Failure to Implement and Monitor Pest Control Performance Improvement Plan
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement, measure, and track the effectiveness of its Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) for pest control, resulting in ongoing pest infestations in resident rooms. Direct observations by surveyors revealed live and dead roaches, a fly, and ants in two sampled resident rooms. Residents reported that they had informed staff about the presence of pests, but continued to observe them in their rooms. Staff interviews confirmed that pests had been seen in resident rooms and that sightings were documented in pest sighting binders at the nurse's stations. Despite the existence of a PIP initiated after previous grievances and citations related to pest control, there was no documented evidence that the plan's action steps were fully implemented or monitored for effectiveness. The Director of Maintenance stated that he did not review the pest sighting binders and relied on the pest control company to do so. The pest control company was expected to review logs and treat affected areas, but comprehensive treatments, such as wall penetration spraying, were only partially completed due to competing priorities. Documentation also lacked evidence of regular room audits for pest signs, as required by the PIP. Review of facility records, including pest control invoices and Guardian Angel Rounds checklists, did not show that all rooms received the required observation audits for pest activity. The checklists reviewed only covered a limited number of rooms and did not specifically document pest-related findings. Additionally, the facility's documentation did not demonstrate that follow-up actions were taken to ensure interventions were effective or that improvements were sustained, as outlined in the PIP.