Failure to Adhere to Safe Charging Policy for Power Wheelchair
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the environment remained free from accident hazards for a resident who utilized a power wheelchair. According to facility policy, power wheelchairs are to be charged in a designated area, specifically the beauty shop, to promote safety. However, the resident's power wheelchair was being charged in his room at his request, due to concerns about staff damaging the wheelchair when moving it to the designated charging area. Multiple staff members confirmed that the wheelchair was charged in the resident's room, contrary to policy, and some were unaware of the correct charging location. The care plan for the resident, who has quadriplegia secondary to a spinal cord injury, also specified that the wheelchair should be charged in the beauty shop at night. Observations and interviews revealed that the resident's power wheelchair was not always in the designated charging area, and a thick black cord, identified as the charging cord, was found plugged into the wall in the resident's room. Staff interviews indicated inconsistent knowledge and adherence to the facility's policy regarding the safe charging of electric wheelchairs. The resident expressed a preference for charging the wheelchair in his room to prevent further damage, as previous incidents had resulted in parts of the wheelchair being damaged by staff. This deviation from policy resulted in a potential accident hazard within the resident's environment.