Improper Storage of Respiratory Equipment Between Uses
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide respiratory care consistent with professional standards of practice and residents’ care plans by not properly storing nebulizer masks and nasal cannulas when not in use. For one resident with COPD and severe cognitive impairment, surveyors observed a nebulizer mask ordered for PRN Ipratropium-Albuterol treatments sitting unbagged on the nightstand. For another resident with COPD, chronic respiratory failure, and severe cognitive impairment, a breathing treatment mask ordered for PRN Ipratropium-Albuterol was also observed unbagged on the nightstand. Both instances occurred despite physician orders for respiratory treatments and the residents’ need for respiratory equipment. Two additional residents with severe cognitive impairment were observed with nasal cannulas not stored in bags when not in use. One male resident with COPD had a nasal cannula hanging unbagged on his oxygen concentrator, and he reported that he had not used the oxygen device in a few days and did not use it much. Another male resident with chronic kidney disease and an order for continuous oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula had his nasal cannula hanging unbagged on an oxygen tank attached to his wheelchair. Nursing staff, including an RN and an LVN, acknowledged during interviews that nebulizer masks and nasal cannulas should be placed in plastic bags when not in use to prevent contamination and infection, and the DON similarly stated that these items needed to be bagged to avoid residents getting an infection. The facility’s written oxygen administration policy did not address bagging respiratory devices when not in use.
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.