ENCINO, CA - Federal health inspectors identified four deficiencies at Encino Hospital Medical Center D/P SNF during a standard health inspection on December 4, 2025, including a citation for improper feeding tube management that carried potential for more than minimal harm to residents.
Feeding Tube Protocol Deficiencies
The most notable citation, issued under federal regulatory tag F0693, found the facility failed to ensure that feeding tubes were used only when medically necessary and with resident agreement, and that appropriate care was provided to residents with feeding tubes in place.
Feeding tubes — including nasogastric tubes and percutaneous endogastric (PEG) tubes — are medical devices used to deliver nutrition directly to the stomach or intestines when a patient cannot safely consume food orally. Federal regulations require that facilities document a clear medical justification before placing or maintaining a feeding tube and obtain informed consent from the resident or their legal representative.
The deficiency was classified at Scope/Severity Level D, indicating an isolated incident with no documented actual harm but with potential for more than minimal harm. This classification means that while no resident was directly injured, the conditions observed could have led to adverse health outcomes if left unaddressed.
Why Feeding Tube Oversight Matters
Improper feeding tube management poses several well-documented medical risks. Tubes that are placed or maintained without adequate clinical justification can expose residents to complications including aspiration pneumonia, infection at the insertion site, nasal or esophageal tissue damage, and gastrointestinal distress.
Aspiration pneumonia — a condition in which food, liquid, or stomach contents enter the lungs — is one of the most serious risks associated with feeding tubes. It remains a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality among nursing home residents. Proper tube placement verification, routine monitoring, and consistent care protocols are essential to reducing this risk.
Federal guidelines under 42 CFR § 483.25(g)(4-5) require skilled nursing facilities to assess whether a feeding tube is clinically appropriate, ensure the resident has provided informed consent, and deliver ongoing care that includes regular monitoring of tube placement, skin integrity around the insertion site, and the resident's nutritional status.
When these protocols are not followed, residents may receive tube feeding that is not medically warranted, potentially diminishing their quality of life. In some cases, residents who could safely receive oral nutrition with proper support — such as modified food textures or supervised feeding assistance — may instead be maintained on tube feeding unnecessarily.
Broader Inspection Findings
The feeding tube citation was one of four total deficiencies identified during the December 2025 inspection. While the additional citations were not detailed in this particular report, the presence of multiple deficiencies during a single survey suggests areas where the facility's care practices require broader review and improvement.
Skilled nursing facilities attached to hospitals, such as Encino Hospital Medical Center D/P SNF, are held to the same federal standards as freestanding nursing homes. These facilities are surveyed by state agencies on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and must demonstrate compliance with federal requirements for participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Facility Response and Correction
The facility acknowledged the deficiency and reported a correction date of December 8, 2025 — four days after the inspection. This relatively prompt response indicates the facility moved to address the identified issue, though the specific corrective actions taken were not detailed in the public record.
Facilities that receive deficiency citations are required to submit a plan of correction outlining the steps they will take to prevent recurrence. State survey agencies may conduct follow-up inspections to verify that corrections have been implemented and sustained.
Industry Context
Feeding tube-related deficiencies are among the care quality indicators that CMS tracks across the nation's approximately 15,000 Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes. Proper feeding tube management requires coordination among physicians, nursing staff, dietitians, and speech-language pathologists to ensure each resident's nutritional needs are met through the least invasive method appropriate for their condition.
Residents and families with concerns about care at any nursing facility can file complaints with their state's long-term care ombudsman program or directly with the state health department survey agency. Full inspection reports, including deficiency details and facility ratings, are available through the CMS Care Compare website.
For complete inspection details, readers can review the full federal survey report for Encino Hospital Medical Center D/P SNF on the CMS Care Compare database.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Encino Hospital Medical Center D/p Snf from 2025-12-04 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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