HospitalInspections.org

Based on observations and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure clean and sterile supplies were kept clean and dry.

Findings:
On a tour conducted on 9/13/16 at 2:00 PM, a plastic bin with sterile supplies was found on the floor of the medication room of the Progressive Care Unit. Directly outside of this room stood a small metal tray table. On the bottom shelf of the tray table, three inches from the floor, was a portable floor scale and two inches to the right of this was an intravenous tray filled with sterile unopened angiocaths and sterile dressing supplies.

During an interview conducted on 9/14/16, at 2:30 PM, RN #1 stated that the intravenous tray was often sitting in that location. RN #2 stated that the tray was often sitting in that location and that both registered nurses and patient care technicians would place it there.

During an interview on 9/14/16 at 3:30 PM, RN #3, the Nurse Manager stated that he did not know who had placed the basin of sterile supplies on the floor of the medication room. RN#3 also stated that the floor scale was used to weigh patients. Staff removed the scale from the shelf, placed it on the floor, and the patients stood on the scale with street shoes or in their stocking feet. After a patient's weight was recorded, the scale was then placed back on the shelf.

On 9/14/16, at 10:30 AM, during a tour of the Cardiac Cath Lab, a clean utility room was observed. On the floor were packaged sterile items including three intravenous angiocaths, a sterile syringe, sterile intravenous tubing. Also on the floor was a package of disposable gowns, two packaged pillows and other items.

On 9/14/16, at 3:00 PM, during an interview. Technician #1 stated that there was a large number of items on the floor, as he was the one who had swept them up earlier in the day and disposed of them. RN #5 stated thatthe room was clean last week with no items on the floor RN #6 stated that the schedule for housekeeping was to clean the room five days a week.

On a 9/14/16 tour, at 3:45 PM, the fifth floor clean utility room was observed. In the utility room, there was an intravenous tray containing unopened packages of sterile intravenous angiocaths and dressing supplies placed on the counter two inches from the handwashing sink. RN #7 stated that she did not know how it came to be there.