Failure to Provide Kosher Diet for Resident with Religious Dietary Needs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a resident with a no pork Kosher diet as required by her religious and cultural preferences for the first five days following her admission. Despite documentation in the admission record, order summary, and care plan indicating the need for a no pork Kosher diet, the resident continued to receive meals containing pork products, such as bacon, and her tray card only listed pork as a dislike rather than specifying a Kosher diet. The resident reported that when she received bacon, staff simply removed it from her plate, but this did not address her concerns about cross-contamination, as the bacon juices had touched other food items, making them inedible according to her dietary laws. Interviews with the dietary supervisor and dietician revealed a lack of knowledge and experience with Kosher diets among staff, and the facility did not have a policy for providing specialized diets. The dietary supervisor acknowledged that he was unaware of the full requirements of a Kosher diet and that the resident was the first to request such a diet during his tenure. The dietician confirmed that she was not contacted for guidance after the resident's admission, and the facility's process for updating diet orders did not ensure timely or accurate implementation of the resident's religious dietary needs.