Patapsco Healthcare: Family Left in Dark on Surgery - MD
Resident 14 developed a right lateral ankle arterial ulcer that required specialized treatment. On May 15, a nurse practitioner documented at 11:12 PM that the resident's vascular consultation had been reviewed and they would benefit from an angiogram. The angiogram was to be scheduled.
The next day, a nursing progress note at 6:41 PM showed the resident had an appointment scheduled with a vascular specialist on May 28 for a "right lower angiogram-atherectomy-angioplasty-stent procedure."
On May 28 at 11:55 AM, a physician documented that the right lower extremity angiogram with intervention procedure was performed on Resident 14. At 3:16 PM that same day, a nurse wrote in the medication administration record that Resident 14 had returned from vascular surgery at about 1:45 PM.
The family representative was never contacted.
Inspectors found no documentation showing the resident's representative was notified when the vascular specialist appointment was scheduled. No record existed of family notification when the specialist recommended and scheduled the angiogram with intervention. No documentation showed the family was told when the resident completed the procedure or what the outcome was.
The inspection report states that "continued review of the medical record failed to reveal documentation" of any family notification throughout the entire process.
When inspectors discussed their findings with the nursing home administrator on September 10 at 4:21 PM, the administrator acknowledged the concerns. No further comments were offered.
The violation represents a breakdown in basic family communication during a significant medical event. An angiogram with intervention involves threading a catheter through blood vessels to examine circulation and potentially perform procedures like balloon angioplasty or stent placement to improve blood flow.
For Resident 14, the arterial ulcer on their ankle had progressed to the point where vascular intervention became necessary. The medical notes show a clear progression from the initial wound assessment to the specialist consultation to the actual procedure.
The May 15 skin and wound note documented the resident's condition and the decision that an angiogram would benefit them. Within 24 hours, the appointment was scheduled for nearly two weeks later. The procedure was completed as planned on May 28.
But through each step of this medical journey, no family member received notification or updates about their loved one's condition or treatment plan.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to immediately notify residents' representatives of significant changes in condition, accidents, or other incidents that could affect the resident's health or well-being. The requirement extends to planned medical procedures and their outcomes.
The inspection was conducted in response to a complaint. The violation was classified as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm to few residents.
Patapsco Healthcare operates at 9109 Liberty Road in Randallstown. The facility's failure to communicate with families during medical procedures raises questions about how many other residents may have undergone treatments without their representatives being informed.
The medical records show the vascular procedure was successful in that it was completed as planned. But for the family of Resident 14, the outcome was discovering after the fact that their loved one had undergone a significant medical intervention while they remained unaware it was even being considered.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Patapsco Healthcare from 2025-09-11 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
PATAPSCO HEALTHCARE in RANDALLSTOWN, MD was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 11, 2025.
Resident 14 developed a right lateral ankle arterial ulcer that required specialized treatment.
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.