Failure to Sanitize Mechanical Lift Equipment Between Resident Uses
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to maintain a sanitary environment by not cleaning or sanitizing mechanical lift equipment after use with residents, including those on Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) or Transmission Based Precautions (TBP). During multiple observed transfers, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) moved the mechanical lift from one resident to another and placed it in the hallway without disinfecting it, even after the equipment had come into contact with bodily fluids such as urine. The mechanical lifts did not have sanitizing agents available in their baskets, and staff reported that they had not been trained to clean the equipment after each use. Interviews with staff confirmed that the shared mechanical lifts were not sanitized between residents, and that sanitizing wipes were not available on the lifts. Staff also stated they had not observed others cleaning the lifts, and had not done so themselves, regardless of the resident's precaution status. The Director of Nursing (DON) stated that the expectation was for lifts to be cleaned and sanitized after each use, and facility policy required disinfection of lift surfaces and cleaning of non-critical medical equipment between residents.