Failure to Change and Properly Store Oxygen Tubing
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident by not changing oxygen tubing as ordered and not keeping the tubing off the floor. Observations revealed that the oxygen tubing at the resident's bedside was not dated and, on one occasion, the portion of the tubing that connects to the resident's face or nose was found sitting on the floor. Interviews with multiple staff members showed inconsistent understanding of the schedule for changing oxygen tubing, with responses varying between Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, and some staff indicating that changes depended on who was working. Review of the facility's respiratory care policy indicated requirements for safe handling, cleaning, and infection control measures for oxygen equipment, but these were not consistently followed for the resident in question.