Failure to Maintain Cleanliness of Kitchen Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of equipment in the Transition Care Unit (TCU) Dining Room, specifically in the Resident Pantry area. During an observation, the interior cooking surfaces of the microwave oven were found to be covered with dried food particles and splatters of dried food debris. According to facility policy, all kitchen equipment is required to be cleaned and sanitized after each use, and all employees are responsible for keeping equipment and the department clean. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that the microwave oven needed to be cleaned and sanitized, indicating that the facility did not adhere to its own sanitation standards, which could lead to cross-contamination or foodborne illness.