Failure to Maintain Sanitary and Homelike Environment in Resident Halls
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain a safe, sanitary, and homelike environment on three of four resident halls, as evidenced by persistent odors, improper storage of personal care items, and soiled linens left on floors. A grievance had been filed by a resident in December alleging that dirty laundry was left in the resident’s room. During the survey, a urine odor was noted on the 300 hall on two separate days. Multiple observations showed shared restrooms containing uncovered and unlabeled resident toothbrushes placed on the back of sinks and on the back of a commode, and uncovered bedpans stored between a handrail and the bathroom wall in shared restrooms. Additional observations on several occasions revealed towels and washcloths left on the floors of resident rooms, including near restroom doors, next to beds, and under the foot of beds. In interviews, an LPN stated that resident bedpans should be covered if stored in shared restrooms and that resident toothbrushes should be stored away and covered when in shared restrooms. A QMA stated that staff should not leave linens or washcloths on the floor after providing care and should clean up after themselves following care. Review of the facility’s infection control policy indicated that used linens and patient care equipment should be handled and transported in a manner that prevents exposure and avoids transfer of pathogens to other patients or the environment, which was not followed in these instances.
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