Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control Program
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in the presence of live flies and gnats in one of the hallways, a conference room, and a shared resident room. Observations revealed two gnats in the conference room and one gnat in the hallway outside the conference room. In the shared room of two residents, two flies were observed, with one fly landing on a resident's linen and another on a bedside table. One of the residents confirmed seeing flies in the room regularly but had not reported it to staff. Both residents in the affected room had severe cognitive impairment, as indicated by their BIMS scores of 3, and one had a principal diagnosis of unspecified psychosis while the other had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Staff interviews revealed that the pest control company serviced the facility monthly, but staff, including the Maintenance Director and DON, expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the pest control measures. The Maintenance Director reported frequent sightings of gnats and roaches and had unsuccessfully requested increased pest control visits. Facility records showed monthly pest control invoices for ant, spider, and roach prevention, but there was no detailed documentation of the treatment provided for the most recent visit. The facility's pest control policy required an ongoing program to keep the building free of insects and rodents, but the presence of pests in resident and common areas indicated that this policy was not effectively implemented at the time of the survey.