HospitalInspections.org

Based on observations and interviews, the hospital failed to ensure patients received care in a safe setting as evidenced by: 1) patients' beds having a non- functional nurse call feature on the bedrail for 7 (patient beds 1, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13) of 14 licensed beds patient beds; 2) full and the empty portable oxygen cylinders were not separated. 3) Two of the portable oxygen cylinders were free standing without a chain or a rack to secure the cylinders in the upright position; and 4) the hospital lacked medical gas piping and a vacuum system to service all of the medical needs of the patients.

Findings:
A review of the Life Safety Codes Revealed in part:
NFPA 99:11.6.5.2 If empty and full cylinders are stored within the same enclosure, empty cylinders shall be segregated from full cylinders.
NFPA 99:11.6.5.3 Empty cylinders shall be marked to avoid confusion and delay if a full cylinder is needed in a rapid manner.
NFPA 99:11.6.2.3 Cylinders shall be protected from damage by means of the following specific procedures:
(11) Freestanding cylinders shall be properly chained or supported in a proper cylinder stand or cart.

NFPA 99:5.1 Category 1 Piped Gas and Vacuum Systems.

NFPA 99:5.1.1* Applicability.

NFPA 99:5.1.1.1 These requirements shall apply to health care facilities that require Category 1 systems as referenced in Chapter 4.

NFPA 99:4.1.1* Category 1. Facility systems in which failure of such equipment or system is likely to cause major injury or death of patients or caregivers shall be designed to meet system Category 1 requirements as defined in this code.

1) Patients' beds having a non- functioning nurse call feature on the bedrails for 7 (patient beds 1, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13) of 14 licensed beds patient beds.

During the facility tour on March 29, 2022 between the hours of 10:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. an observation of the patient beds in rooms 1, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13 revealed the side rales nurse call feature was non- functional.

In an interview on 03/29/2022 at 11:35 a.m. S1AdmAsst verified the nurse call bell functions on the aforementioned bed side rales were non-functioning and could pose a safety issue for a patient.

2) Full and empty portable oxygen cylinders were not separated.

During the facility tour on March 29, 2022 between the hours of 10:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. an observation of the oxygen storage room revealed the large oxygen cylinder holed located under a sign that read " Empty Tank Storage" contained 2 empty and 2 full cylinders.

In an interview on 03/29/2022 at 10:48 a.m. S4LPN verified the empty and full tanks were stored together and contained no identification as to which were full or empty.

3) Two of the portable oxygen cylinders were free standing without a chain or a rack to secure the cylinders in the upright position.

An observation of the oxygen storage room revealed 2 free standing oxygen cylinders without a chain or a rack to secure the cylinders in the upright position.

In an interview on 03/29/2022 at 10:57 a.m. S3RN verified the 2 oxygen cylinders were free standing and unsecured.

4) The hospital lacked medical gas piping and a vacuum system to service all of the medical needs of the patients.

A tour of the hospital revealed the hospital license posted in the lobby area noting the hospital was licensed as a Long Term Acute Care Hospital effective 08/24/2021.

Further observation during the tour failed to reveal piped gas and vacuum system to provide critical life supporting treatment for all patients.

In an interview on 03/29/2022 at 11:35 a.m. S1AdmAsst verified the license posted in the lobby and that the hospital did not contain piped gas and vacuum.