Failure to Maintain Clean Oxygen Concentrator Filter
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate respiratory care for a resident by not ensuring the cleanliness of the oxygen concentrator filter. The resident, a male with a history of wheezing, cough, end-stage renal disease, and atherosclerotic heart disease, was observed to have an oxygen concentrator in his room with a filter covered in lint and dust. Despite the resident's moderate cognitive impairment and reliance on oxygen therapy as needed for shortness of breath, the filter had not been cleaned, which was confirmed by both the resident and staff interviews. Interviews with the LVN, Housekeeping Supervisor, and DON revealed a lack of clarity regarding the responsibility for cleaning the oxygen concentrator filters. The Housekeeping Supervisor acknowledged that the filter appeared dirty and had not been cleaned recently, while the DON stated that nursing staff should be checking and cleaning the concentrators. The facility's policy required that filters be washed every seven days, but this procedure was not followed, potentially putting the resident at risk for respiratory complications.