Ridgmar Medical Lodge: Year-Long Wheelchair Wait - TX
Federal inspectors found that Ridgmar Medical Lodge violated regulations governing specialized services coordination during an August 14 complaint investigation. Two residents were affected by the facility's failure to submit Nursing Facility Specialized Services forms to the state database.
The wheelchair case revealed a breakdown in communication between departments. The Director of Rehab told inspectors that Resident #2 was evaluated for a custom wheelchair based on a referral. He sent the necessary forms to the previous MDS Coordinator to upload in the database and forward to the state PASRR unit for approval.
"The CMWC was signed 08/23/24 and the vendor came out a few days before that," the Director of Rehab said during his interview. He never received follow-up about the wheelchair status.
"Once the CMWC was signed it would usually take about a month or two to receive the wheelchair," he explained. "Waiting a year for a wheelchair was too long."
The facility's own policy, dated March 15, 2023, requires staff to "initiate the request for specialized services within 20 business day of the IDT/PCSP meeting." The policy also mandates implementing specialized services therapy within three business days of state approval and ordering custom wheelchairs within five business days.
None of these timelines were met.
The current MDS Coordinator told inspectors she discovered the missing forms during a routine review. She said the prior meeting for the wheelchair was on April 16, 2025, meaning the NFSS form should have been submitted 20 days later. It wasn't.
"The NFSS form was for rehab therapy," she said. "I did not know why it had not been submitted." She acknowledged it was her responsibility to ensure timely submission of all forms.
The MDS Coordinator explained that delayed PASRR paperwork "could be a delay in therapy services" for residents.
A second resident, Resident #3, also experienced delays in specialized services due to missing NFSS forms, though specific details of that case were not provided in the inspection report.
The Treatment Nurse, who served as MDS Coordinator from October 2024 to June 2025, told inspectors she was involved in meetings for both affected residents. She claimed to have submitted the NFSS forms for both residents in April 2025 but couldn't recall exact dates.
"However, there was a miscommunication with the residents' Habilitation Coordinator," she said. The Habilitation Coordinator later informed her that the forms needed resubmission and evaluations needed completion to prove services were covered.
In May 2025, she learned the facility was out of compliance with NFSS forms and was given an opportunity to correct the issue. By then, a corporate MDS Coordinator was assisting and informed her the NFSS needed submission, but she had already left the position.
"After I changed positions, I never followed up to ensure the NFSS were submitted," she admitted.
The Treatment Nurse downplayed the impact on residents, stating there was "no potential risk" if forms weren't submitted timely because "residents would still be seen by therapy, and it was more of a payment issue."
This assessment contradicted the current MDS Coordinator's warning about potential therapy delays.
The Administrator told inspectors he wasn't aware the NFSS forms for both residents remained pending. Regarding the wheelchair request, he said he was "under the impression the forms and assessments were all completed."
He explained that the previous MDS Coordinator had moved to the Treatment Nurse position, and corporate provided assistance until filling the MDS Coordinator role permanently. "I was under the impression all the forms had been submitted for all residents," he said.
The inspection revealed a pattern of miscommunication and lack of follow-through that left residents waiting for necessary services. While staff changed positions and corporate coordinators provided temporary assistance, no one ensured the completion of basic regulatory requirements.
For Resident #2, the wheelchair delay stretched from the expected two-month delivery window to over a year. The resident remained without the custom mobility equipment that had been evaluated, approved, and ordered through the proper channels, waiting only for the facility to complete its paperwork obligations.
The violation was classified as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting some residents at the 179-bed facility on Lands End Court.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Ridgmar Medical Lodge from 2025-08-14 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
Ridgmar Medical Lodge in Fort Worth, TX was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 14, 2025.
Two residents were affected by the facility's failure to submit Nursing Facility Specialized Services forms to the state database.
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.