Deficient Food Handling and Sanitation Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to handle potentially hazardous food and maintain sanitation in a safe and consistent manner, as observed by the surveyor. In the kitchen's walk-in refrigerator, 15 bags of hot dog rolls were found with a received by date of 11/11/24, and an opened plastic container of prepared cucumber salad with a received by date of 11/21/24. Both items were acknowledged by the Dietary Director (DD) and were discarded. Additionally, in the walk-in freezer, an opened clear plastic bag with pizza dough was found without a label or date, which the DD also discarded. In the prep area, large containers of food thickener and flour were left open and exposed to air, which the DD subsequently closed. Further observations included an unlabeled, covered plate with fish, pork, and fries in a unit pantry refrigerator, which was removed by a Nurse Manager. Another observation in a different pantry refrigerator revealed a plastic container of fresh blueberries dated 11/23/2024, with some appearing dry. The Nurse Manager was unaware of the expiration date for fresh fruit and removed the blueberries. The facility's policies on food storage, freezer management, and dietary practices were reviewed, indicating that the observed practices were not in compliance with the established guidelines.
Plan Of Correction
Plan of Correction F812 Level F Completion Date: 1/15/2025 Corrective Action: Items that were outdated (hotdog rolls and cucumber salad were discarded). Pizza dough was discarded. Open containers in work area were closed. Personal resident food in pantry (blueberries) were discarded. ID Other Residents: Residents who require nutrition from the Dietary Department or who have personal food brought into the facility. Systemic Change: In-service Labeling, Dating and Discarding Food to the Dietary Department by the Dietary Director completed by 1/15/2025. In-service Resident Food Brought into the Facility to Dietary and Nursing Department by the Dietary Director completed by 1/15/2025. Daily rounds will be completed by the dietary staff in the kitchen and pantry to monitor for outdated items and dispose of them per policy. Monitoring: Audit - Labeling and Dating of Items will be completed on the following schedule: (4) weekly xs 2 weeks then (4) monthly xs 2 months then (4) quarterly x 1 quarter by the Dietary Director. Audit Nursing Pantry Refrigerator will be completed on the following schedule: (4) weekly xs 2 weeks then (4) monthly xs 2 months then (4) quarterly x 1 quarter by Nursing Administration. Results of the audits will be brought to QA/QAPI on a quarterly basis xs 3 quarters.