Unsafe Maintenance of Floating Sink Leads to Resident Injury
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a floating porcelain sink in a safe manner, resulting in an incident involving a resident. The resident, who had a history of moderate cognitive impairment and required assistance with transfers, sustained a significant laceration on the left knee when the sink fell from the wall while the resident was using the bathroom. The incident was reported by a CNA who noticed the resident bleeding upon returning from a smoking break. The resident was initially treated at the facility, but due to continued bleeding, the family insisted on hospital evaluation where the laceration was closed with 17 sutures. The resident's medical history included diagnoses such as toxic encephalopathy, schizophrenia, and muscle weakness, which may have contributed to the resident's vulnerability during the incident. The resident reported that the sink fell on him while washing hands, causing the injury. The facility's staff, including the Administrator and DON, were aware of the incident, and the bathroom was subsequently locked to prevent further access. The Maintenance Director confirmed that the sink was a floating type, which could tilt and fall if excessive weight was applied. Interviews with staff revealed that the resident was taken to smoke by an Activities Aide, who did not initially notice the injury. The aide observed red drops in the elevator but did not realize it was blood until later. The facility's response included notifying the physician and applying initial wound care, but the family was not satisfied with the facility's handling of the situation, leading to the resident's transfer to the hospital. The deficiency was investigated under a specific complaint number, indicating non-compliance with safety standards.
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