NEW BERN, NC – PRUITTHEALTH-TRENT

Based on staff, physician, nurse practitioner, and police officer interviews, and record review the facility failed to notify the physician of an open wound that progressively deteriorated from [DATE] through [DATE]. This failure resulted in the resident receiving no physician evaluation of the wound and no physician ordered treatments to the wound. Resident #200 was identified by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and police on [DATE] to have a large tunneling wound under his left arm at the time of death with no observed dressing present. This was for 1 of 3 residents reviewed for wound care (Resident #200). Immediate Jeopardy began on [DATE] when Resident #200’s wound to his left axillary (armpit) opened and the Wound Care Nurse failed to notify the physician or nurse practitioner.

Immediate jeopardy was removed on [DATE] when the facility provided and implemented an acceptable allegation of Immediate Jeopardy removal. The facility remains out of compliance at a lower scope and severity of E (no harm with the potential for more than minimal harm that is not immediate jeopardy) to ensure monitoring systems put in place are effective.

The EMS record dated [DATE] indicated EMS was dispatched to the facility for Resident #200. He was observed with a large gaping hole in his left armpit that was bleeding.

The police case narrative dated [DATE] revealed Police Officer #1 arrived at the facility in response to a death in the facility on [DATE]. Police Officer #1 documented he was informed by EMS upon arrival that it appeared to be a case of neglect based on the deceased ‘s condition and EMS personnel wanted to ensure a report was on file. Resident #200 had one large open wound under his left arm that was several inches wide and extended up inside his body. The officer documented the open wound that was not bandaged and showed no signs of care. There were additional sores on the resident’s side that were smaller but were still noticeable. The officer photographed the body. There were abrasions and sores under his right arm as well though not as pronounced.