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Tag No.: A0724
Based on observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure that supplies, equipment, and patient care areas were maintained to an acceptable level of safety and quality.
This failure contributed to patients being exposed to potential hazards and infectious agents that had the potential to cause patient injury or illness.
FINDINGS:
1. The facility used brooms and dry dusters to clean patient care areas.
a) On 07/08/13 at 10:15 a.m., a tour of the facility was conducted with the facility's Chief Clinical Officer (CCO). Two housekeeping carts were viewed in the halls of the patient care areas, with one housekeeping cart in the 200 unit and the other in the 400 unit. Both carts contained brooms and hand-held dry dusters. The CCO stated s/he did not know what the brooms and dusters were used to clean.
b) During the same tour, a member of the housekeeping staff was interviewed. The housekeeping staff member stated s/he used the brooms and dry dusters in the patient care areas to sweep and dust.
2. The facility had multiple patient food items that were not labeled or dated.
a) On 07/08/13 at 10:15 a.m., a tour of the facility was conducted with the facility's Chief Clinical Officer (CCO). During the tour, refrigerators labeled "Patient Food Only" were viewed in all patient care units.
In the patient refrigerator in the 400 unit, 2 half sandwiches were viewed in the patient refrigerator. The half sandwiches each contained a patient label, but no date as to indicate when the sandwiches had been put in the refrigerator or when they expired. The CCO verified these findings.
In the patient refrigerator in the observation unit, a storage container filled with brown liquid was viewed. The storage container was labeled with a patient sticker but contained no date to indicate when it had been put in the refrigerator or when it expired. In the same refrigerator, a storage container labeled with a patient sticker and the handwritten date of 06/24 was viewed. There was no indication as to whether the date of 06/24 was the expiration date or the date the food item had been placed in the refrigerator. The CCO verified these findings.
In the patient refrigerator in the 200 unit, a fruit bowl was viewed, but contained no label as to indicate the date it was put in the refrigerator, its expiration date, or to whom it belonged. The refrigerator also contained an unopened energy drink without a patient label. The CCO verified these findings.
3. Patient care items were stored on the floor.
a) On 07/08/13 at 10:15 a.m., a tour of the facility was conducted with the facility's Chief Clinical Officer (CCO). During the tour, the 200 unit was toured and a large, black garbage bag containing patient sanitary napkins and adult diapers was viewed on the floor of the nursing station.
b) During the tour, an interview was conducted with the CCO. The CCO stated it was his/her expectation that patient care items would not be stored on the floor. The CCO stated s/he believed that these items were meant for an individual patient, as they were not the same brand the facility used. There was no label on any of the items to indicate to which patient the items belonged. The CCO asked the unit secretary to move the items, but they remained on the floor throughout the duration of the surveyor's tour.