F 0609
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Some
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper
authorities.
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on
interview and record review, the facility failed to develop and or implement policies and procedures for
ensuring the reporting of a reasonable suspicion of a crime in accordance with section 1150B of the Act by
failing to report to the State Survey Agency (SSA, the Department) two incidents of injuries of unknown
origin (injuries resulting without knowing how it happened), which occurred on 3/5/2023 and 7/22/2023 for
one of three sampled residents (Resident 1).
These deficient practices resulted in a delay of an onsite inspection by the SSA to ensure the safety of the
other residents and had the potential to result in unidentified abuse.
Findings:
1. A review of Resident 1 ' s admission Record, dated 10/27/2023, indicated the resident was originally
admitted on [DATE] and readmitted on [DATE] with diagnoses hemiplegia (a condition that causes inability
to move half of the body) and hemiparesis (weakness of one entire side of the body) following cerebral
infarction (area of dead tissue in the brain caused by blocked and/or narrowed arteries that carry blood and
oxygen to the brain) affecting the right dominant side, and unspecified dementia (general term describing
problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory and other thought processes caused by brain
damage caused by problems with supply of blood to the brain).
A review of Resident 1 ' s Minimum Data Set (MDS- a standardized assessment and screening tool) dated
4/29/2023, indicated Resident 1 had ability to usually understand others and usually be understood.
A record review of Resident 1 ' s Change of Condition/Interact Assessment Form (COC- a documentation
to show when there is a physical or mental change in the resident that requires further action by the
facility), dated 3/25/2023, timed at 10:00 a.m. indicated Resident 1 had an abrasion (an injury caused by
something rubbing or scraping against the skin) to the mid back and right lateral (to the side of or away
from the body) lower ribs with skin redness and discoloration (change of skin color from how it usually
appears).
A record review of Resident 1 ' s Physician ' s Orders, dated 3/25/2023, timed at 7:19 p.m. indicated a STAT
(immediate) X-radiation (x-ray-creation of pictures of the inside of the body), of thoracic (chest area of the
body between neck and abdomen) and lumbar (lower back area) spine (backbone); right rib for complain of
pain in lower back and right rib cage area.
A record review of Resident 1 ' s x-ray report dated 3/25/2023, indicated that Resident 1 had acute
(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 2
Event ID:
555045
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
555045
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
11/01/2023
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
The Hills Healthcare Center
10158 Sunland Blvd
Sunland, CA 91040
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 0609
(of abrupt onset) fractures (broken bone) of the right lateral eighth, ninth, and tenth ribs.
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
During an interview and concurrent record review on 10/30/2023 at 5:55 p.m. with the Director of Nursing
(DON), Resident 1 ' s COC dated 3/25/2023 was reviewed. The DON stated that Resident 1 was
discovered to have multiple rib fractures but nobody from the facility knew how the resident got those
injuries. The DON stated that Resident 1 was not a reliable source of how the incident happened due to his
dementia and that he could not remember what happened. The DON verified that Resident 1 ' s x-ray report
dated 3/25/2023 indicating multiple fractures to the resident ' s ribs were new significant injuries. The DON
stated that due to its unknown origin, the fractured ribs were injuries of unknown origin. When asked if the
DON reported this incident with injuries of unknown origin to the SSA, DON stated no.
Residents Affected - Some
2. A record review of Resident 1 ' s COC/Interact Assessment Form, dated 7/22/2023, timed at 11:00 a.m.
indicated Resident 1 complained of back pain and claims that he had a fall.
A record review of Resident 1 ' s Physician ' s Orders, dated 7/22/2023, timed at 12:55 p.m. indicated to
transfer Resident 1 to the General Acute Care Hospital (GACH) for further evaluation due to complain of
back pain.
A record review of Resident 1 ' s GACH records, dated 7/23/2023, indicated a computed tomography (CT diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce
images of the inside of the body. It shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones,
muscles, fat, organs and blood vessels.) of the bones indicated a displaced (pieces of the bone moved so
much that a gap formed around the bone where it broke) right scapular (shoulder blade bone) tip fracture,
minimally displaced (when the bone cracks part or all the way through but maintains alignment) right lateral
fourth to seventh and tenth rib fractures, nondisplaced posterior (back or behind) right sixth and eight rib
fractures.
During an interview and concurrent record review on 10/30/2023 at 6:55 p.m. with the DON, Resident 1 ' s
COC dated 7/22/2023 was reviewed. The DON stated that Resident 1 was transferred to the GACH for
further evaluation and was found to have fractures to the right shoulder blade and right ribs. The DON
stated she did not know how this injury happened and that it was an injury of unknown origin. The DON
stated that she did not report this incident to the SSA. When asked who is responsible to report injuries of
unknown origin, the DON stated she would report them. When asked if these injuries of unknown origin
should have been reported to the SSA, the DON stated yes.
During an interview on 11/1/2023 at 5:55 p.m. with the Administrator (ADM), the ADM stated that it is the
facility ' s policy to report any injury of unknown origin with significant injuries to the State agency as
mandated reporters. The ADM stated he was not informed by the DON regarding the incidents at the time
of the injuries and was not aware that the incidents were not reported to the SSA.
A review of the facility ' s policy and procedure titled Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation or Misappropriation Reporting and Investigating revised 9/2022, indicates that injury of unknown source must be reported
immediately (immediately defined as two [2] hours of an allegation involving abuse or resulting in serious
bodily injury or within 24 hours of an allegation that does not involve abuse or result in serious bodily injury)
to the state agency.
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
555045
If continuation sheet
Page 2 of 2