Failure to Date and Time Feeding Tubes and Water Bags
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper dating and timing of water bags and tubing systems used for gastrostomy feeding hydration for two residents. For one resident, the feeding formula bottle was dated but not timed, and the tubing was undated and disconnected from the gastrostomy tube. Additionally, a water bag was present but undated and untimed. A Licensed Practical Nurse confirmed that the feeding tubing and water bag should have been dated upon initiation to ensure they were changed every 48 hours, as per the physician's order. For the second resident, the feeding formula bottle was dated but not timed, and the tubing was undated. The resident was observed receiving feeding formula at a specified rate, but the water bag and tubing were undated and untimed. The facility's policy indicated that prefilled formula containers and tubing should be changed every 48 hours or per manufacturer guidelines. The failure to date and time these items had the potential to compromise patient safety by increasing the risk of contamination and infections.