Failure to Maintain and Remove Respiratory Equipment per Policy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain respiratory equipment in accordance with its own Equipment Management Policy for one resident. The policy required that nebulizer machine tubing and masks be changed weekly and as needed to ensure sanitary conditions and safe function. Observation revealed that a nebulizer machine in a resident's room contained tubing and a mask that were not dated to indicate when they were last changed. The nebulizer bowl and tubing were marked with a date from three months prior, and staff confirmed that these items had not been replaced since that time, contrary to facility policy. Further review of the resident's clinical record showed that there was no current physician's order for nebulizer treatments, and the DON confirmed that the resident had previously received treatments earlier in the year, but the equipment was not removed from the room after treatments were discontinued. The respiratory equipment remained in the resident's room and was not maintained as required by policy, as confirmed by staff interviews and record review.