F 0693
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Some
Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and
provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on
observation, interview, and record review, for one of two sampled residents (Resident 1), the facility failed to
ensure Resident 1, who received nutrition through g-tube feeding, received appropriate treatment and
services to prevent complications of enteral feeding when:
a. Resident 1's head was not elevated during and after feeding,
b. Aspiration precautions were not observed even after multiple hospitalizations related to aspiration.
These failures had contributed in multiple admissions to the hospital for aspiration pneumonia (lung
infection caused by something other than air being inhaled into the respiratory tract, can be food, liquid,
stomach contents).
Findings:
During a review of Resident 1's admission Record, the admission Record indicated Resident 1 was
admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses that included dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and
gastrostomy tube (also referred to as g-tube, a tube is surgically inserted through the abdominal wall into
the stomach for the introduction of food or medications).
During a review of Resident 1's Inter-Facility Transfer Report dated 4/30/23, the Inter-Facility Transfer
Report indicated Resident 1 had severe sepsis (a life-threatening condition in which the body responds
improperly to an infection) due to urinary tract infection, weakness and deconditioning, seizure disorder and
acute encephalopathy (a damage or disease affecting the brain). The report also indicated g-tube feeds
were held off because Resident 1 was cleared for oral intake.
During a review of Resident 1's Progress Notes dated 6/24/23, the Progress Notes indicated Resident 1
was noted with shallow breathing and oxygen saturation (amount of oxygen circulating in the blood)
declined from 86 percent (%) to 84%. The notes indicated Resident 1 was transferred to the hospital via
911 for further evaluation.
During a review of Resident 1's Hospital Records dated 7/24/23, the Hospital Records indicated Resident 1
had severe sepsis suspicious for aspiration and acute respiratory failure with aspiration
pneumonitis/pneumonia as a potential cause. The Hospitalist Discharge Summary indicated Resident 1
was discharged back to the facility with discharge instructions to watch for symptoms of aspiration risk.
(continued on next page)
Any deficiency statement ending with an asterisk (*) denotes a deficiency which the institution may be excused from correcting providing it is determined that other
safeguards provide sufficient protection to the patients. (See instructions.) Except for nursing homes, the findings stated above are disclosable 90 days following the
date of survey whether or not a plan of correction is provided. For nursing homes, the above findings and plans of correction are disclosable 14 days following the date
these documents are made available to the facility. If deficiencies are cited, an approved plan of correction is requisite to continued program participation.
LABORATORY DIRECTOR'S OR PROVIDER/SUPPLIER
REPRESENTATIVE'S SIGNATURE
TITLE
(X6) DATE
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Facility ID:
If continuation sheet
Page 1 of 3
Event ID:
055677
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
055677
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
10/10/2023
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Pittsburg Skilled Nursing Center
535 School Street
Pittsburg, CA 94565
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0693
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Some
During a review of Resident 1's Progress Notes from 7/24/23, the Progress Notes indicated Resident 1 was
started on g-tube feeding initially running at 20 milliliters per hour (ml/hr), increased by 15 ml/hr until
Resident 1 received 50 ml/hr of g-tube feeding formula.
During a review of Resident 1's Nutritional Assessment by Registered Dietitian (RD) dated 7/27/23, the
Nutritional Assessment indicated aside from the g-tube feeding formula, Resident 1 did not receive any
food by mouth. The RD recommended to increase g-tube feeding to 60 ml/hr.
During a review of Interdisciplinary Team (IDT, a group composed of individuals representing different
departments of the facility) Notes dated 7/31/23, the IDT notes did not address Resident 1's aspiration risk
while on g-tube feeding.
During a review of Resident 1's incident report dated 8/19/23, the incident report indicated Resident 1 was
noted with labored breathing, had crackles (rattling or bubbling lung sound that can be a sign of fluid in the
air sacs) upon expiration (exhalation), and oxygen saturation was 84% at room air. The report indicated
Resident 1 was sent to hospital where Resident 1 was diagnosed with sepsis.
During a review of Hospitalist Discharge summary dated [DATE], the Hospitalist Discharge Summary
indicated Resident 1 had diagnoses that included sepsis, acute respiratory failure, and aspiration into
respiratory tract.
During a review of Resident 1's Progress Notes dated 9/2/23, the Progress Notes indicated Resident 1 was
noted with frothy sputum coming out from mouth and nose, had crackles upon expiration, and oxygen
saturation was 86%. The notes indicated Resident 1 was taken to the hospital via 911.
During a review of Hospitalist Discharge summary dated [DATE], the Hospitalist Discharge Summary
indicated a diagnosis that included acute respiratory failure with hypoxia from recurrent aspiration, Resident
1 received antibiotics.
During a review of Resident 1's IDT Notes dated 9/14/23, the IDT notes indicated current assessment of
Resident 1's respiratory status but did not address how to prevent recurrence of aspiration.
During an observation on 9/26/23 at 10:15 a.m., Resident 1 was lying on her back in low-Fowler's position
(head is elevated 15 to 30º.
During a joint interview on 9/26/23 at 10:23 a.m. with Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) 1 and Director of
Nursing (DON), LVN 1 stated she had just turned off Resident 1's g-tube feeding. LVN 1 stated Resident 1's
head was low to make it easier for Resident 1 to be turned and repositioned every two hours. LVN 1 stated
aspiration precautions included making sure Resident 1's head is not flat and checking for oral secretions
and suction every two hours as needed. DON stated Resident 1's head was not elevated at 45º.
During an interview and review of the clinical record on 9/26/23 at 12:35 p.m. with DON, Resident 1's
g-tube care plan, initiated 5/10/23, was reviewed. DON stated Resident 1 already had aspiration risk upon
returning to the facility on 7/24/23. DON stated Resident 1's g-tube care plan should have included
aspiration protocol to be observed. DON also stated Resident 1's care plan indicated interventions that
included keeping the head of bed elevated at 45º when tube feeding is ongoing and thirty minutes
after stopping the feeding. Resident 1's care plan interventions were all initiated on 5/10/23. DON stated
Resident 1's g-tube feeding was not revised after 5/10/23, even after multiple
(continued on next page)
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
055677
If continuation sheet
Page 2 of 3
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
055677
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
10/10/2023
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Pittsburg Skilled Nursing Center
535 School Street
Pittsburg, CA 94565
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0693
re-hospitalizations related to aspiration.
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
During a telephone interview on 9/26/23 at 4:40 p.m. with LVN 2, LVN 2 stated to check for signs of
aspiration; one should check for facial grimacing, coughing, presence of drainage from g-tube site, formula
not flowing freely, frothy sputum, and abnormal lung sounds.
Residents Affected - Some
During an interview on 10/10/23 at 9:45 a.m. with DON, DON stated, after thorough review of Resident 1's
clinical records, DON stated she realized the mistake and made necessary changes. DON stated, for
residents who are at risk for aspiration, staff were re-educated on aspiration protocol that included raising
the head of bed to 45º and to hold the g-tube feeding when gastric residual volume (the amount of
liquid remaining in the stomach following administration of g-tube feeding to assess g-tube feeding
tolerance) is more than 100 ml. DON also stated gastric residual volume should have been documented in
MAR. DON also stated the facility did not have a policy or protocol to address prevention of complications
from g-tube (such as aspiration).
During a review of Resident 1's Medication Administration Record (MAR) for August 2023, the MAR did not
indicate gastric residual volume was monitored and head of bed was elevated 45º as indicated in the
care plan.
During a review of Resident 1's MAR for September 2023, the MAR indicated interventions making sure
head of bed was elevated 45º and that gastric residual volume was monitored routinely was not done
from 9/1/23 to 9/26/23.
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
055677
If continuation sheet
Page 3 of 3