Deficiencies in Food Safety, Dishwashing Temperatures, and Reheating Procedures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper food safety and sanitation practices in several key areas. During an observation, two cups of yogurt with expired use-by dates were found in the Solarium Room Residents' Refrigerator, and staff confirmed these items should have been discarded according to facility policy. The administrator also acknowledged that expired food items are expected to be removed from refrigerators by their use-by dates. The facility's dishwasher was repeatedly observed and documented to be operating below the required minimum washing temperature of 120°F. Multiple temperature logs and direct observations showed the dishwasher consistently failed to reach the necessary temperature for effective sanitation, with staff and dietary management confirming that the issue had persisted for an extended period. Maintenance staff had been informed, but the problem remained unresolved, and the dish machine logs reflected numerous instances of substandard temperatures over several months. Additionally, a Certified Nursing Assistant reheated a resident's meal in the microwave and served it without checking the food temperature, contrary to facility policy. The staff member was unaware of the requirement to check and document the temperature of reheated food before serving. Both the Resident Care Manager and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the policy mandates temperature checks and documentation, and that the staff member did not follow these procedures.