Used Urinal Placed on Bedside Table with Food Items
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a used urinal containing urine was observed on top of a resident's bedside table, alongside a plastic bag of chocolate candies, cookies, and a roll of paper towel. The resident, who had intact cognition as indicated by a BIMS score of 13/15, was present in the room with a family member at the time of observation. The family member confirmed that the urinal was not rinsed and was placed on the table where the resident also ate his meals. This practice was directly observed by surveyors and confirmed through interviews with both the resident's family member and facility staff. Further interviews with a licensed nurse and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the urinal should not have been placed on the bedside table due to infection control concerns and the risk of cross contamination. The facility's infection control policy, which was reviewed, requires standard precautions and environmental cleaning to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. The observed actions were not in compliance with these established infection control procedures.