Incorrect Portion Sizes Served for Pureed Diets
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that correct portion sizes of pureed food were served to residents on a pureed diet during dinner service. According to facility policy and menu documentation, pureed menu items such as Cheeseburger Soup, Carrots (substituted for Creamy Tomato & Onion Salad), and Fortified Mashed Potatoes were to be served using a #8 scoop (1/2 cup) for each portion. However, during observation, staff were found using blue-handled #16 scoops (1/4 cup) for these items. This resulted in residents receiving smaller portions than required by the menu and facility policy. Interviews with the Nutrition Department Director and Nutrition Manager confirmed that the incorrect scoop size was used for at least three of eleven residents on a pureed diet before the error was identified and corrected. The Nutrition Manager and Director both acknowledged that using a smaller scoop led to inadequate servings, which could affect the nutritional intake of residents. The staff involved were not aware of who placed the incorrect scoops in the food pans, and the error was only discovered after several trays had already been served.