Failure to Store Respiratory Equipment in a Sanitary Manner
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the proper and sanitary storage of a resident's respiratory equipment, specifically a BIPAP mask and nasal cannula. During observation, the resident's BIPAP mask was found placed directly on the bedside table, and the oxygen nasal cannula was left in the seat of the resident's wheelchair, rather than being stored in a dated, labeled bag as required by facility policy and staff instructions. Interviews with staff, including a CNA, a licensed nurse, and an administrative nurse, confirmed that the expected practice was to store these items in a dated plastic bag to maintain sanitation. The resident involved had multiple medical conditions, including COPD, congestive heart failure, diabetes, obesity, and dementia, and required both oxygen therapy and a BIPAP device as part of their care. The care plan documented the need for oxygen therapy and BIPAP use, but lacked specific instructions for the care and storage of the oxygen cannula and BIPAP mask. Physician orders were in place for regular changing and dating of respiratory equipment, but these were not followed in practice, as evidenced by the unsanitary storage observed during the survey.