Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control in Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program to prevent and address the presence of mice in resident rooms, as evidenced by complaints from two residents about mice in their rooms. Despite the facility's pest control policy requiring findings of pest activity to be reported and addressed, there was no documented evidence that the affected resident rooms were inspected or that specific pest control measures were implemented in response to these complaints. Observations revealed a cluttered room and a significant hole in the wall behind a resident's bed, which could facilitate rodent entry. Staff interviews confirmed that while pest control services were utilized for the facility overall, resident rooms were not specifically inspected by pest control professionals, and reports of mice were not consistently documented or addressed. Multiple staff members, including maintenance and nursing staff, were either unaware of the ongoing mouse issues in the specific resident rooms or did not have documentation of the complaints. The maintenance log book contained reports of mice in other areas but lacked entries for one of the affected rooms, despite resident complaints. The Director of Maintenance acknowledged the presence of a hole in the wall and the need for food storage precautions but was not aware of all resident-specific pest issues. The lack of targeted inspection and intervention in response to resident reports led to the deficiency in maintaining a pest-free environment as required by regulation.