Failure to Monitor and Log Personal Refrigerator Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its policy regarding the use and storage of foods brought to residents by family and other visitors, specifically in relation to the monitoring and logging of personal refrigerator temperatures for three residents. Observations revealed that two residents' personal refrigerators either lacked a temperature log or had not been logged since a specific date, and a third resident's refrigerator did not have a temperature log present at all. All three refrigerators contained drinks at the time of observation. Interviews with staff members responsible for monitoring these refrigerators indicated that the expected practice was to check and log refrigerator temperatures daily, but this was not consistently done due to oversight and miscommunication among staff. The administrator confirmed that department managers were assigned to make daily rounds and check refrigerator temperatures, but acknowledged that there was no formal policy in place for this process. Staff members assigned to check the refrigerators admitted to missing the required checks and logs, citing oversight as the reason for the lapse. The absence of temperature logs and inconsistent monitoring could have resulted in residents having spoiled food in their refrigerators, as noted by the staff during interviews.