Failure to Maintain and Document Preventive Maintenance of Therapy Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain three pieces of electrical rehabilitation therapy equipment, including an ultrasound unit, a TENS combination unit, an adjustable therapy mat, and a bicycle, for resident use. During an observation and interviews, the Rehabilitation Director was unable to provide records of maintenance or calibration for any of the therapy equipment and stated that neither therapy nor maintenance staff had checked or maintained the equipment. The Maintenance Director confirmed that there was no process in place for preventive maintenance checks on therapy equipment, and maintenance staff only responded to work orders if equipment was reported as broken. The Director of Nursing also acknowledged the importance of preventive maintenance to ensure resident safety during therapy sessions. A review of the facility's policies revealed that the Maintenance Director was responsible for developing and maintaining a schedule of maintenance services to ensure equipment was kept in a safe and operable condition. Additionally, policies required that inspections include checks of equipment functioning and general condition, with records kept for each piece of equipment. Despite these policies, there were no records or evidence of maintenance or inspection for the therapy equipment, indicating a failure to follow established procedures.