Failure to Serve Food at Appetizing Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to serve food items at appetizing temperatures during a lunch meal service. According to the facility's policy, hot foods should be held at temperatures of 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above, and cold foods should be held at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below prior to serving. However, during an observation of the lunch meal service, a test tray was used to measure the temperatures of the food items. The baked ham, scalloped potatoes, and cooked carrots were found to be at temperatures of 119.9 degrees F, 119.4 degrees F, and 119.6 degrees F, respectively, which were below the required temperature for hot foods. Additionally, the apple juice was at 55.6 degrees F, which was above the required temperature for cold foods. The Dietary Director confirmed that these food items were not at an appetizing temperature, indicating a failure to adhere to the facility's policy on food temperatures.
Plan Of Correction
Dietary manager was educated by Nursing Home Administrator or designee on food temperatures and palatability policy on 12/18/2024. All residents have the potential to be affected. Dietary staff and Nursing staff educated on food temperature policy by 12/21/2024. Nursing staff educated regarding passing trays timely when received on the nursing units to preserve temperatures. Dietary manager or designee will audit meals to ensure temperatures at point of service meet requirements. Audits will be conducted on 2 meals daily for 4 weeks, and periodically thereafter. Results of the audits will be provided to the Administrator by dietary manager and be presented for review at the monthly Quality Assurance Improvement Committee (QAPI) meeting monthly for a period of three months. Any revisions to the audit plan will be reviewed and implemented with the coordination of the interdisciplinary team at QAPI Committee meeting.