Failure to Maintain Safe and Sanitary Resident Refrigerators
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain resident room refrigerators in a safe and sanitary manner for two residents reviewed for personal food storage. During observations, one resident's refrigerator contained multiple food items, including prepared foods in unlabeled containers, cartons of milk, and other perishable items, none of which were labeled with dates as required by facility policy. Additionally, neither refrigerator had a thermometer inside, and there were no temperature logs present. The resident stated that her family brings the food, but there was no indication that the food was being monitored for safety or compliance with the facility's policy. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of clarity regarding responsibility for monitoring the refrigerators. A CNA was unsure who was responsible for checking the refrigerators, while the Housekeeping Director stated that refrigerators are checked only once a month for expired items and cleaned at that time, but temperatures are not monitored. Facility policies require that all prepared foods be labeled and dated, consumed within three days, and that refrigerator temperatures be logged daily and maintained at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. These procedures were not being followed, resulting in the deficiency.