Failure to Follow RCS Diet Guidelines During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to follow the facility's Reduced Concentrated Sweets (RCS) diet guidelines for residents requiring blood sugar control. On the specified lunch service, both regular and RCS diet trays were observed receiving garlic bread, despite the facility's food portioning and serving guide indicating that garlic bread should not be served to residents on the RCS diet. The lunch menu and the serving guide clearly differentiated between the regular and RCS diets, with the RCS diet omitting garlic bread and providing a reduced portion of dessert. During interviews, the dietary aide responsible for assembling trays confirmed that garlic bread was added to both regular and RCS trays, acknowledging that this was not in accordance with the diet spreadsheet and could affect blood sugar levels. The dietary supervisor and registered dietitian also confirmed that the RCS diet should not have included garlic bread and that staff are required to follow the diet spreadsheets to ensure residents receive the correct nutrition per diet orders. Facility policy on controlled-carbohydrate diets emphasized the importance of following specified portion sizes and meal components for blood sugar management.