Failure to Label and Date Tube Feeding Supplies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident with a gastrostomy tube received appropriate treatment and services to prevent complications related to tube feeding. Specifically, during an observation, an unlabeled and undated syringe and a container of tube feeding formula were found on the resident's bedside dresser. The nurse present confirmed that both the tube feeding container and syringe should have been labeled and dated, and subsequently disposed of the items. The resident in question had diagnoses including dysphagia and gastrostomy, with severely impaired cognition, and was receiving enteral feeding as ordered by a physician. Further review of facility policy indicated that all enteral feeding containers must be labeled with the resident's name, formula type, date, and time of preparation, and that open system formulas should be discarded within eight hours. The facility's interim DON confirmed that failure to label and date tube feeding containers could result in staff not knowing how long the formula had been out, potentially leading to expired formula being administered. The lack of labeling and dating was a direct violation of the facility's policy and placed the resident at risk for gastrointestinal complications.