Uncovered Drinks Transported to Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to ensure that drinks delivered to residents' rooms were covered during transport, as required by professional standards and facility policy. Multiple observations showed certified nursing assistants carrying trays with uncovered drinks down hallways and into resident rooms, with some instances involving up to eight uncovered cups of juice being distributed. Interviews with staff, including CNAs and an LPN, confirmed that drinks should have been covered during delivery, but this practice was not consistently followed, particularly during lunch service. Staff acknowledged awareness of the expectation to cover drinks and recognized the risk of contamination when this protocol was not observed. The Director of Nursing also confirmed that the facility's expectation is for drinks to be covered in the kitchen before being transported to residents. The facility's Food Safety and Sanitation policy requires adherence to all local, state, and federal standards to maintain a safe and sanitary food and nutrition service. Despite this, the observed practice did not align with policy or professional standards, as drinks were repeatedly transported uncovered from the kitchen to resident rooms.