Unsecured crash cart and germicidal wipes left accessible to residents
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, functional, sanitary, and comfortable environment when a crash cart parked at the entry of hall 100 had drawers that were not secured and could easily be opened. During the observation, the first drawer contained a screwdriver and the other drawers contained tubing. The Administrator stated the crash cart should not be locked, while the DON stated the cart was not locked. ADON A later stated the cart should be accessible in an emergency but secured enough that residents could not open the drawers when it was not in use. The facility also failed to ensure that a container of germicidal wipes was not left on top of an unattended treatment cart in the memory care unit. During the observation, several residents were walking in the hallway while the cart was unattended with the wipes on top. RN D stated she had gone into a resident room to assess a wound and should have placed the wipes inside the cart before leaving because confused residents might use them to clean their faces and eyes. She later stated she would put the wipes inside the cart. A similar event occurred when MA G left a container of germicidal wipes on top of her cart in a hallway while the cart was unattended and residents were walking nearby. MA G stated she walked away because the DON called her and that she should have secured the wipes before leaving because residents might use them improperly or even eat them. The DON, ADON B, and the Administrator stated the wipes should be locked inside the carts and not left on top where residents could access them. Record review showed the facility policy required potentially harmful substances to be clearly identified and stored in a locked area separately from medications, and the SDS for the wipes identified them as an acute oral toxin and eye irritant with storage instructions to keep out of the reach of children.
Penalty
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