Facility Fails to Maintain Hot Water and Hygiene Supplies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a clean, safe, comfortable, and homelike environment by not maintaining an acceptable water temperature throughout resident areas on the Third and Fourth floors, which are on the same boiler line. During a tour, staff reported a lack of water pressure and freezing water temperatures. Interviews with various staff members, including nurse aides and nurses, confirmed the absence of hot water. Staff resorted to heating water in microwaves to provide hygiene care to residents, as the facility did not have disposable washcloths available, contrary to their emergency water supply policy. The Plant Operations Manager and a Maintenance Worker confirmed the issue, explaining that a storage holding tank was leaking, necessitating the shutdown of the water supply to it. Although cold water was still available to sinks, showers, and toilets, the lack of hot water persisted. The Nursing Home Administrator acknowledged the facility's failure to maintain a safe and homelike environment due to these deficiencies, which affected both the Third and Fourth floors.
Plan Of Correction
1. The hot water supply was restored on Wednesday, 12/18/24 at 3:23pm. Disposable wipes were stocked on the floors to provide hygiene care to residents. An emergency supply of wipes was ordered. 2. Education for staff on emergency hot water supply/outage will be provided to the Plant Operations Manager by NHA or designee. This education includes resident care in an emergent hot water situation. 3. An audit of water temperatures was completed on 12/18/2024. The audit will take place on 3rd and 4th floors and continue weekly for 3 weeks and monthly for 2 months by Plant Operations Manager or designee. 4. The facility will submit findings to the monthly internal QA process for monitoring and IDT discussion.