Failure to Notify Resident Representative of Bed Bug Infestation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the representative of a resident with vascular dementia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and malignant neoplasm of the colon about a bed bug infestation in the resident's room. Documentation showed that pest control services treated the room for bed bugs, but there was no evidence that the resident's representative was informed of the situation. The facility's policy requires timely notification of changes relevant to a resident's condition or room to the appropriate parties, but this was not followed in this instance. Interviews with staff revealed that the responsibility for notifying families about bed bug infestations was shared between the nursing and social services departments. However, the social services department was short-staffed at the time, and the Director of Social Work indicated that such communications might not be documented in the resident's progress notes. The resident's representative confirmed they were not notified about the infestation.