HospitalInspections.org

Based on record review and interview the hospital failed to ensure complete timely vital sign checks were provided for Patient #1 in that: 1) 6 of 31 possible vital sign checks were not taken every 4 hours as ordered.

Findings included:

1). Physician's orders dated 04/17/15 at 6:39 PM indicated Patient #1's vital signs were to be checked every 4 hours. The following vital signs were not checked at 4 hour intervals from 04/17/15 at 6:39 PM through 04/22/15 at 4:00 PM:

There were 8 hours between complete vital sign checks on 04/19/15 between 2:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Six hours passed between complete vital sign checks on 04/20/15 between 2:00 AM and 7:59 AM.

Complete vital sign checks were not completed for approximately 10 hours on 4/20/15 between 7:59 AM and 5:51 PM.

There were 8 hours between complete vital sign checks on 04/21/15 at 1:00 AM and 9:00 AM.

Twelve hours lapsed between complete vital sign checks on 04/21/15 at 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM.

Complete vital sign checks were not completed for approximately 11 hours on 04/21/15 at 9:00 PM and on 04/22/15 at 8:18 AM.

During a phone interview on 07/22/15 at 2:32 PM with Personnel #9 she said when a physician ordered patient vital signs to be checked, the patient's vital signs would include their temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, respirations and oxygen saturation.

During a phone interview on 07/22/15 at 4:07 PM with Personnel #2 she confirmed when a physician ordered vital signs for a patient, the vital signs would be a "full set" of vital signs that would include the patient's temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, respirations and oxygen saturation.