Failure to Monitor Vaccine Refrigerator Temperatures per CDC Guidelines
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to CDC guidance and its own policy regarding the monitoring of vaccine storage temperatures. Specifically, the refrigerator used to store influenza and pneumococcal vaccines was only monitored for temperature once daily, as evidenced by the temperature log posted on the refrigerator for the months of March, April, and May. According to CDC guidance and the facility's policy, temperature monitoring should occur at least twice daily when a digital data logger is not used. During an observation, it was noted that the incorrect temperature log was posted for staff to complete, resulting in the failure to meet the required monitoring frequency. This deficiency was confirmed during an interview with the Regional Clinical Director, who acknowledged that the vaccines required twice daily monitoring and that the wrong log had been used.