Failure to Follow Enhanced Barrier Precautions During Tracheostomy Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow its own infection prevention and control policies regarding Enhanced Barrier Precautions for a resident with a tracheostomy and feeding tube. According to the facility's policy, staff are required to wear both a gown and gloves during high-contact care activities, such as tracheostomy care, for residents with indwelling medical devices. Clinical record review and the resident's care plan confirmed the need for these precautions. However, during an observation, an LPN performed tracheostomy suctioning for the resident while only wearing gloves and not a gown, despite signage outside the room instructing staff to use both. The Director of Nursing later confirmed that a gown should have been worn during this care activity.