Failure to Maintain Clean and Safe Physical Environment
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple deficiencies in the facility's physical environment, including soiled and dirty surfaces, missing safety devices, and worn or damaged furnishings. Specifically, a resident restroom had an overhead light lens cover contaminated with dust, dirt, and dead insects. Another restroom had a corroded and particulate-laden faucet assembly, and a shower room was missing an atmospheric vacuum breaker on the shower wand assembly. The nursing station contained a black vinyl padded chair with exposed inner padding due to wear, and the hallway corridor and day room carpeting were stained, worn, and buckled, with a large red stain noted beneath the resident call system panel. Additionally, several resident rooms had overbed light shades and a stationary desk fan that were heavily soiled with accumulated dust and dirt deposits. Interviews with the Director of Maintenance revealed the facility uses a manual work order system, with the maintenance logbook kept at the nurses station. Review of facility policies indicated requirements for a preventative maintenance program and cycle cleaning schedules to ensure a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment. However, the observed conditions demonstrated a failure to effectively implement these policies, resulting in unclean and poorly maintained areas that affected 28 residents and increased the likelihood of cross-contamination and bacterial harborage.