Failure to Monitor Resident Room Temperatures During Air Conditioning Outage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that comfortable and safe temperature levels were maintained in all resident rooms during a heat emergency when the air conditioning unit on one unit (Dogwood) was not functional. During the breakdown of the air-conditioning system, the facility did not check or document resident room temperatures, as the policy only required monitoring hallway temperatures. Although hallway temperatures were within regulatory limits, there was no evidence that resident rooms were checked for adequate or comfortable temperatures during the period the air-conditioning was out of service. The facility's policy required the Maintenance Department to monitor and document temperatures in all occupied areas, including resident rooms, and for the Administrator to review these logs during periods of high heat, but this was not done. A resident's spouse reported discomfort with the temperature on the affected unit, but a grievance report was not completed, and the issue was considered resolved after an air-conditioning unit was installed in the dining area. Nursing staff and the DON did not check resident room temperatures, and the Director of Maintenance confirmed that only hallway temperatures were monitored. The air-conditioning was restored to the affected unit the following day, but there was no documentation or evidence that resident rooms were checked for temperature compliance during the outage.