Failure to Maintain Clean and Intact PTAC Units in Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to the facility’s failure to maintain PTAC (Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner) units in a safe, clean, and intact condition as required by facility policy and resident rights to a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment. The facility’s HVAC policy required staff to remove or open the PTAC access cover, inspect and clean or replace dirty air filters, reinstall the filter and access cover, clean the grill, and ensure filters were replaced or thoroughly cleaned at least every three months. Despite this policy, observations in two rooms on the 200 Hall showed PTAC units that were not properly maintained, including broken components, visible residue, debris, and rust. In one room, observations on two separate days revealed a PTAC unit with a broken front grill, visible residue inside the unit, and a broken air filter. In another room, observations on two separate days showed a PTAC unit containing debris and visible rust. During an observation and interview, the Maintenance Supervisor confirmed that the PTAC unit in the first room had a broken front grill with an approximately six-inch by four-inch piece of plastic missing, and that the PTAC unit in the second room had a main screen that was rusty and clogged. The Maintenance Supervisor stated that PTAC units were serviced monthly and acknowledged the observed units were not in good condition. In a separate interview, the Administrator stated that maintenance staff were responsible for the cleanliness and upkeep of PTAC units, that the expectation was for the units to be routinely cleaned and maintained, and that failure to maintain PTAC units could negatively impact cleanliness.
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