Failure to Assess and Implement Smoking Safety Measures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to identify, assess, and implement interventions to prevent accidents for a resident who was known to smoke. According to the facility's policy, all residents should be screened for smoking upon admission, and those who wish to continue smoking should have this reflected in their care plan, with smoking materials stored in a locked location. The resident in question was admitted with intact memory and communication, required assistance with transfers, toileting, and bed mobility, and used a wheelchair. Despite a social services evaluation identifying the resident as a smoker, no smoking assessment was completed, and the resident's record did not reflect their smoking status or any related interventions. The resident reported smoking once or twice daily and kept cigarettes and a lighter in a metal lock box in their room, which was confirmed by observation. Multiple staff members, including the Social Services Director, DON, Chief Nursing Officer, and Administrator, were unaware of the resident's current smoking activity or the presence of smoking materials in the room. The facility staff did not complete the required smoking assessment, and the resident's care plan did not address smoking, contrary to facility policy.