Obstructed Hallway Egress Due to Non-Movable Equipment
Penalty
Summary
During an observation on May 13, 2025, at approximately 12:05 PM, it was found that the facility did not maintain residential hallways free of non-essential or easily movable equipment. Specifically, gown and isolation cabinets located in the #500 hallway were not equipped with wheels, which would allow for quick movement to clear the hallway in case of a fire emergency. This issue was confirmed by both the Facility Maintenance Director and the Administrator during interviews conducted at the time of observation. The deficiency was noted to potentially affect 20 out of 87 occupants in the event of a fire emergency, as the means of egress was not continuously maintained free of all obstructions as required.
Plan Of Correction
The facility's added wheels to the isolation bins, and the hallways are equipped with isolation bins with wheels to aid in the quick movement to clear a hallway during a fire emergency. The Maintenance Director/Designee has been educated to ensure that the hallways are equipped with isolation bins with wheels to aid in the quick movement to clear a hallway during a fire emergency. The Maintenance Director/Designee will conduct routine rounds to ensure that there are wheels on isolation bins to ensure compliance with the regulation. Negative findings will be corrected and forwarded to the Executive Director, and trends will be forwarded to the QAPI Committee for additional review. The Executive Director is responsible for attaining and maintaining compliance with the regulation.