Failure to Maintain Clean and Safe Ventilation in Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, and comfortable environment by not ensuring that the vent in one resident room was clean and free of dust particles. During observations and interviews, it was revealed that the vent in the specified room was visibly dusty, and this issue had not been brought to the attention of the Maintenance Director. The Maintenance Director acknowledged that the vent was dusty and needed cleaning, and the DON confirmed that such dust could cause respiratory problems, indicating that vents were not being cleaned as required. The DON also stated that both Housekeeping and Maintenance were responsible for vent cleaning, and that managers should be checking vents during their rounds. The Housekeeping Supervisor reported that while daily cleaning schedules included surface dusting of vents, thorough cleaning required Maintenance to open the vent, which had not been done for about a year. The Housekeeping Supervisor was unsure if vent cleanliness impacted resident health. The Administrator was unaware of the extent of the dust in the vent and had not received complaints about vents. Review of facility policies indicated that resident-care equipment, including vents, should be cleaned and disinfected according to CDC recommendations, but these procedures were not followed for the vent in question.