Failure to Maintain Accessible Call System in Resident Bathrooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective resident call system in four specific resident rooms, as evidenced by the absence of call light pull strings in the bathrooms of rooms #204, #207, #403, and #609. Observations conducted on two separate dates confirmed that the call light pull strings were missing in these locations. Interviews with the Nursing Home Administrator revealed that he was aware of the broken call light pull strings in these rooms. The Director of Maintenance stated that while he conducts daily walkthroughs and addresses issues as they arise, there is no comprehensive survey or written policy for regular maintenance checks, and the process is managed through an electronic maintenance work order system. A review of facility documentation showed that although the electronic maintenance work order system includes a weekly task to test the nurse call system, there were no work orders placed for call light parts to address the concerns in the affected rooms during the relevant period. The facility's policy requires that call systems be accessible to residents at each toilet and bathing facility, and that staff report problems immediately to supervisors or maintenance. However, the lack of work orders and missing call light pull strings indicate that these procedures were not followed in the identified rooms.