Failure to Remove Perishable Outside Food from Resident Bedside
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow its policy regarding the removal and storage of outside food brought in for a resident. Specifically, a resident with severe cognitive impairment and a regular diet order was observed receiving outside food, which remained at the bedside for approximately four hours. Staff did not check or remove the food within the required timeframe, as outlined in the facility's policy, which states that potentially hazardous foods left out for more than two hours without refrigeration or a heat source must be discarded. Interviews with staff, including an LVN and the Dietary Supervisor, confirmed that outside food should not be left at the bedside for more than one to two hours due to the risk of spoilage. The Dietary Supervisor also noted that perishable items, such as chili with cheese, should be refrigerated, labeled, and monitored. Despite these procedures, the food was left at the resident's bedside well beyond the allowed period, and staff did not intervene to remove or properly store the food.