Failure to Maintain Comfortable Room Temperatures for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain comfortable room temperatures for two residents, both of whom had significant medical conditions including respiratory failure and tracheostomy status. For one resident, observations revealed that the air conditioning unit in the room was turned off, leaking, and not functioning properly, with wet blankets placed underneath and a fan provided as a temporary measure. The front of the air conditioning unit was removed and lying beside the wall, and maintenance staff were unaware of the malfunction until it was brought to their attention. Nursing staff confirmed the room was hot and the resident was sweating, and the family had reported concerns about the room temperature over the weekend. Documentation showed that the last recorded room temperature was several days prior, and a grievance had been filed by the family regarding the environmental conditions. For the second resident, similar issues were observed with the air conditioning unit, which was only slightly blowing cold air and required the use of two fans in the room. The ambient temperature in the room was measured at 81.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The resident's family also reported that the room was hot and the air conditioning was not working properly. Facility policy required maintaining a comfortable and safe temperature for residents, but observations and interviews indicated that this was not achieved for these two residents.