Failure to Maintain Crash Carts and AEDs in Safe Operating Condition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that essential emergency equipment, specifically crash carts and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), were maintained in safe operating condition. Observations revealed that two of four crash carts did not have completed documentation verifying that they had been checked as required, and the associated AEDs had not been tested or confirmed operational on multiple occasions. One crash cart was found with a blank emergency cart log, indicating no checks had been performed or recorded for an extended period. Additionally, three of six AEDs were found with expired electrodes, and there was no evidence that these had been replaced or that the devices were fully operational. Interviews with the Director of Nursing and the Nursing Home Administrator confirmed these lapses, with the NHA noting that AEDs were only serviced annually by an external safety officer. Facility policy requires regular checks and maintenance of emergency equipment, but documentation and observations showed these procedures were not consistently followed, resulting in equipment that may not have been ready for use in an emergency.