Failure to Deliver Meals at Palatable Temperatures and in a Timely Manner
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that meals were delivered to residents in a timely manner and at a palatable temperature. During an interview, a long-term resident reported that food was often late and not palatable in taste or temperature. Observations revealed that breakfast trays were not promptly removed from the delivery cart, with the last tray being delivered significantly after the trays arrived on the unit. Documentation showed that the breakfast tray line started at 7:00 AM, but trays were not received on the unit until 7:20 AM, and the last tray was not delivered until 7:56 AM. A test tray was prepared and observed as part of the survey process. The test tray remained in the delivery cart for 71 minutes before being removed, and when checked, the temperature of the eggs and oatmeal was below the facility's stated goal for palatability (120°F), measuring 107.4°F and 109.1°F respectively. The test tray was then consumed by the survey team, who confirmed that the food was not at a palatable temperature. These findings indicate that the facility did not have an effective process to ensure timely meal delivery and maintenance of appropriate food temperatures.