Unqualified Dietary Manager Employed
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to employ a qualified Dietary Manager to oversee the food and nutrition service, which had the potential to affect all 60 residents receiving meals from the kitchen. The Dietary Manager was hired with the understanding that she would complete the required dietary manager course and obtain certification, but at the time of hire and during the survey, she had not yet completed the necessary coursework or obtained Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) status. The Dietary Manager had completed some coursework in Food Safety and Management and was in the process of finishing the final module required to be eligible for the CDM exam. Despite having 25 years of LTC foodservice experience and previous experience as a dietary manager, the Dietary Manager did not meet the facility's stated job requirements for education and certification at the time of employment. The Registered Dietitian confirmed that the Dietary Manager was hired before completing the required training and certification, and that she was still in the process of finalizing her coursework and applying for the CDM exam during the survey period. The deficiency was identified through interviews, review of the employee file, and direct observation.