Failure to Maintain Comfortable Room Temperature for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a comfortable temperature in a resident's room, resulting in the room temperature remaining above 81 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours. The resident, who had a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and intact mental status, reported feeling uncomfortably hot for several days. Multiple temperature checks by both the surveyor and the facility administrator confirmed that the room temperature and the air coming from the wall air conditioner were consistently above 81 degrees Fahrenheit. The room did not have a portable air conditioner, and the built-in unit was not effectively cooling the space. The administrator stated that two out of four compressors for the facility's air conditioning system were not working, causing the system to operate at only 50% capacity. The facility was awaiting parts to repair or replace the compressors and was using portable air conditioning units in some areas to help maintain comfort. However, a portable unit was not present in the affected resident's room. The outside heat index was forecasted to be 104 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of the observations. The facility's policy indicated a commitment to ensuring resident comfort during hot weather.