Laurels of Walden Park: Splint Pressure Injuries - OH
Resident 37 at The Laurels of Walden Park developed pressure injuries under a splint that should have been removed twice daily for skin checks. Instead, staff left the device in place continuously except during those brief assessments.
Athletic Trainer 700 confirmed the splint had been provided to the resident in May. The trainer explained that if the splint had been removed twice daily and the skin properly assessed, no problems should have occurred.
"If the splint was too tight, it would cause pressure injuries," the trainer told inspectors.
LPN 140 confirmed during an August 7 interview that the resident's splint was only removed during twice-daily skin checks. The nurse also verified that an aide had accompanied the resident to a medical appointment but could not recall the aide's name.
When Wound Nurse 870 examined the resident's finger on August 7, inspectors observed significant damage. The wound appeared moist with Betadine treatment, covered by a scab with pink tissue visible at the center.
After removing gauze dressing, staff found the dorsal side of the finger showed scabbed tissue surrounded by pink skin. The wound nurse described the injury as having superficial skin involvement.
The left dorsal wound appeared deeper, with a central scab. The wound nurse noted the full depth could not be assessed until the scab detached naturally.
The facility's own skin management policy, revised as recently as September 2024, required staff to identify and implement interventions to prevent pressure injuries. The policy specifically outlined evaluation and treatment protocols for residents with wounds or those at risk for skin compromise.
According to facility guidelines, residents should receive baseline total body skin evaluations upon admission, weekly assessments using the Braden Scale for four weeks, and appropriate preventive measures for at-risk individuals.
The policy also mandated physician-ordered treatment for residents with skin impairments, with detailed documentation of all conditions.
National pressure injury prevention guidelines provided additional clarity on medical device-related wounds. The 2019 Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers guide recommended reviewing and selecting medical devices to minimize tissue damage.
The guidance emphasized using correct sizing and shape for individual patients and properly securing devices. Most critically, it required assessing skin under and around medical devices as part of routine evaluations.
Staff should remove medical devices "as soon as medically feasible" and use protective dressings beneath devices to reduce injury risk.
None of these protocols appeared to have been followed in Resident 37's case.
The resident's injuries developed over several months while the splint remained continuously in place. Staff conducted only minimal skin assessments during brief removal periods twice daily.
The case emerged during a complaint investigation, suggesting someone reported concerns about the resident's care to state authorities.
The violation represents actual harm to the resident, who required ongoing wound treatment for injuries that facility policies and national guidelines indicated were preventable.
Federal inspectors classified the deficiency as affecting few residents but causing actual harm. The resident now faces an uncertain recovery period as wound care staff monitor the healing process.
The scabbed tissue must detach naturally before medical staff can fully assess the depth of damage caused by months of continuous splint pressure against unprotected skin.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for The Laurels of Walden Park from 2025-08-13 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
THE LAURELS OF WALDEN PARK in COLUMBUS, OH was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 13, 2025.
Resident 37 at The Laurels of Walden Park developed pressure injuries under a splint that should have been removed twice daily for skin checks.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.