Failure to Maintain Hand Hygiene and Sanitary Practices During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves failure to follow safe food handling practices and maintain sanitary conditions during meal service. During a lunch observation, a nurse assisted a resident into the dining area by holding her hand and then immediately served another resident’s lunch meal without washing or sanitizing her hands. The same nurse served meals to additional residents and repeatedly touched drink cups by the top of the rim when placing them on the tables. A certified nurse aide assisted a resident with putting on a clothing protector and then proceeded to serve another resident without performing hand hygiene. The business office manager also served meals and touched cups by the top of the rim when placing them on the tables. Additionally, a hospitality aide touched a resident’s shoulder and then served another resident’s lunch meal without washing or sanitizing his hands. During an interview, another nurse confirmed that staff are expected to sanitize or wash their hands after touching dirty surfaces and when handling food items and trays, and that staff should never touch dishes by the rim when serving. The deficient practices were identified as likely to affect all 111 residents in the facility and were cited as failures to ensure food was served under sanitary conditions and in accordance with safe food handling standards.
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