Failure to Provide Required Smoking Safety Equipment
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to provide required adaptive equipment for a resident assessed as needing a smoking apron for safety while smoking. The resident, who had diagnoses including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and schizophrenia and was cognitively intact, was identified through assessment and interdisciplinary team review as requiring a smoking apron as part of a modified smoking plan. Facility documentation and policy indicated that staff were responsible for ensuring residents used adaptive equipment as identified in their care plans. However, during observation, the resident was allowed to smoke in the designated smoking room without being provided the required apron. The door monitor, responsible for assisting with adaptive equipment, did not provide the apron and stated he believed it was only necessary for outdoor smoking, despite facility documentation indicating otherwise. Interviews with the resident and multiple staff members confirmed inconsistent implementation of the adaptive equipment requirement, with some staff providing the apron and others not. The assistant director of nursing, a registered nurse, and the director of nursing all confirmed that the process involved assessment, interdisciplinary review, and communication of adaptive equipment needs to staff responsible for implementation. Despite these procedures, the resident was not consistently provided the required safety equipment while smoking, as observed and confirmed by staff and the resident.