Failure to Maintain Functional Dishwasher Resulting in Prolonged Use of Disposable Meal Service Items
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the dishwasher was in good working condition, resulting in all meals being served on paper plates with plastic silverware for an extended period. Observations confirmed that residents were eating meals on disposable products both in the dining room and in their rooms. The dishwasher had been out of service since a power surge occurred, and as of the time of the survey, it remained nonfunctional. The delay in repair was attributed to the need for ordering parts and scheduling maintenance service, with invoices confirming the timeline of the breakdown and ongoing repair attempts. Interviews with facility staff, including the Maintenance Director, Administrator, and Dietary Manager, confirmed the ongoing use of disposable meal service items for approximately six weeks. All adaptive devices continued to be used as ordered and were cleaned using the three-bay sink system. The deficiency affected 90 out of 92 residents, with two residents not receiving food from the kitchen. The facility census at the time was 92.