Advance Directive with patient/ resident and/ or appointed health care representative quarterly. Notify MD of any changes. Review of R5's Hospice Note titled, Skilled Nursing Visit Note dated [DATE], revealed that R5 expressed his wishes to be a DNR and did not want any resuscitative efforts made and was reaffirmed by resident representative. During an interview on [DATE] at 10:32 AM, R9's Representative stated that he told the facility that he wishes for the R9 not to be resuscitated in the event of an emergency. During an interview on [DATE], time unspecified, the Director of Nursing (DON) stated that the unit manager, MDS coordinator and the social worker all work together as a team when discussing resident advance directives. She also stated that it was the responsibility of the nurse to ensure that advance directive orders are placed. Attempted to contact Social Worker on [DATE] at 10:30 AM for an interview, no answer voicemail left. The removal plan for F 578 included: 1. R9 and R5 advance directives, orders and face sheet were reviewed and revised to reflect accurately the wishes of the resident(s)/resident representative(s) on 06-08-23. R20 no longer resides in the facility. 2. An audit of all current residing residents advance directives by a licensed nurse will be conducted to ensure the residents) and/or resident representative(s) wishes are reflective accurately in the resident's medical record, MatrixCare. This includes verifying the resident's order, advance directive wishes and the residents face sheet to ensure all areas are accurate and reflective without discrepancies. The facility appointed staff to include the Director of Health Services, Clinical Care Coordinator and/or the Infection Preventionist will in-service all licensed nurses on code status recognition in MatrixCare and to follow the desired wishes of each individual resident. Any licensed nurses currently out due to vacation and/or personal leave will receive education prior to next scheduled shift. All new hire licensed nurses will receive the same in-service information in orientation. The facility social worker will also receive the same education, as well as the process to verify advance directives are reflective accurately without discrepancy in the resident's medical record, according to the resident and/or resident representative wishes. Weekly the Social worker, Director of Health Services and/or Clinical Competency Coordinator will meet to review any resident who admitted that week and any current residing resident record where changes were made to advance directives wishes to validate the medical record reflects accurately without discrepancies. This review will be recorded on a monitoring tool. 3. The Director of Health and/or Administrator will present results of reviews to the QAPI Committee monthly x 3 months and/or until substantial compliance achieved.
CRITICAL (K) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation

Free from Abuse/Neglect (Tag F0600)

Someone could have died · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Findings include: Review of R10's medical record revealed the facility admitted the resident with diagnoses which included Acut...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Findings include: Review of R10's medical record revealed the facility admitted the resident with diagnoses which included Acute and Chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery with other forms of angina pectoris, presence of aorotocoronary bypass graft, acute pulmonary edema, acute on chronic systolic heart failure, personal history of transient ischemic attack, diabetes mellitus type two, dyslipidemia, and cerebral infarction. Review of the discharge MDS with an ARD of 02/05/23 revealed R10 had a BIMS score of 15, indicating the resident was cognitively intact. Review of R10's Care Plan, initiated on 02/05/23, revealed that the resident had a care plan for altered mental status (AMS) with an intervention to send the emergency room for evaluation and treatment. Review of R10's progress notes entered late on 02/06/2023 at 09:03 AM for 02/05/2023 at 12:58 PM stated CNA came to get nurse. Assessed resident at 11:10 AM. Noted AMS. Resident presented with swollen lips, pale tongue, slowed response to questions posed to resident. Resident speech was more slurred than usual. Baseline for resident is A+Ox4. Resident had family at bedside. Family requested resident be sent to MUSC Downtown. Called DHS 11:14 AM who agreed. Called On-call for order at 11:15 AM. 911 called and gave report to MUSC Downtown. EMS arrived and family left to meet resident at hospital. EMS assessed resident. Reported to nurse that was possible stroke and will take the Prisma Health Richland. Nurse notified family of change of location. Resident left facility at 1200 PM. During an interview on 06/07/23 at 1:59 PM, CNA2 stated she has been employed with the facility for over 40 years. CNA2 stated she had provided care for R10 that morning and R10 was her usual self. CNA2 went back into the room and tried to get the R10 to eat her meal, but R10 stated she did not want to eat at that time. R10's family came out of the resident's room later and asked to see the nurse. CNA2 tried to find the nurse but was unable to find LPN 3. She was able to locate LPN2 and LPN2 assessed the resident. LPN2 decided to send R10 to the hospital. R10's family was extremely upset and continued to scream, yell, curse, became belligerent until the LPN2 had to tell them the police would have to be called if they didn't calm down. The family eventually calmed down. EMS took R10 to the hospital. During an interview on 06/07/23 at 2:10 PM, LPN2 stated she has been employed at the facility for 2 years. LPN2 stated she was working on the first floor. A CNA stated that there was a family on the fourth floor that was upset and wanted their family member sent to the hospital. She was unsure who the CNA was at this time. LPN2 assessed R10 and found she was lethargic, but not unresponsive. LPN2 decided to send R10 to the hospital. LPN2 called the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and stayed with R10 until they arrived. R10's family wanted R10 to be sent to Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) of [NAME], but EMS decided to send the R10 to the nearest hospital because she was exhibiting signs of a stroke. She was not given report by the nurse who was taking care of R10. LPN2 stated she does not leave the building when going on break, especially if it's only one nurse working on the floor. Anything could happen to the residents and the nurse would not know. LPN2 also stated that she was unaware of LPN3 leaving the building to go on break. During an interview on 06/07/23 at 2:30 PM, LPN3 stated has been employed with the facility since September 2022. LPN3 stated she was working with R10 all morning and R10 was fine and was in no distress. LPN3 stated right before 11:00 AM she checked the R10's fingerstick blood sugar (FSBS) and it wasn't either high or low. LPN3 proceeded to tell CNA2 that she was going on break and LPN3 left the building to go on break. About 10 minutes after LPN3 left the building she received a call from CNA2 that something was wrong with R10. She stated she told CNA2 to call LPN2 because she was not in the building. LPN3 spoke with R10's daughter and told R10's daughter that she just left R10 and R10 was fine. LPN3 repeated R10's FSBS to R10's daughter. The facility only had one nurse on the floor that day. When it's only one nurse on the floor LPN3 stated she doesn't give report to another nurse when LPN3 goes to lunch. On 06/07/23 at 2:45 PM during an interview with the DON, she stated she received a call from the facility stating R10 was unresponsive. R10's daughter was upset that she found R10 that way and she could not find anyone to help her. DON stated she spoke with LPN2 and was told LPN3 was on break. LPN2 assessed R10 and decided to send R10 to the hospital. DON reviewed footage and CNAs and nurses were in and out of R10's room during the morning. Around 11:00 AM, LPN3 went on break and CNA2 was left on the floor. R10's daughter walked into the R10's room right after LPN3 left the floor. That's when R10's daughter found R10 and went to look for nurse. R10's daughter could not find the nurse, so CNA2 went to look. CNA2 found LPN2 and R10 was assessed. LPN2 stayed with the resident until the resident was sent out of facility. LPN3 was educated on giving report to another before leaving the floor. DON stated notifying the CNAs is not enough because anything can happen. During a review on 06/07/2023 at 3:30 PM of the SBAR Communication form completed by LPN2 on 2/5/23. The change in condition, symptoms, or signs observed and evaluated is/are AMS. This started on 2/5/23. Since this started it has gotten worse. The question of if this condition, symptom, or sign has occurred before was answered no. Vital signs were as followed: blood pressure was 116/64, Pulse 48, Respirations 20, Temperature 98.6, Pulse oximetry 83% on room air. During an interview on 06/08/2023 at 09:41 AM R10's daughter stated on 02/05/2023 she was calling her mom to check on her that morning with no answer. Since we could not get her mom on the phone, she took an Uber to the facility. Once she arrived at the facility, she found her mom unresponsive with her tongue hanging out of her mouth. She went into the hallway to get help but couldn't find anyone. When she did find the CNA, they went to look for the nurse and could not find her. She stated it took her 2 hours to find a nurse. When a nurse was found she had to ask the nurse to send her mom to the hospital. Additional findings include: Review of facility policy titled, Reporting Patient Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Mistreatment, and Misappropriation of Property, revised on 07/29/2019, states- The state survey agency and the state agency for adult protected services should be notified in accordance with state law through established procedures of any allegations of Abuse, neglect, exploitation or mistreatment, including injuries of an unknown source and misappropriation of patient property, within 2 hours after the allegation is made if the event upon which the allegation is based involve abuse or result in serious bodily injury, and not later than 24 hours if the events upon which the allegation is based do not involve abuse and do not result in serious bodily injury. On 6/24/23 video evidenced recorded around 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM revealed CNA2 being verbally abusive toward R21. CNA2 was observed speaking loudly and aggressively while pointing her finger towards R21 in an aggressive manner. During the video, R21 stated that he was in pain and needed help with getting his urinal. CNA2 stated How am I supposed to know that you are in pain in an aggressive manner while standing over the resident and pointing in a demeaning manner. CNA2 also made statements such as Touch me again, and it's going to be a problem in an aggressive manner. In the video, CNA2 was explaining to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)2 that R21 grabbed them while their back was turned. LPN2 was observed telling R21 You can use your hands (grab your own urinal), you can roll over and do that without help. During the video, LPN2 was observed allowing CNA2 to verbally abuse R21 without de-escalating the situation. R21 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with the diagnoses including but not limited to; intellectual disabilities, muscle weakness, blindness in right eye, conductive hearing loss (bilateral) and unsteadiness on feet. Review of the admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date of 06/05/23 revealed R21 has the Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) score of 99, which indicates that R21 is cognitively impaired. Further review of the MDS revealed R21 requires one-person physical assistance with transfers and bed mobility. An observation and attempted interview on 6/30/23 with R21 revealed that he was non-interviewable and had difficulty discussing the alleged verbal abuse. A phone interview on 6/30/23 at 10:38 AM with R21's Resident Representative (RR)1 revealed I was sent the video on Saturday (6/24/23) by my brother, R21. In the video I saw CNA2 being verbally aggressive towards R21. She (CNA)2 was upset because R21 touched her and was trying to get her attention to use his urinal that was out of reach. Further in the video, I saw CNA2 waving her finger and getting close to R21 in an aggressive manner. I came to the facility on the day of the incident (6/24/23) and spoke with R21, CNA2, and two other nurses, but I can't recall their names. I asked for CNA2 to not work with the resident any longer after this incident, because R21 had told me he had issues with this CNA previously, but he could not remember her name. On Monday (6/26/23), I came back to the facility and spoke with the Unit Manager Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)1 and someone from the Business Office about the incident and filed a grievance against CNA2. A phone interview on 6/30/23 at 10:48 AM with R21's RR2 revealed I came to the facility on the day R21 sent us the video of CNA2 being verbally aggressive towards him. When I got to the facility, I spoke with CNA2 and another nurse about CNA2 being verbally abusive to R21. When I watched the video, I feel like the other nurse in the video (LPN2) did not attempt to de-escalate the situation. In the latter part of the video, CNA2 yelled at the resident If you touch me again we are going to have some problems. I was unsure what she meant by that statement, but to me, it sounded threatening and like she would hit him (R21) if he touched or grabbed her again. R21 told me that he meant no harm when he grabbed her arm, but he was trying to tell CNA2 that he needed to use his urinal. I am unsure if the resident is safe at the facility because I fear that someone might try to get back at him because he recorded the incident. An interview with the Director of Nursing (DON) on 6/30/23 at 11:37AM revealed that CNA2 was currently at the facility and working today. During an interview on 6/30/23 at 11:42 AM, CNA2 revealed I was working on Saturday (6/24/23) with R21. While I was in his room and bending over to reach for something, R21 grabbed me hard on the shoulder. I went and told LPN2 and the Unit Manager LPN1 about the incident. R21 is a bigger man, so when he grabbed me, it was rough, because he is strong. I have been working with R21 since he was admitted and had no idea that he was hard of hearing and had a vision impairment. Later that day, his family came to the facility and spoke with me because R21 had recorded the incident on his phone. After this incident, I received an in-service by the Clinical Coordinator and continued to work as normal the rest of the day and week and was not placed on suspension during the investigation. CNA2 further stated that she has not received any abuse or neglect training from the facility because I previously worked at this facility a few years ago and have been a CNA for many years. A phone interview on 6/30/23 at 12:39 PM with LPN2 revealed I was working on Saturday (6/24/23) when CNA2 came to the nurse's station upset because R21 had grabbed her on her shoulder. We went down to the room together and that's when CNA2 and R21 started going back and forth (arguing) with each other about the incident. CNA2 was yelling at the resident that the way that he grabbed her shoulder was assault and that she was going to press charges and call law enforcement if he did that again. I was trying to understand what was going on during this time when they were yelling at each other. I told LPN1 about this incident, but I am not sure what happened afterward or if it was reported to the state agency/DHEC and investigated as verbal abuse by the facility. LPN2 further stated that they were unsure if CNA2 had worked with R21 after this incident but on the day of the incident (6/24/23), had switched CNA2's assignment with another staff member. An interview on 06/30/23 at 12:52 PM with R21 revealed I have seen CNA2 on the unit since the incident, however, CNA2 has not worked with him since last weekend 6/24/23. When asking the resident if he felt safe, R21 replied No, I don't feel safe right now. An interview with the DON on 6/30/23 at 1:45 PM revealed that they were unaware of the verbal abuse between CNA2 and R21 that occurred on 6/24/23. She stated,If I would have heard about this incident, I would have pulled them all in and gotten interviews. The DON further stated that they spoke to R21's family, but not about this incident and only discussed a room change. The Infection Preventionist handled R21's RR's grievance and spoke with the family in a meeting on Monday (6/26/23). An interview on 6/30/23 at 2:00 PM with the DON and Infection Preventionist (IP) revealed I was not working on Saturday (6/24/23) when this incident between R21 and CNA2 occurred. On Monday this week (6/26/23), staff informed them that R21 and their family had concerns and needed a follow-up meeting. I spoke to the Unit Manger/LPN1 on Monday and the family discussed the issue regarding CNA2 and R21 wanting a room change. The resident stated that he didn't want to be in a nursing home due to old people and he switched rooms with a newer roommate with a similar diagnosis. After the meeting, I completed a grievance for R21 and his family and provided re-education to CNA2 related to communicating with individuals with hearing or vision issues. I spoke with CNA2 about what happened, and she said that the resident grabbed her on her shoulder and that she was not being ugly with him. The ICP further stated that she did not speak to the other nurse (LPN2) who was a witness, and this incident was not investigated or reported. An attempted phone interview with the Unit Manager/LPN1 on 6/30/23 at 2:08 PM was unsuccessful, a voicemail message was left with contact information. A phone interview on 6/30/23 at 2:13 PM with R21's RR3 revealed I was sent the video by R #21 on Saturday 6/24/23 and was very upset by this incident. R #21 has communication issues because of his hearing and will often touch others when he needs help. I do not think he meant to hurt C.N.A #2 that day but he told me he needed his urinal. When my family went to see the resident later that day on Saturday (6/24/23) I was on speaker phone when my family spoke to C.N.A #2. Even though I was on the phone I heard C.N.A #2 being disrespectful towards my family. I did not speak with anyone at the facility related to the incident, but I sent the video to the local Ombudsman's office and spoke with their staff about the incident. Record review of Grievance/Complaint Form dated 6/26/23 revealed Family of R21 wanted to speak to Unit Manager regarding an issue with CNA2 and R21. CNA2 told resident not to grab her like that, resident got upset. CNA2 was provided education on caring for residents with intellectual disabilities and hearing loss. The facility's removal plan on 06/30/23 for F 600 included: 1) R21 was referred to psychiatric services on 6/30/23 for psycho-social support to determine if there are any lasting effects from this event. 2) All staff will receive education by the DON, Clinical Competency Coordinator and/or licensed nurse designee on providing care to residents with intellectual disabilities as well as the facilities Abuse policies to include: Abuse Identification, Reporting Patient Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Mistreatment, and Misappropriation of Property. Any staff who are currently out on leave will receive education prior to the next scheduled shift. Education was initiated on 6/30/23 and we will have a 100 % completion dated of 7/3/23. 3) Any alleged and/or witnessed abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment, and/or misappropriation of funds will be reported and investigated per regulation and facility policy by the Administrator and or DON and logged on a tool. The Administrator and /or DON will review each investigation to ensure that appropriate interventions are put in place to prevent reoccurrence. The Administrator and/or DON will review each grievance to ensure no reportable event was captured as a grievance as opposed to a reportable incident to the state agency and appropriate persons/ agencies. 4)The DON and or Administrator will present results of reviews to the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) Committee monthly for three months and/ or until substantial compliance is achieved. Based on interviews, record review, and facility policy the facility failed to ensure Resident (R)5 and R6 were free from sexual abuse. Additionally, the facility failed to give report to another Licensed Nurse to ensure residents needs were met before leaving the facility for break. Specifically, R10 On 1/23/23 at 7:45 PM, a staff member observed R5 lying on top of R6 with his genitals exposed. After separating the residents and body audits completed, the facility conducted interviews with both residents. The investigation revealed R5 stated that R6 was a woman and that he knew her from the past. R6 was interviewed and made sexual references that occurred by showing with happened with his hands. Both residents were fully clothed at the time of the incident. R5 had on a shirt and pants, and R6 had a nightgown and brief that was intact, neither resident's clothing was noted to be off or pulled down. Families were notified of this incident, and during the notification R5's Resident Representative stated that R5 has a history of wandering and was found in the past at a neighbor's house in their bathroom. On 6/8/23 at 5:52 PM, the Administrator and Director of Nursing (DON) were provided with a copy of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) template, notifying the IJ existed at F600 due to the facility failure to prevent sexual abuse and notify law enforcement as required by federal regulations. On 6/9/23 at 2:27 PM, the DON provided an acceptable IJ removal plan relate to F600. The immediacy of the IJ was removed as of 6/9/23. The IJ was lowered to the scope of severity of E. Implementation of the removal plan was verified by interviews and record reviews. Upon implementation verification, the DON was notified the IJ was removed as of 6/9/23 at 2:27 PM. Upon QA Review by the SA, the survey team returned to the facility on [DATE] with additional concerns. From this review, IJ was found related to a new incident at F600. R21 was observed via a cell phone recording to have been verbally abused by CNA2, in the presence of LPN2, with no interventions. On 6/24/23 video evidenced recorded around 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM revealed CNA2 being verbally abusive toward R21. CNA2 was observed speaking loudly and aggressively while pointing their finger toward R21 in an aggressive manner. During the video, R21 stated that he was in pain and needed help with getting his urinal. CNA2 stated that How am I supposed to know that you are in pain in an aggressive manner while standing over the resident and pointing in a demeaning manner. CNA2 also made statements such as Touch me again, and it's going to be a problem in an aggressive manner. In the video, CNA2 was explaining to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)2 that R21 grabbed them while their back was turned. LPN2 was observed telling R21 You can use your hands (grab your own urinal), you can roll over and do that without help. During the video, LPN2 was observed allowing CNA2 to verbally abuse R21 without de-escalating the situation. The IJ template was presented to the Director of Health Services/DON on 06/30/23 with an effective date of 06/24/23. On 6/30/23 at 5:44 PM the DON provided an acceptable IJ removal plan related to F 600. The immediacy of the IJ was removed as of 6/30/23. The IJ was lowered to the scope of severity of E. Findings include: The facility's policy titled, Freedom from Patient Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Mistreatment, and Misappropriation of Property Mission statement, revised on 11/21/2016 indicated, It is the mission of [NAME] Health and its affiliated providers (collectively, the Organization) actively to preserve each patient's right to be free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment, and misappropriation of patient property. R5 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, legal blindness, and schizophrenia. Review of the Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 5/24/23, R5 has a Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) score of 11 out of 15, which indicates they are cognitively intact. Further review of the MDS revealed R5 has a history of wandering and had this behavior 1 -3 days a week during this assessment period. R6 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including, but not limited to; cerebral palsy, seizures, dementia without behavioral disturbance, and communication deficit. Review of the Discharge MDS with an ARD of 3/15/23, revealed R6 has a BIMS score of 5 out of 15, which indicated cognitive impairment. An interview on 6/7/23 at 2:21 PM with Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)1 revealed While I was passing trays, I noticed R5 in his room on top of his roommate (R6). I called the charge nurse to the room and we assisted R5 back to his bed and noticed that his penis was out of his pants. The resident kept saying that he knew that woman (R6). We kept explaining to R5 that R6 was a man and his roommate and that he should not be in bed with other residents without their consent. R5 was later moved into a private room and was put on one-to-one supervision for about a month. R5 at times still wanders but he is legally blind, so staff have to look to make sure he does not wander into other residents' rooms. An interview on 6/7/23 at 2:27 PM with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)1 revealed I was called to the room by CNA1 and told that R5 was lying on top of R6. R5 was assisted to his bed. When we moved R5, we saw that his penis was outside his pants, R6 was still clothed, and his brief was intact. When we spoke with R5, he believed that he was in bed with a woman that he knew, we explained to him that R6 was a man and his behavior was not appropriate. We notified the DON and R5 was moved into a private room with a sitter. I spoke with R6 he made a motion with his hands signaling that R5 was attempting to touch his private areas. R5 was later put on one-to-one supervision for a few weeks, he wanders at times but not as much as he used to. Record review on 6/8/23 of R5 Social Services Progress Notes with a Late- Entry on 2/14/23 at 4:19 for 1/23/23 revealed On 1/23/23 R5 was physically inappropriate with his peer (R6). Resident (R5) was placed on 1:1, moved to a private room, and a referral was made to psychiatric services. Social Worker (SW) visited the resident, and he was in his room watching. SW explained to R5 the limits of physical sexual aggression towards others. SW informed the resident representative and educated R5 on behavior and referral to psychiatric services. Resident representative acknowledged and gave consent for psychiatric services, staff will monitor for any potential mood/behavior changes. Record review on 6/8/23 of R5's Nurses Progress Note dated 1/23/23 at 9:02 AM revealed Nurse was called to the room by the CNA. The resident was inappropriately touching another resident. Assisted the resident back to his bed and notified the Director of Nursing. The resident was moved to another room and a sitter for one on one was placed at his bedside. The nurse practitioner and resident representative notified. Record review on 6/8/23 of R5 Nurses Progress Note dated 1/26/23 at 7:45 AM revealed C.N.A. reports resident noted wandering into neighbors' room through bathroom. The resident was noted sitting on another resident's bed. The resident was reoriented by the nurse through conversation. Resident placed back in bed where he remained throughout the night. Review of R5's Care Plan revealed Behavioral symptoms follow up with psychiatric services intervention for sexual disinhibition. Interventions include redirect resident and monitor behavior; document behaviors daily twice a day. Review of R5's care Plan revealed Resident experiences wandering (moves with no rational purpose, seemingly oblivious to needs or safety. Interventions include maintain a calm environment and approach to the resident; move to a private room due to wandering into another resident's room one-to-one was initiated for 24 hours 1/23/23-1/24/23; remove resident from other resident's rooms and unsafe situations. Record review on 6/8/23 of R6 Social Services Progress Notes with a Late- Entry on 2/23/23 at 4:18 PM for 1/23/23 revealed R6 roommate (R5) was sexually inappropriate towards R6. Social Worker (SW) asked R6 to explain the incident that occurred with his roommate and R6 stated that R5 touched him. R5 was moved to another room, the family was notified and requested a referral for psychiatric services for R6. R6 was also informed of psychiatric referral and roommate transferred. Record review on 6/8/23 of R6 Nurses Progress Notes dated 2/1/23 at 3:13 AM revealed resident resting in bed with eyes closed easily aroused with verbal stimuli. Patient with multiple episodes of crying throughout the shift, when asked what is wrong and why is crying, he shakes his head no and stated, 'Please don't leave me.' Denies pain and discomfort, assistance provided with all phases of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), so signs or symptoms of distress. Record review on 6/8/23 of R6 Progress Notes dated 2/2/23 at 2:05 PM revealed Resident tolerated all his medications crushed without complaints. His niece came to visit and expressed some concern about his demeanor. She stated that he just seems a bit off. A staff member went to check on him and will continue to monitor. Record review of a Nurses Progress Note dated 2/4/23 at 1:08 AM revealed resident lying in bed watching television, able to communicate wants and needs to staff. Resident in a sad tearful mood, resident oriented with one-on-one with nurse and conversation. An interview on 6/8/23 at 11:01 AM with the DON revealed they were not working on the evening the incident occurred but instructed the Unit Manger to complete body audits and interview both residents related to the incident. R5 believed that R6 was a woman, R5 is legally blind and has a history of wandering but this was the first time an incident of this nature has ever occurred with him. After the incident and body audits were completed, R6 was observed with his brief still intact and with no signs of physical harm so we didn ' t send him to the hospital or call law enforcement. The policy for the facility is when a resident shows signs of harm or displaced clothing/ underwear is to transfer residents to the hospital and call law enforcement. Interventions for R5 after this incident included one-to-one supervision for 24 hours and relocation into a private room where the resident is still placed. Interventions for R6 included monitoring for mood changes, a body audit after the incident, and obtaining a psychiatric consult. A phone interview on 6/8/23 at 11:43 AM with the Psychiatrist Consult for the facility revealed that R5 was followed by psych services from 2/1/23-4/12/23 and was discharged due to being put on hospice. Further revealed that R6 was not followed by psych because, during the initial consult, the resident was not exhibiting any signs or harm/distress, further stated that the resident's insurance would not cover psychiatric services but if the resident was in distress during their assessment they would have referred R6 to a psych service that insurance and would cover. Mutiple attempts were made to contact R6 during the survey 6/7/23 - 6/9/23 with no success. The facility's removal plan for F600 included: 1) R6 received a psychiatric consult and was not referred for further services as no signs of harm/distress were exhibited post event. R5 was transferred to a private room and placed on one-to-one supervision. R5 was removed from one-to-one after exhibiting no indication that he would repeat a similar incident. R5 will remain in a private room for the duration of his stay at the facility. 2) R5 will be placed on one-to-one-supervision to prevent any further occurrences due to R5 cognitive impairment, blindness, and wandering at times. 3) All staff will receive education by the Director of Health Services/ DON, Clinical Competency Coordinator, and/or licensed nurse designee on the facility Abuse policies to include: Abuse Identification; Reporting Patient Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Mistreatment, and Misappropriation of Property, and Prevention of Patient Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Mistreatment, and Misappropriation of Property. Any staff who are currently out on personal leave and/or Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) will receive education prior to the next scheduled shift. Education was initiated on 6/8/23, we have currently completed approximately 45% of all partner in-services and have a 100 % completion date of 6/16/23. Any alleged and/or witnessed abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment, and/or misappropriation of funds will be reported and investigated per regulation and facility policy, by the Administrator and/or Director of Health Services/DON and logged on a tool. The Administrator and/or DON will review each investigation once the investigation is completed to ensure that appropriate interventions are put in place to prevent reoccurrence. 4) The DON and/or Administrator will present results of reviews to the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) Committee monthly for three months and/or substantial compliance achieved.
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Report Alleged Abuse (Tag F0609)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of the facility policy, record reviews, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that all alleged violation...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of the facility policy, record reviews, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that all alleged violations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment, including injuries of unknown source and misappropriation of resident property, are reported immediately, but not later than 2 hours after the allegation is made. Findings include: A review of the facility policy titled, Reporting Patient Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Mistreatment, and Misappropriation of Property revised on 07/29/2019, states- The state survey agency and the state agency for adult protected services should be notified in accordance with state law through established procedures of any allegations of Abuse, neglect, exploitation or mistreatment, including injuries of an unknown source and misappropriation of patient property, within 2 hours after the allegation is made if the event upon which the allegation is based involve abuse or result in serious bodily injury, and not later than 24 hours if the events upon which the allegation is based do not involve abuse and do not result in serious bodily injury. A review of Resident (R)13's Face Sheet revealed R13 was admitted on [DATE] with diagnoses including, but not limited to, Acute kidney failure, altered mental status, Muscle weakness, Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, Hallucinations. A review of R12's Face Sheet revealed R12 was admitted on [DATE] with diagnoses including, but not limited to, Cognitive communication deficit, Personal history of traumatic brain injury, bipolar disorder, current episode of manic severe with psychotic features, Unspecified dementia, with other behavioral disturbance. A review of the Facility Reported Investigation revealed the altercation between R12 and R13 occurred on 02/26/2023, three (3) days prior to reporting to the state agency on 03/01/2023. Interview with Director of Nursing (DON) on 06/07/2023 at 1:51 PM in the conference room revealed she heard about the incident from the unit manager on 03/01/2023 around noon however, the incident occurred on 02/26/2023 and was witnessed by a dayshift nurse and another resident. DON stated that the dayshift nurse forgot to tell the unit manager about the incident and brought it up during a conversation with the unit manager on 03/01/2023 at 8 AM and failed to notify the DON. The DON stated according to the Unit manager and the resident that witnessed the altercation- R13 was observed holding R12 down on the floor with his hands against his chest and neck area, resident separated, and R13 was redirected back to his room. DON stated she was not sure what caused the incident between both residents, and both residents have a diagnosis of Dementia. DON stated that body and pain evaluations were completed on both residents. Police and Ombudsman were notified of the situation and psych followed up with R13. The resident's responsible party was contacted, R12 has no alterations in skin and both residents have no signs and symptoms of pain noted even days after the incident. Care plans have been updated for both residents. DON stated that both staff members (Dayshift Nurse and Unit Manager) were suspended for reporting the altercation late, and the dayshift nurse never returned to the facility and quit. An interview with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)3 on 06/08/2023 at 12:27 PM revealed that the Day nurse told me that R13 had R12 on the floor in room [ROOM NUMBER] and that R13 was sitting on R12 with his hands on R12's neck a few days ago. LPN3 stated, It started as a conversation on March 1st, where the day nurse was just venting to me in the morning like he usually does. LPN3 stated, It wasn't until an hour later when I was looking through both resident's charts and realized that the day nurse never documented or reported the altercation to someone, and even though a few days had passed by, I went ahead and let the DON know and the investigation began. LPN3 stated she and the day nurse were suspended for not reporting timely.
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Investigate Abuse (Tag F0610)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, record review, and review of the facility policy, the facility failed to ensure that an incident of verbal a...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, record review, and review of the facility policy, the facility failed to ensure that an incident of verbal abuse by Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)2 to Resident (R)21 was reported to the state agency. The facility further failed to thoroughly investigate and put corrective actions in place to protect R21 as required by federal regulation. 1 of 13 reviewed for abuse. Findings include: Review of facility policy titled, Reporting Patient Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Mistreatment, and Misappropriation of Property, revised on 07/29/2019, states- The state survey agency and the state agency for adult protected services should be notified in accordance with state law through established procedures of any allegations of Abuse, neglect, exploitation or mistreatment, including injuries of an unknown source and misappropriation of patient property, within 2 hours after the allegation is made if the event upon which the allegation is based involve abuse or result in serious bodily injury, and not later than 24 hours if the events upon which the allegation is based do not involve abuse and do not result in serious bodily injury. On 6/24/23 video evidenced recorded around 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM revealed CNA2 being verbally abusive toward R21. CNA2 was observed speaking loudly and aggressively while pointing her finger towards R21 in an aggressive manner. During the video, R21 stated that he was in pain and needed help with getting his urinal. CNA2 stated How am I supposed to know that you are in pain in an aggressive manner while standing over the resident and pointing in a demeaning manner. CNA2 also made statements such as Touch me again, and it's going to be a problem in an aggressive manner. In the video, CNA2 was explaining to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)2 that R21 grabbed them while their back was turned. LPN2 was observed telling R21 You can use your hands (grab your own urinal), you can roll over and do that without help. During the video, LPN2 was observed allowing CNA2 to verbally abuse R21 without de-escalating the situation. R21 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with the diagnoses including but not limited to; intellectual disabilities, muscle weakness, blindness in right eye, conductive hearing loss (bilateral) and unsteadiness on feet. Review of the admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date of 06/05/23 revealed R21 has the Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) score of 99, which indicates that R21 is cognitively impaired. Further review of the MDS revealed R21 requires one-person physical assistance with transfers and bed mobility. A phone interview on 6/30/23 at 10:38 AM with R21's Resident Representative (RR)1 revealed I was sent the video on Saturday (6/24/23) by my brother, R21. In the video I saw CNA2 being verbally aggressive towards R21. She (CNA)2 was upset because R21 touched her and was trying to get her attention to use his urinal that was out of reach. Further in the video, I saw CNA2 waving her finger and getting close to R21 in an aggressive manner. I came to the facility on the day of the incident (6/24/23) and spoke with R21, CNA2, and two other nurses, but I can't recall their names. I asked for CNA2 to not work with the resident any longer after this incident, because R21 had told me he had issues with this CNA previously, but he could not remember her name. On Monday (6/26/23), I came back to the facility and spoke with the Unit Manager Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)1 and someone from the Business Office about the incident and filed a grievance against CNA2. A phone interview on 6/30/23 at 10:48 AM with R21's RR2 revealed I came to the facility on the day R21 sent us the video of CNA2 being verbally aggressive towards him. When I got to the facility, I spoke with CNA2 and another nurse about CNA2 being verbally abusive to R21. When I watched the video, I feel like the other nurse in the video (LPN2) did not attempt to de-escalate the situation. In the latter part of the video, CNA2 yelled at the resident If you touch me again we are going to have some problems. I was unsure what she meant by that statement, but to me, it sounded threatening and like she would hit him (R21) if he touched or grabbed her again. R21 told me that he meant no harm when he grabbed her arm, but he was trying to tell CNA2 that he needed to use his urinal. I am unsure if the resident is safe at the facility because I fear that someone might try to get back at him because he recorded the incident. An interview with the Director of Nursing (DON) on 6/30/23 at 11:37AM revealed that CNA2 was currently at the facility and working today. During an interview on 6/30/23 at 11:42 AM, CNA2 revealed I was working on Saturday (6/24/23) with R21. While I was in his room and bending over to reach for something, R21 grabbed me hard on the shoulder. I went and told LPN2 and the Unit Manager LPN1 about the incident. R21 is a bigger man, so when he grabbed me, it was rough, because he is strong. I have been working with R21 since he was admitted and had no idea that he was hard of hearing and had a vision impairment. Later that day, his family came to the facility and spoke with me because R21 had recorded the incident on his phone. After this incident, I received an in-service by the Clinical Coordinator and continued to work as normal the rest of the day and week and was not placed on suspension during the investigation. CNA2 further stated that she has not received any abuse or neglect training from the facility because I previously worked at this facility a few years ago and have been a CNA for many years. A phone interview on 6/30/23 at 12:39 PM with LPN2 revealed I was working on Saturday (6/24/23) when CNA2 came to the nurse's station upset because R21 had grabbed her on her shoulder. We went down to the room together and that's when CNA2 and R21 started going back and forth (arguing) with each other about the incident. CNA2 was yelling at the resident that the way that he grabbed her shoulder was assault and that she was going to press charges and call law enforcement if he did that again. I was trying to understand what was going on during this time when they were yelling at each other. I told LPN1 about this incident, but I am not sure what happened afterward or if it was reported to the state agency/DHEC and investigated as verbal abuse by the facility. LPN2 further stated that they were unsure if CNA2 had worked with R21 after this incident but on the day of the incident (6/24/23), had switched CNA2's assignment with another staff member. An interview with the DON on 6/30/23 at 1:45 PM revealed that they were unaware of the verbal abuse between CNA2 and R21 that occurred on 6/24/23. She stated,If I would have heard about this incident, I would have pulled them all in and gotten interviews. The DON further stated that they spoke to R21's family, but not about this incident and only discussed a room change. The Infection Preventionist handled R21's RR's grievance and spoke with the family in a meeting on Monday (6/26/23). An interview on 6/30/23 at 2:00 PM with the DON and Infection Preventionist (IP) revealed I was not working on Saturday (6/24/23) when this incident between R21 and CNA2 occurred. On Monday this week (6/26/23), staff informed them that R21 and their family had concerns and needed a follow-up meeting. I spoke to the Unit Manger/LPN1 on Monday and the family discussed the issue regarding CNA2 and R21 wanting a room change. The resident stated that he didn't want to be in a nursing home due to old people and he switched rooms with a newer roommate with a similar diagnosis. After the meeting, I completed a grievance for R21 and his family and provided re-education to CNA2 related to communicating with individuals with hearing or vision issues. I spoke with CNA2 about what happened, and she said that the resident grabbed her on her shoulder and that she was not being ugly with him. The ICP further stated that she did not speak to the other nurse (LPN2) who was a witness, and this incident was not investigated or reported. An attempted phone interview with the Unit Manager/LPN1 on 6/30/23 at 2:08 PM was unsuccessful, a voicemail message was left with contact information.
Nov 2022 1 deficiency
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Quality of Care (Tag F0684)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policies, record review, and interviews, the facility failed to provide Resident (R)1 with medicatio...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policies, record review, and interviews, the facility failed to provide Resident (R)1 with medications per physician orders. This failure placed the resident at risk for pain. R1 had a physician order dated 07/18/22 that states: Oxycodone 5 milligrams (mg) for pain three times a day, to be given at 02:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 6:00 PM. Findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled, Medication Administration: General Guidelines, last revised 5/20/22 documents: Medications are administered as prescribed, in accordance with good nursing principles and practices and only by persons legally authorized to do so. Review of the facility's policy titled, Physician Orders, last revised 7/18/22, documents: Physician orders must be complete and legible when written by the physician, physician extender or transcribed by the licensed professional. Review of R1's Medication Administration Record (MAR) dated 07/13/22 for the 10:00 AM administration was blank and did not contain the signature of staff that administered the medication and the order was followed. Review of R1's MAR dated 08/01-08/02/22 was blank for the 2:00 AM administration and does not contain the signature of the staff that administered the medication and followed physician orders, and on 08/07/22, the MAR is blank for the 6:00 PM administration and does not contain the signature of the staff that administered the medication indicating staff followed physician orders. Review of the admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) Assessment with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 6/28/22 revealed R1 admitted to the facility on [DATE] from an acute care hospital. R1 was cognitively intact, as evidenced by a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 12 out of 15. During an interview on 11/15/22 at 2:00 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) reported R1 suffered from a lot of neuropathy pain, and they were trying to get all his PRN (as needed) medications switched to routine medications. She reported working one night when he yelled out in pain and had not used his call bell, which she had observed to be near him. During an interview on 11/15/22 at 2:15 PM, the Social Worker (SW) reported staff informed her that the resident would not use his call bell and would always yell out for staff. She was not aware of him alleging any complaints while here. During on interview on 11/15/22 at 4:00 PM, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)1 reported that she was not aware of R1 having pain control issues and to her knowledge he did use his call bell. She was not aware of any incidents regarding abuse. R1 was discharged from the facility and unavailable for interview and observation.
Apr 2022 4 deficiencies
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

ADL Care (Tag F0677)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to provide activities of daily living (ADLs) shower for one Resident (...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to provide activities of daily living (ADLs) shower for one Resident (R43) who requires extensive assistance from staff for activities of daily living (ADLs). This had the potential to impact the resident emotionally due to wanting a shower. The facility census was 92 residents. Findings Include: Review of R43's face sheet revealed an admission date of 12/16/20 with diagnoses including but not limited to, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and difficulty in walking. Review of the Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment of 03/02/22 located on the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) in the MDS tab revealed R43 was assessed as requiring extensive assistance for ADL care including extensive assistance with bathing and dressing. Further review of the MDS assessment revealed R43 has a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 9 out of 15, indicating the resident is moderately cognitively impaired. Per surveyor's discretion R43 was deemed alert, cognitive and responsive to questions answered indicating an understanding of the questions asked by the surveyor. Review of the R43's care plan revealed the resident was care planned for requiring assistance with self-care tasks due to physical deficits. Review of the ADL Documentation dated 03/01/22 - 04/28/22 revealed the resident received complete bed baths with one person assist. Review of the Hall 300 Shower List revealed R43's room [ROOM NUMBER]-2 is to receive showers on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. During an interview on 04/26/22 at 10:40 AM, R43 indicated she would like to go to the shower room. She said she has asked in the past month but has not gotten a shower in the shower room, but she received a bed bath. During an interview on 04/27/22 at 6:22 PM, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)2 stated it is hard to get the R43 to stand up in the shower and there was not enough staff to have a two person assist for the resident to get in the shower. She stated because R43 requires a two person assist for transfer and cannot stand up to hold herself up in the shower while her bottom is being washed, she has not been to the shower room. She also stated the last time she can recall the resident going to the shower room was right before thanksgiving. During an interview on 04/27/22 at 7:19 PM, CNA1 stated she was unaware of R43 shower days since she just received the resident's group, but she will ask the resident if she'd like to get in the shower on 04/28/22 during her shift. During an interview on 04/28/22 at 11:32 AM, Consultant 1 stated there is no current policy related to ADL/ showers/bathing. An interview with the Director of Nursing (DON) on 04/28/22 at 1:16 PM revealed that she was not aware the resident had not received a shower in a while. She stated this issue was brought to her attention on yesterday 04/27/22 when a CNA also stated there was something wrong with the shower in the shower room. The DON stated there was nothing wrong with the shower in the shower room. She stated her expectations are for residents to receive showers as scheduled and if a resident cannot receive a shower the staff should notify her or the other staff or next shift so the resident can receive a shower. The DON also verified the resident is a two person assist for transfer but once the resident is transferred, she is a one person assist. She stated once the resident is transferred to the shower chair the resident is a one person assist and there should not have been a reason as to why the resident had not received a shower.
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Pressure Ulcer Prevention (Tag F0686)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and staff interviews, the facility failed to perform wound care treatment according to phys...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and staff interviews, the facility failed to perform wound care treatment according to physician's orders for one resident (R)7 out of 3 reviewed for pressure ulcers. Findings include: Review of R7's Face Sheet (undated) located in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) under the Resident tab indicated R7 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to, hemiplegia and hemiparesis following cerebral infarction affecting right dominant side, adult failure to thrive, and other infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Review of R7's Significant Change in Status Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE] revealed that he had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 99 (indicating that the interview could not be completed); was extensive assist with bed mobility; was always incontinent of bowel and bladder; was at risk for developing a pressure ulcer and had an unhealed pressure ulcer at Stage 1 or greater. Review of R7's Physician Orders, dated 03/29/22, located in the EMR under the Orders tab revealed a wound treatment to cleanse left hip wound with wound cleanser, pat dry, apply Dakin's (sodium hypochlorite)-moistened gauze, and cover with a dry dressing daily. During an observation of wound care for R7 on 04/28/22 at 11:04 AM with Registered Nurse (RN)1 revealed that RN1 cleansed R7's left hip wound with gauze moistened Dakin solution and the healthy skin surrounding the wound. The area of healthy skin measured approximately one inch in diameter around the wound. Continued observation revealed RN1 applied skin prep on top of the skin after she applied Dakin solution surrounding the wound stating that the reason was to protect the skin because Dakin's can ruin the good skin. RN1 then folded a 4 x 4 gauze in half and placed it inside the wound and covered the wound with a dry dressing. During an interview on 04/28/22 at 3:52 PM with the Wound Consultant Nurse (WCN) verified that R7's wound order was to cleanse the wound with wound cleanser and place a gauze soaked in Dakin solution inside the wound and cover with a dry dressing. The WCN stated that Dakin solution should not be applied to healthy skin because it can lead to skin breakdown on the healthy skin. During an interview on 04/28/22 at 8:37 PM with the Director of Nursing (DON) verified that it is her expectation that nurses follow physician's orders when performing wound care.
CONCERN (E)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Safe Environment (Tag F0584)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, facility document review, and interview, the facility failed to provide a clean, comfortable, homelike env...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, facility document review, and interview, the facility failed to provide a clean, comfortable, homelike environment for two of three floors of the facility. Findings include: 1. Observation of the 2nd Floor on 04/26/22 between 9:30 AM and 12:00 PM revealed the following: room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the closet door broken and doesn't close, paint scuffed and peeling next to bed by door, paint cracked and dirty next to bed by window, and a black substance noted in corners of window. room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the walls were scuffed up, paint peeling, a black substance was noted on the window seal, and the space next to air conditioner (a/c) was black, room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the ceiling in the bathroom had brown/orange spots over toilet and sink area, peeling paint around the light above sink, all the doors in the room scratched up, sink appears to be falling into vanity on handle side of sink, there was wood exposed on both sides of sink, and a black substance in corners of window. room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed paint chipping/peeling next to the bed at door, the door has scratch marks, a reddish/orange substance , paint chips and peeling paint on top of black substance at window and on top of a/c unit. room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed paint chipping and flaking behind television (TV), next to bathroom door, behind bed next to window and beside nightstand down to door on wall next to door bed. There as also a black substance in the window seal. room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed paint peeling on wall next to bed by window, scuffed and dirty next to bed by door, a black substance around top of a/c unit in window, paint scuffed and dirty in area as wall, the electrical outlet with broken cord next to patient bed, and a dead roach was found on a piece of paper next to outlet. room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the walls next to door over to nightstand and next to window were dirty and a black substance was noted in the corner of window at a/c unit. room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed a black substance around window seal, chipping paint in same area, scuffed/dirty paint on wall coming into room next to bed, behind the head of the bed (HOB) and on wall next to other bed and behind HOB. deep indention was noted on bathroom door. There was a strong smell of urine. room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed a strong smell of urine, walls behind beds had peeling paint and noticeable repair marks, the window seal black substance and peeling paint, and there was water leaking in front of a/c unit onto floor in front of bathroom door. room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the walls were scuffed up with peeling paint. There was black substance on window seal, the space next to a/c as well as reddish/orange substance. 2. Observation of room [ROOM NUMBER] on 04/26/22 at 10:20 AM revealed the wood finish on the closet doors were scuffed, the paint in the restroom was bubbled and peeling throughout the restroom, and there was rust on the door frame. Observation on 04/26/22 at 10:22 AM of room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the paint was peeling above the baseboard to the left side of the doorway. Observation on 04/26/22 at 10:25 AM of room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the wood paneling was peeling off of the wooden bathroom door, paint was peeling off the wall to the left and right above the bedroom air conditioning unit and the paint behind the toilet was peeling and bubbling behind the toilet in the restroom. Observation on 04/26/22 at 10:40 AM of the hallway across from room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the wallpaper under the handrails was bubbled and peeling off the wall. Observation on 04/26/22 at 10:52 AM of room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed visible dry wall and metal showing through the paint behind the bed. Observation on 04/26/22 at 10:52 AM of the restroom between rooms [ROOM NUMBERS] revealed the paint above sink was peeling, the drywall was cracked above doorways, white spackle above doorway leading into 325 was not painted, and there was no trash bag in trashcan with soiled briefs in the trashcan. Observation on 04/26/22 at 11:04 AM of room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the paint was peeling off the wall to the left side of air conditioning unit. Observation on 04/26/22 at 11:20 AM revealed trash hanging on wire mesh draped across the Serenity Garden area between the first and second floors. Observation on 04/26/22 at 11:20 AM of room [ROOM NUMBER] revealed the toilet was running water inside the toilet bowl, and the paint was peeling above the sink and restroom handrails. Interview on 04/26/22 at 11:20 AM with R59 stated there was trash hanging from the mesh down below her bedroom window, the toilet was continuously running, the paint was peeling above sink, and on the wall above the handrails to both sides of the restroom. Interview on 04/26/22 at 10:22 AM with Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 4 confirmed the wood finish on the closet doors was scuffed, the pain in the restroom between rooms [ROOM NUMBERS] was peeling and bubbling, and there was rust on the metal door frame of the restroom. 3. During the initial tour on 04/26/22 at 11:30AM a large puddle of liquid was noted to be on the floor under the air conditioning unit into the bathroom doorway in room [ROOM NUMBER]. A strong urine smell was also noted. Additional observation on 04/26/22 at 4:02 PM the puddle of water was still on the floor, appeared to be the same size and in the same spot on the floor as before. The strong urine smell was still present. During an observation on 04/27/22 at 5:15 PM the liquid was not noted, the urine smell was still very strong. Observation made while entering the bathroom liquid was noted to be coming to the surface of the floor, out from under the floor. During an observation and interview with the two corporate consultants, Consultant 1 and Consultant 2, and later by the interim DON, on 04/27/22 at 5:25 PM in R67's bathroom, Consultant 1 and Consultant 2 confirmed the musky/urine smell throughout the hall as we were making it to the bathroom at the other end of the hall from the elevator, where we came onto the floor. Once in the bathroom the interim DON came into the room, consultant 1 and consultant 2 were in bathroom looking around and then looked at their feet, and jumped back stating, yuck and oh my! Consultant 1 stated, this must be a leak. The maintenance employee was unavailable due to being out of the building getting a part to fix something else. Consultant 1 assured me that this would be taken care of as soon as maintenance was back in the building. Review of the maintenance work order form provided by the facility with a date of 02/15/22 failed to reveal orders for all areas of concern. During a walking observation and interview with the Maintenance Director (MD) on 04/28/22 at 6:09 PM through 6:55 PM he stated, I am aware of the issues and have my own list of concerns, but we can take a tour. Continued during the tour by stating, with the staff and residents not caring we do the same thing every day, we can fix something one day and a few days later it's messed up again. After completing the second floor and riding the elevator up to the third floor the MD stated, I have my own list, I'm not writing anything else down. MD verified all concerns by saying, yeah, I know about all the issues, but we are only two people and can't keep up with all of it. We do all we can, but this is an old and big building, it's going to have issues, this one has a lot. In an interview with the Director of Nursing (DON) and Consultant 1 on 04/28/22 at 7:00 PM, Consultant 1 stated, my expectation would be to have the everything fixed asap [As Soon As Possible] but reality is, it takes time. Also stated, the MD is very diligent and does his best. Consultant 1 also stated, I think going up and down the elevator creates a challenge for all staff, especially maintenance. I knew there were issues in this building, I just didn't realize the severity of the issues. Consultant 1 stated the facility does not have a policy regarding maintenance or environment.
CONCERN (E)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Antibiotic Stewardship (Tag F0881)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

Based on interviews and record reviews, the facility failed to track and trend antibiotic usage, infections, and perform infection surveillance for eight of twelve months reviewed. This failure placed...

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Based on interviews and record reviews, the facility failed to track and trend antibiotic usage, infections, and perform infection surveillance for eight of twelve months reviewed. This failure placed all residents at risk for the potential transmission of infections and communicable diseases. The facility census was 92. Findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled Antibiotic Stewardship Program revised on 09/26/19 stated, .1b. The ASP [Antibiotic Stewardship Program] Team will consist of the following partners: i. Medical Director/designee; ii. Director of Health Services (DHS)/designee; iii. Infection Preventionist (IP)/designee; iv. Consultant Pharmacist; v. Prescribing Physician/Provider .The ASP Team will monitor and review the following data: i. Infections and antibiotic usage patterns on a regular basis. ii. Antibiogram reports for trends of antibiotic resistance; iii. Antibiotic resistance patterns for multidrug resistant organisms .; iv. Number of antibiotics prescribed [e.g., days of therapy] and the number of residents treated each month; v. Include a separate report for the number of residents on antibiotics that did not meet criteria for active infections .g. The Antibiotic Stewardship Pharmacist will provide antibiogram reports, assessing trends of non-restricted and restricted recommendations for antibiotic use on an annual, and as needed basis. 5. Tracking a. The IP will be responsible for infection surveillance and multi-drug resistance organism [MDRO] tracking. b. The IP, along with the DHS, will collect and review the following data such as: i. Documentation of completion of antibiotic choice, dosage, duration, indication and route of administration. ii. Whether appropriate tests, such as labs and/or cultures, were obtained before ordering antibiotic. iii. Whether the antibiotic was changed during the course of treatment . Review of the facility's monthly line listing of infections and antibiotics prescribed, revealed that for eight out of twelve months, no documentation identifying the type of infection, the type of antibiotic prescribed for treatment, or the resident's room number had been completed. Review of the facility documentation from the DHS and Corporate Consultant (Consultant 1) concluded the facility did not have documented infection surveillance for eight of twelve months reviewed. Interview with the DHS on 04/28/22 at 2:52 PM confirmed that for eight of twelve months reviewed, the facility did not have required documentation of antibiotic tracking and trending or for infection surveillance. During an interview with Consultant 1 on 04/28/22 at 2:52 PM, she confirmed that for eight of twelve months reviewed, the facility did not have required documentation of antibiotic tracking and trending or for infection surveillance. During an additional interview on 04/28/22 at 7:02 PM with Consultant 1, she stated that it was her expectation that mapping and trending of infections be completed every month. Consultant 1 confirmed that the facility did not currently employ an IP with the appropriate specialized training to map and trend infections, along with infection surveillance.
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Life-Threatening (Immediate Jeopardy)
J - Isolated K - Pattern L - Widespread
Actual Harm
G - Isolated H - Pattern I - Widespread
Potential for Harm
D - Isolated E - Pattern F - Widespread
No Harm (Minor)
A - Isolated B - Pattern C - Widespread

Questions to Ask on Your Visit

  • "What changes have you made since the serious inspection findings?"
  • "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
  • "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"

Our Honest Assessment

Strengths
  • • Licensed and certified facility. Meets minimum state requirements.
Concerns
  • • Multiple safety concerns identified: 2 life-threatening violation(s), $101,973 in fines. Review inspection reports carefully.
  • • 27 deficiencies on record, including 2 critical (life-threatening) violations. These warrant careful review before choosing this facility.
  • • $101,973 in fines. Extremely high, among the most fined facilities in South Carolina. Major compliance failures.
  • • Grade F (1/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
Bottom line: Trust Score of 1/100 indicates significant concerns. Thoroughly evaluate alternatives.

About This Facility

What is Pruitthealth- Columbia's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns PruittHealth- Columbia an overall rating of 1 out of 5 stars, which is considered much below average nationally. Within South Carolina, this rating places the facility higher than 0% of the state's 100 nursing homes. A rating at this level reflects concerns identified through health inspections, staffing assessments, or quality measures that families should carefully consider.

How is Pruitthealth- Columbia Staffed?

CMS rates PruittHealth- Columbia's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 52%, compared to the South Carolina average of 46%.

What Have Inspectors Found at Pruitthealth- Columbia?

State health inspectors documented 27 deficiencies at PruittHealth- Columbia during 2022 to 2025. These included: 2 Immediate Jeopardy (the most serious level, indicating potential for serious harm or death) and 25 with potential for harm. Immediate Jeopardy findings are rare and represent the most serious regulatory concerns. They require immediate corrective action.

Who Owns and Operates Pruitthealth- Columbia?

PruittHealth- Columbia is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by PRUITTHEALTH, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 185 certified beds and approximately 132 residents (about 71% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in Columbia, South Carolina.

How Does Pruitthealth- Columbia Compare to Other South Carolina Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in South Carolina, PruittHealth- Columbia's overall rating (1 stars) is below the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (52%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (1 stars) is much below the national benchmark.

What Should Families Ask When Visiting Pruitthealth- Columbia?

Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "What changes have been made since the serious inspection findings, and how are you preventing similar issues?" "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's Immediate Jeopardy citations and the below-average staffing rating.

Is Pruitthealth- Columbia Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, PruittHealth- Columbia has documented safety concerns. Inspectors have issued 2 Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death). The facility has a 1-star overall rating and ranks #100 of 100 nursing homes in South Carolina. Families considering this facility should ask detailed questions about what corrective actions have been taken since these incidents.

Do Nurses at Pruitthealth- Columbia Stick Around?

PruittHealth- Columbia has a staff turnover rate of 52%, which is 6 percentage points above the South Carolina average of 46%. Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.

Was Pruitthealth- Columbia Ever Fined?

PruittHealth- Columbia has been fined $101,973 across 2 penalty actions. This is 3.0x the South Carolina average of $34,099. Fines at this level are uncommon and typically indicate a pattern of serious deficiencies, repeated violations, or failure to correct problems promptly. CMS reserves penalties of this magnitude for facilities that pose significant, documented risk to resident health or safety. Families should request specific documentation of what issues led to these fines and what systemic changes have been implemented.

Is Pruitthealth- Columbia on Any Federal Watch List?

PruittHealth- Columbia is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.