F0925

D

Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control on Secure Male Hall

Rockwall, Texas Survey Completed on 03-13-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program to keep Hall 300, a male secure unit, and two resident rooms free of pests, specifically gnats. On the survey date, gnats were directly observed in two residents’ rooms on Hall 300. An LVN and a CNA confirmed the presence of gnats in both rooms and reported that pest control had been called, with the last pest control visit occurring earlier in the month. The LVN stated that gnats were an issue and had been reported to the administrator sometime the previous week, and acknowledged that gnats on resident food could cause infection. The CNA reported that gnats had been present in Hall 300 for a while and that she had reported their presence to the LVN.

A housekeeper reported that she had notified the housekeeping supervisor about a persistent gnat problem and stated that gnats had been a problem since she began working at the facility about a year earlier, despite monthly pest control visits. The DON acknowledged awareness of the gnats and stated they could bite residents, spread infection, and were a dignity issue. The administrator also acknowledged that gnats were an ongoing issue. Review of pest control service reports for the prior seven months showed nine visits during which the company treated for other pests, including roaches, rodents, bedbugs, fruit, and fruit flies, but not gnats. Review of Hall 300 pest control reports showed that from mid-February to mid-March multiple staff observations of water bugs and gnats were documented but not addressed. The facility’s insect and rodent control policy stated that the facility would maintain an effective pest control program to provide an insect- and vermin-free food service department, but the documented and observed presence of gnats in resident areas demonstrated a failure to implement an effective program.