Failure to Provide Meals for Dialysis Patients
Summary
The facility failed to provide sack lunches or snacks to residents who were attending dialysis during mealtimes, despite having a policy in place that required it. This deficiency was observed in four residents who regularly attended dialysis sessions. These residents reported that they left the facility in the morning and did not return until late afternoon, missing lunch and any snacks in between. As a result, they experienced hunger and went without food for extended periods, from breakfast until dinner. The facility's Licensed Practical Nurse and Consulting Registered Dietitian confirmed that no food was sent with the residents to dialysis, citing a request from the dialysis centers not to send meals because patients could not eat during dialysis treatment. However, the dialysis center's Registered Dietitian indicated that it would be acceptable for residents to eat before or after their dialysis sessions, especially if they were hungry. One resident, who attended dialysis three times a week, stated that they left the facility at 10:00 AM and returned between 4:30-5:00 PM, only eating breakfast and dinner on those days. Another resident, who also attended dialysis three times a week, reported leaving the facility around 9:00 AM and returning between 3:00-4:00 PM, similarly missing lunch and snacks. Both residents expressed that they were hungry during these long periods without food. The facility's records and progress notes confirmed that no meals or snacks were sent with these residents on their dialysis days, despite the facility's policy requiring sack lunches for residents attending appointments during mealtimes. The facility's policy on transportation for dialysis and sack lunches clearly stated that residents requiring a meal should be provided with a sack lunch to take with them. Additionally, the Long Term Care Facility Outpatient Dialysis Services Care Coordination Agreement emphasized the importance of ensuring residents received proper nourishment before attending dialysis. Despite these policies, the facility did not adhere to them, resulting in residents missing meals and experiencing hunger during their dialysis days. The failure to provide sack lunches or snacks was consistent across multiple residents and documented over several weeks, indicating a systemic issue within the facility's operations.
Penalty
Resources
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