Failure to Maintain Effective Bedbug Control Program
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in live bedbugs being observed in the rooms of six sampled residents out of fifteen. Multiple residents reported seeing live bedbugs in their rooms, experiencing bites, and finding bedbugs on their bodies and belongings. Observations confirmed the presence of live and dead bedbugs in resident rooms and bathrooms, as well as visible bites on several residents. Some rooms were noted to be cluttered, which complicated treatment efforts, and residents reported ongoing issues despite previous treatments. Interviews with residents revealed that some had been bitten by bedbugs, while others had not noticed bites but had seen live bugs in their rooms. Several residents stated that their rooms had been sprayed or treated, but the infestation persisted. Staff interviews indicated that pest control measures were inconsistently applied, with reliance on in-house spraying and heat treatment machines. The facility had not engaged a professional exterminator for bedbugs in over a year, and routine inspections of all rooms were not conducted. Staff also reported challenges in treating rooms due to resident refusal of certain treatments and difficulties in managing clutter. Facility leadership acknowledged ongoing bedbug issues, attributing some of the challenges to new admissions from high-risk populations and a recent change in maintenance personnel. The facility's pest control policy outlined comprehensive steps for managing bedbug infestations, but interviews and observations indicated that these procedures were not consistently followed. The lack of regular inspections, incomplete treatment of affected and adjacent rooms, and inconsistent communication and documentation contributed to the continued presence of bedbugs and resident exposure.