Failure to Maintain Clean CPAP Water Chamber
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the CPAP water chamber for a resident with obstructive sleep apnea was kept clean, as required by physician orders. The resident's care plan included nightly use of a CPAP machine with specific instructions to wash the tubing and reusable filter weekly. During observation, the CPAP machine was found on the resident's bedside table, and the resident reported last using it about a week prior. Upon inspection, the water chamber was found to be very dry with a whitish residue at the bottom. When questioned, the RN did not provide an explanation for the residue and proceeded to wash the chamber. The RN acknowledged that if the CPAP had been used the previous night, night shift staff should have noticed and cleaned the residue before setting up the machine.