Failure to Properly Store and Sanitize Nebulizer Equipment
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors found that the facility failed to provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for three residents who required nebulizer treatments. Observations revealed that the nebulizer masks and tubing for these residents were left exposed on bedside tables and were not stored in protective bags when not in use, contrary to professional standards and physician orders. Interviews with staff, including an LVN and the DON, confirmed that the equipment should have been sanitized and stored in protective bags to prevent contamination, but this was not done. The facility's policy on oxygen safety did not specify the need for storing nebulizer equipment in protective bags, and staff acknowledged non-compliance with expected procedures. The residents involved had significant medical histories, including dementia, COPD, chronic respiratory failure, and dependence on supplemental oxygen. Their care plans and physician orders specifically required regular cleaning and proper storage of nebulizer equipment. Despite these orders, the equipment was not handled according to protocol, as confirmed by both direct observation and staff interviews. This lapse in practice was identified as a deficiency in providing care consistent with professional standards for residents needing respiratory support.