Failure to Monitor Resident Refrigerator Temperatures and Remove Expired Foods
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to its policy regarding the monitoring and maintenance of resident personal refrigerators, as well as the management of food items stored within them. Observations revealed that temperature logs for several residents' refrigerators were incomplete, with missing daily recordings on specific dates. Additionally, recorded temperatures frequently exceeded the facility's policy requirement of maintaining refrigerator temperatures below 41°F, with some logs showing temperatures as high as 44°F and 60°F. In one instance, a thermometer inside a resident's refrigerator displayed a temperature of 73°F. These lapses were confirmed during interviews and observations. Further deficiencies were noted in the handling of expired food items. Expired yogurt was found in the refrigerators of two residents, with expiration dates that had already passed. The facility's policy required that foods with use-by dates be discarded accordingly, but this was not consistently followed. The residents involved had various medical conditions, including dementia, hemiplegia, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and other significant diagnoses. The DON confirmed that the facility did not ensure daily monitoring and documentation of refrigerator temperatures, did not maintain required temperature levels, and did not consistently discard expired foods as per policy.