Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control for Gnats on One Hall
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program to keep Hall 200 free of gnats. On multiple observations on Hall 200, surveyors saw gnats in various locations, including one gnat at the south end of the hall, one gnat at the north end of the hall, and one gnat at the nurse’s station. In one resident room at the south end of Hall 200, a surveyor counted three gnats around the resident and five gnats around the sink, despite the sink being clean and without foul odors. The resident in that room reported that gnats had always been an issue, stated the gnats were worse than in the past, and said the gnats bothered her. She indicated she had informed staff about the gnats and that the room had been sprayed. During interviews, LVNs reported seeing gnats in resident rooms and on meal trays, and one LVN stated she was supposed to notify housekeeping when gnats were present. Staff described removing meal trays when gnats were seen and suggested that food in resident rooms might be contributing to the issue. The administrator acknowledged that gnats were a known issue on the hall. When surveyors requested documentation, the facility did not provide a pest control policy for the entire facility or a pest control log, but only produced a 2012 food service department policy on insect and rodent control that applied specifically to the food service area. This lack of a facility-wide pest control policy and documentation, combined with ongoing observations of gnats on Hall 200 and in a resident room, formed the basis of the deficiency.
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