Failure to Maintain Qualified Dietary Management Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to employ sufficient and qualified dietary staff to manage the food and nutrition service for all 76 residents. The job description for the Director of Food Services requires a graduate of an accredited dietetic program, at least five years of supervisory experience in a medical facility, and registration as a Food Service Director in the state. However, interviews and observations revealed that the facility did not have a Dietary Manager (DM) at the time of the survey, as the previous DM had quit approximately two weeks prior. Staff interviews indicated confusion and lack of clarity regarding who was supervising the kitchen, with a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) temporarily called in to fill the DM role, but also being assigned to CNA duties on the resident care floor. Further interviews with dietary staff, the Registered Dietician (RD), and the Administrator confirmed that the kitchen was being supervised by a cook, who did not hold the required qualifications for the DM position. The RD only visited the facility twice a month and was not managing the kitchen. The Administrator acknowledged that there was no current DM, and the cook was acting as the supervisor. This lack of qualified dietary management resulted in the facility not meeting regulatory requirements for food and nutrition service staffing.