Failure to Properly Clean and Store Respiratory Care Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly clean and store respiratory care equipment, including nebulizers, oxygen tubing, and CPAP machines, for four residents. Observations revealed that a resident with emphysema and chronic respiratory failure had oxygen tubing placed inside her brief by a CNA, and her nebulizer mouthpiece was left unbagged on her bed. The same resident's portable oxygen concentrator was repeatedly found on and running, with the nasal cannula lying on the floor. Another resident's nebulizer mouthpiece was left unbagged and clipped to the machine with medication still in the chamber, and there was no documentation of an assessment or physician's order for self-administration or for leaving medications at the bedside. A third resident's CPAP mask was found unbagged among personal items, and the resident's record lacked physician's orders for cleaning and storage of the CPAP machine. The care plan for this resident did not include interventions or instructions for CPAP use. A fourth resident's nebulizer mouthpiece was found unbagged and covered with a soiled winter coat among personal items, and there were no physician's orders for cleaning and storage of the nebulizer equipment in the resident's record. Facility policies required proper cleaning, disinfection, and storage of respiratory equipment, including storing items in a plastic bag with the resident's name and date, and weekly observation of equipment for cleanliness. The facility did not follow these policies, as evidenced by the improper storage and lack of cleaning documentation for respiratory care equipment for the residents involved.