Failure to Provide Hand Hygiene During Meals Under Infection Control Precautions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and maintain an effective infection prevention and control program, specifically regarding hand hygiene practices during meal times. Despite being under COVID-19 precautions due to staff exposure, staff did not offer or assist residents with hand hygiene before or after meals in the dining room. Observations showed that hand sanitizing wipes or hand sanitizer were not made available on dining tables, and staff did not consistently provide or remind residents to perform hand hygiene prior to eating. Interviews with dietary and nursing staff revealed a lack of adherence to the facility's hand hygiene policy, with some staff forgetting to offer hand hygiene and others being unsure of the procedures. While some staff eventually offered wipes after being prompted, this was not done consistently or in accordance with policy requirements. The deficiency was observed during both lunch and supper, affecting multiple residents in the dining room. Staff interviews confirmed that hand hygiene should have been offered before and after meals, but this was not routinely practiced. The facility's own policy, as well as CDC guidelines, require hand hygiene before and after eating to prevent the spread of infection, especially during a COVID-19 outbreak. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that staff were trained and expected to follow these procedures, but the observed practices did not align with policy or regulatory expectations.