Failure to Replace Oxygen Tubing per Infection Control Policy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a resident's oxygen tubing in a sanitary manner according to its own infection control policy. Facility policy required that oxygen tubing and cannulas be replaced every 7 days. Record review showed a physician's order for the resident to receive continuous oxygen via nasal cannula. During observations on two separate days, the resident's oxygen tubing was found to have a date written on it indicating it had not been changed for over three weeks. Interviews with an LPN confirmed that the tubing should have been changed weekly, and the administrator did not provide an explanation for the failure to follow policy. These findings were based on direct observation, record review, and staff interviews, all of which confirmed that the required schedule for changing oxygen tubing was not followed for the resident receiving continuous oxygen therapy.