Failure to Maintain Safe Dishwashing Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to utilize kitchen equipment in accordance with professional standards for food service safety, specifically regarding the operation of the dishwashing machine. The facility's policy, last revised in December 2007, requires that the dishwashing machine's wash and rinse temperatures be monitored during each major use, with a minimum wash temperature of 150 degrees. If the temperature falls below this threshold, staff are instructed to suspend machine washing and notify the appropriate personnel. However, observations and reviews of the dish machine temperature logs from May 2024 through January 2025 revealed multiple instances where the wash temperature was below the minimum safe temperature, with no corrective actions noted. Interviews with facility staff, including the Food Service Director and the Nursing Home Administrator, indicated a lack of awareness and follow-through regarding the low temperatures recorded. The Food Service Director was not informed of the low temperatures in January 2025, and the Nursing Home Administrator could not confirm if the facility's process was followed when the dish machine was operating below the acceptable temperature. This deficiency highlights a failure in communication and adherence to established protocols for ensuring food safety in the facility's main kitchen.
Plan Of Correction
The dishwasher in the kitchen is operating in accordance with facility guidelines, department policy, manufacturer's specifications, and regulatory guidelines. The policy has been updated for dietary staff to notify the dietary manager or dietician of dishwasher water temperatures below 150 degrees. It is the responsibility of the manager/dietician to notify maintenance as needed for repair. Dietary staff have been educated on the updated policy and notification procedures when dishwasher water temperatures are below 150 degrees. A QA tool has been developed to review 10% of dishwasher temperatures weekly to ensure dishwasher water temperatures are above 150 degrees. The Quality Assurance (QA) Coordinator or designee will complete the QA review on a weekly basis and re-educate staff not following policy and procedure. The QA Coordinator will review the completed QA tool monthly and will report any trends or patterns at the quarterly Interdisciplinary Quality Assurance and Quality Performance (QAPI) meeting. The QAPI Committee will review the reports at their quarterly meeting and make recommendations for any deficient patterns identified. They will continue to monitor quarterly until the solutions are sustained for a period of two quarters. Decreasing or elimination of this tool will occur only upon recommendation of the Interdisciplinary QAPI Committee at their quarterly meeting.