North Carolina Nursing Home Resident Ate A Mouse

A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Statement of Deficiencies report for Accordius Health at Salisbury (North Caroline) generated as a result of a survey done at the facility on September 3, 2021 stated, in part: “Nurse #1 stated on the evening of 8/9/2021 she was at the Nurses’ Station when Resident #1 walked up the hall with a Styrofoam food container in his hand and the DON screamed out and stated she thought she was going to be sick. Nurse #1 stated the DON said she saw Resident #1 pick a food tray out of the trash and something was moving in his hand and before she could stop him, he put something that looked like a mouse in his mouth. Nurse #1 stated Resident #1 would not open his mouth. Nurse #1 stated the DON left the unit. Nurse #1 stated she felt sick and went into the bathroom and when she came out Nurse Aide #1 yelled out and came to the nurses ‘ station. Nurse #1 stated Nurse Aide #1 told her Resident #1 spit up something that looked like grizzle and a tail. Nurse #1 stated she could not look at what Resident #1 had spit up because she was so sick, and she stated the DON did not look at what Resident #1 had spit up. “

“Nurse Aide #1 … stated on 8/9/2021 Resident #1 arrived in the dining room at supper and he spit out a greyish-brown ball of fur with a piece of grizzle in it. Nurse Aide #1 stated she picked up what was spit out in a glove and put it in the trash and then had Resident #1 open his mouth. Nurse Aide #1 stated there was greyish-brown fur on Resident #1’s tongue. Nurse Aide #1 stated she notified Nurse #1 immediately. During an interview with the Administrator on 8/12/2021 at 6:39 pm she stated it was reported by Nurse Aide #1 on 8/9/2021 Resident #1 had fur in his mouth and grizzle that may have been a mouse tail. The Administrator stated the facility reported the incident to the Physician on 8/10/2021 when he arrived at the facility. The Administrator stated she had the facility’s pest control provider check for any signs of mice on 8/11/2021 and the facility also had an education on what they should do if they saw pests in the facility 8/11/2021. During an interview with Nurse Aide #2 on 8/13/2021 at 11:36 am she stated she did not witness the incident on 8/9/2021 when Resident #1 put something in his mouth, but she has observed him digging through the trash and getting other resident’s food before, and she redirected him when he has the behavior.”

“On 8.9.21 after incident DON failed to document and complete incident report, notify MD, notify RP, and update care plan. On 8.9.21, DON and/or Nurse #1 failed to document assessment of resident after incident. On 8.9.21, twenty minutes after incident, nurse #1 alerted DON that resident had spit up an unidentified item. Nurse #1 failed to document findings and incident. On 8.9.21, DON/and or nurse #1 failed to notify poison control for guidance on unidentified potentially harmful item. On 8.9.21 DON/and or nurse #1 failed to document attempts to notify RP. All residents with identified behavior of placing items in mouth are at risk. Facility failed to initiate a care plan for the potential of placing non-food related items in mouth upon admission for resident #1 to address the prior history of the exhibited behavior.”