Failure to Provide Safe and Appropriate Respiratory Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate respiratory care for two residents who required oxygen therapy. For one resident with diagnoses including heart failure and coronary artery disease, a physician order directed oxygen use at 3 liters per minute for shortness of breath, but did not include instructions for oxygen maintenance. During observation, the resident's oxygen concentrator was not in use, the humidifier was labeled with a date over two months old, and the oxygen tubing was not labeled with a date. An LPN confirmed these findings, which did not meet facility policy requirements for equipment maintenance and infection control. For another resident with COPD, anemia, and hypertension, physician orders specified oxygen administration and required changing the oxygen tubing and canister weekly. However, during observation, the resident was using oxygen via nasal cannula, and the tubing was not labeled with a date as required. An RN confirmed the lack of labeling. The Nursing Home Administrator acknowledged that the facility did not provide appropriate respiratory care for these residents, as required by facility policy and state regulations.