Federal Nursing-Home Survey Record
Merkel Nursing Center
Does Merkel Nursing Center have a federal violation or abuse history?
According to the public federal record on file with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Merkel Nursing Center (CCN 676053), in Merkel, TX, has federal inspection findings on its record. CMS currently displays its federal abuse icon for this facility — a flag CMS assigns under its own published methodology for abuse-related citations (deficiency tag F600 and related). CMS also lists the facility as a candidate for its Special Focus Facility program; a candidate is not on the active watch list. In its current inspection cycle, CMS cited the facility for 29 deficiencies; the most serious carries scope/severity K, a level CMS classifies as Immediate Jeopardy. Citations from earlier inspection cycles appear in the dated timeline below as historical findings, not current ones. CMS has $406,589 in civil money penalties on file against the facility. This page restates the federal record and draws no conclusion of its own. Strict time limits can apply to claims like these — consider consulting a qualified attorney promptly.
The Federal Record
CMS has flagged this facility with its federal abuse icon.
Below is this facility's federal survey record as on file with federal regulators (CMS). Strict time limits can apply to claims like these — consider consulting a qualified attorney promptly.
Federal abuse icon on file
CMS displays its abuse icon for facilities it has cited for resident abuse under its own published methodology (deficiency tag F600 and related). This is the government's own flag, restated here.
A candidate for the federal Special Focus Facility watch list
CMS lists this facility as a candidate for the Special Focus Facility program. It is not on the active watch list.
Scope & Severity — current cycle
Civil money penalties on file
$406,589
CMS has $406,589 in civil money penalties on file against this facility.
Overall CMS star rating: this facility vs the CMS-published state average
This facility: 1 · CMS state average: 2.7
Deficiency timeline — full federal history
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Ensure that nurse aides who have worked more than 4 months, are trained and competent; and nurse aides who have worked less than 4 months are enrolled in appropriate training.
Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
Designate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.
Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Arrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services.
Regularly inspect all bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails (if any) for safety; and all bed rails and mattresses must attach safely to the bed frame.
Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.
Include as part of its infection prevention and control program, mandatory training that includes written standards, policies, and procedures for the program.
Conduct mandatory training, for all staff, on the facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program.
Give their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Ensure that staff members are educated on resident rights and facility responsibilities to properly care for its residents.
Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program that includes effective communications for direct care staff members.
Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program for all new and existing staff members.
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
Follow rules about disclosure of ownership requirements and tell the state agency about changes in ownership and/or administrative personnel.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Have policies on smoking.
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Have the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Ensure that nurse aides who have worked more than 4 months, are trained and competent; and nurse aides who have worked less than 4 months are enrolled in appropriate training.
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Regularly inspect all bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails (if any) for safety; and all bed rails and mattresses must attach safely to the bed frame.
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
Ensure the activities program is directed by a qualified professional.
Ensure residents have reasonable access to and privacy in their use of communication methods.
Provide behavior health training consistent with the requirements and as determined by a facility assessment.
Post nurse staffing information every day.
Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program that includes effective communications for direct care staff members.
Conduct mandatory training, for all staff, on the facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Program.
Keep all essential equipment working safely.
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
Document what happened
Were you or a loved one harmed at Merkel Nursing Center?
Share a few details to put your inquiry on file. CareSentinel is an independent service that compiles the public CMS record and does not provide legal advice. As qualified attorneys join our network in your area, one may reach out — we can’t guarantee contact yet, so we encourage you to consult a qualified attorney promptly on your own as well. There is no cost, and your information is handled with care.
Strict time limits can apply to claims like these — consider consulting a qualified attorney promptly.