Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control Program
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in the presence of pests and rodents in both a resident's room and public areas. Observations included a roach crawling across the floor near the receptionist's desk, seven flies in a resident's room—five of which were on the resident's body, blanket, or pillow—and a roach on a wall near the dining room trash can. Interviews with staff revealed that pests, mainly small roaches and flies, had been noticed in the facility, and cleaning efforts had not eliminated the problem. The housekeeper reported seeing flies on the resident since the previous Saturday, attributing it to the resident's colostomy bag and associated odor. The maintenance director confirmed that pest control services were provided monthly and that this was the first time he was made aware of the fly issue in the resident's room. The administrator acknowledged that the fly problem had been ongoing for weeks and was not limited to the resident's room, despite pest control visits. Record reviews showed that pest control treatments had been conducted in various facility areas, and a grievance had been filed by the resident's family regarding flies in the room. The facility's pest control policy required staff to report pest sightings and for the housekeeping supervisor to take immediate action, but the presence of pests persisted in both resident and common areas.