Failure to Provide Adaptive Eating Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adaptive eating equipment as ordered by the physician for a resident. A quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment indicated that the resident was cognitively intact and required set-up assistance with eating. The physician's orders included the use of built-up utensils for all meals, and the care plan also specified the use of these utensils. However, during an observation of the resident's breakfast meal, it was noted that the resident was using regular utensils instead of the prescribed built-up utensils. The resident's meal ticket did include the order for built-up utensils. Interviews with a nurse aide and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the resident should have been provided with built-up utensils as per the physician's orders and care plan.
Plan Of Correction
1. The identified concern for R69 was immediately corrected. 2. Residents requiring adaptive utensils with meal set up will be identified on the meal ticket and a task in the nurse aide care plan will be generated. 3. The Director of Nursing or designee will provide education to nursing staff on the process to identify residents that require adaptive utensils for meals. 4. The Director of Nursing or designee will perform adaptive utensil audits at meal times weekly x 4 and monthly x 2. Findings will be reported to the Quality Assurance Committee.