Failure to Ensure Proper Labeling and Maintenance of Enteral Feeding Supplies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate treatment and services for a resident with an enteral feeding tube. Review of the facility's policy required that the formula label include initials, date, and time when the formula was hung or administered, and that the label be checked against the order. Clinical record review showed that the resident was admitted with a right hip fracture, post-surgery, and pain, and had physician orders for enteral feeding and water flushes to maintain tube patency. During observation, the resident's enteral feeding bag was found without a label, initials, date, or time, and the water bag used for flushes was three days old. An LPN confirmed the absence of a label on the feeding formula and the outdated water bag. The DON also confirmed that the facility did not ensure appropriate treatment and services to prevent potential complications for the resident with an enteral feeding tube.