Failure to Maintain and Monitor Safe Water Temperatures
Penalty
Fine: $26,685
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the existence and implementation of a policy and procedure for monitoring water temperatures to maintain them within acceptable ranges. During an observation, water temperatures at bathroom sinks shared by residents were found to be as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit, which was confirmed by the administrator and felt hot to the touch. When requested, the facility was unable to provide a written policy or procedure for monitoring hot water temperatures, only offering verbal instructions on how staff would respond to elevated temperatures. The deficiency was identified through direct observation and interviews, revealing a lack of documented processes to prevent residents from exposure to excessively hot water.