Failure to Maintain Clean PTAC Vents in Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to the facility’s failure to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment in resident rooms. During an observation of one resident’s room on 1/4/26 at 10:00 AM, the PTAC (Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner) unit was found running while every vent slat was covered with dark brown spots. In another occupied room observed on 1/4/26 at 12:55 PM, the PTAC unit was also running and had a dark brown substance caked in the corners of every vent slat. These conditions were noted in 2 of 6 rooms reviewed on the upper 100 hall for environmental comfort and cleanliness. On 1/6/26 at 3:00 PM, during a follow-up observation of both rooms with the Maintenance Director, he stated that the Maintenance Department was responsible for cleaning the vents and filters of the PTAC units every two months and acknowledged that the last cleaning occurred in October 2025. He further explained he was the only person in the department and was behind on the scheduled December cleaning. The Housekeeping Manager reported that housekeeping staff only wiped down the top and front of the PTAC units during routine room cleaning and did not have the tools to clean the vents, indicating that vent cleaning was the responsibility of Maintenance. The Administrator confirmed that it was the Maintenance Director’s responsibility to ensure PTAC units were kept clean and that maintenance was expected to follow the every-two-month cleaning schedule.
We Help Long-Term Care Teams Stay Survey-Ready
We process and analyze inspection reports and plan of correction using AI to extract insights and trends so providers can improve care quality and stay ahead of compliance risks.