Failure to Provide Physician-Ordered Therapeutic Diet
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident who was prescribed a therapeutic diet by their physician did not receive the correct meal as ordered. During a meal observation, the resident was served one corndog, pasta salad, watermelon, and cottage cheese, despite having a physician order for a cardiac, low concentrated sweets diet with half portion carbohydrates, double proteins, and no pork. The resident's diet card indicated a regular diet with low concentrated sweets, no pork, and double protein, but only one corndog was provided instead of the required double protein portion. The dietary manager confirmed that the resident should have received two corndogs to meet the double protein requirement and attributed the error to new kitchen staff. The facility's policy requires therapeutic diets to be prepared and served as ordered by the attending physician, with trays clearly identified by color-coded cards reflecting the diet order.