Deficient Kitchen Cleanliness and Equipment Maintenance
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified multiple deficiencies in the facility's kitchen related to cleanliness and equipment maintenance. During an inspection, it was observed that two out of three insulated food carts failed to latch properly, and a third cart was missing a latch on one door. Several ceiling vents, including those near the prep table and above the oven/stove, had a heavy buildup of a black substance. The vent on the outside of the ice machine also had a black substance that transferred onto the surveyor's finger when touched. The tray line table was missing rollers and had a piece of cardboard taped to its side with tattered duct tape, creating an uncleanable surface. Additionally, the prep table behind the plate warmer had significant rust on its legs, shelf, and edges, and a portable stand fan near the oven was found without a front cover, with exposed blades covered in dust and grime. Interviews with the Dietary Director and the Regional Food Service Director revealed uncertainty regarding responsibility for cleaning the vents and maintaining equipment. Review of the cleaning schedule showed no assigned tasks for cleaning the vents, ice machine, or floor fan. There was no evidence that the need for repairs to the insulated food carts had been identified prior to the survey. Furthermore, a policy and procedure for kitchen cleaning was not provided before the survey exit. These failures had the potential to affect 149 of 153 residents who received meals prepared in the facility kitchen.