Finding Description
Based on observation, interview and facility document review, the facility failed to:
1. Ensure the Registered Dietitian (RD) supported the Dietary Supervisor (DS) in maintaining a clean and safe kitchen environment;
2. Ensure the Dietary Supervisor (DS) maintained a clean kitchen and clean equipment on a day-to-day basis; and
3. Involve the RD in the quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI; a data driven and proactive approach to quality improvement), when food and nutrition services was involved.
This failure had the potential for contamination of food leading to foodborne illness for a highly susceptible population of 56 residents who received food from the kitchen out of a facility census of 57.
Findings:
1. During the Federal Recertification Survey from 6/7/21-6/10/21, multiple issues were identified inside the kitchen including cleanliness of the environment such as a significant amount of residue, dirt, and/or dust on windows, window screens, window shade, walls, vents, window air-conditioner unit, on the inside surface of cabinets holding clean cooking utensils, food carts, light switch and light switch covers, and imbedded residue in cracked floor tiles. In addition, it was identified that drywall was damaged throughout the kitchen, caulking along wall seems were crumbling, cabinet doors were worn with exposed particle board, and a drawer front surface was cracked.
In an interview on 6/8/21, at 9:25 a.m., the RD stated she conducted a monthly sanitation and food safety check. She said she did not report on her monthly inspection the following: the vent located above a reach-in freezer which she confirmed was covered with black residue and the surrounding wall and ceiling had black residue on the surface fanning out from the vent, the light switch and cover by the back door with imbedded black residue which she stated was dirty and dusty, the large support pole by the back door which she confirmed had dried orange drip marks covering a large portion of the surface, broken floor tiles with imbedded black residue, multiple windows in the food preparation area she confirmed had residue and dust around the perimeters and along the window ledge, the window blind she confirmed was dirty and had black residue on the surface but she stated never looked at the blind before, the window air/conditioner which she stated was dirty and covered with dust, the surface of the cabinet next to the stove which held cooking utensils such as pans, had a black residue on the linoleum that covered the shelf surface. She stated it was just scuffed until the residue scraped off onto a paper towel, then she confirmed the shelf was dirty. She also stated she did not report wood cabinets located under a preparation table with the bottom of the outer wood surface worn and cracked exposing particle board. She stated ideally the cabinets should be replaced. She stated she did not report the tall open tray carts which she confirmed had a build-up of thick black residue at the base above all the wheels, and the utility cart with food stored on top which she confirmed had imbedded black residue and stated it was dirty.
Review of the last 3 kitchen audits completed by the RD titled Sanitation and Food Safety Checklist dated 3/24/21, 4/30/21, and 5/28/21 showed areas on the report for the RD to assess for cleanliness and condition included but not limited to: all floors, storage devices for dishware, air-cooling system, ceiling vents, all painted surfaces, all windows and doors.
Review of the job description titled Consultant Dietitian with a revised date of 2019, showed the RD was responsible for supporting the Food and Nutrition Services Director in maintaining department standards of food service storage, preparation, safety, and delivery to residents. In addition, conducts food safety and sanitation inspections with recommendations for items not meeting standards.
Review of the document titled Sanitation dated 2018, showed all equipment shall be maintained as necessary and kept in working order. Also, all utensils, counters, shelves, and equipment shall be kept clean, maintained in good repair and shall be free from breaks, corrosions, open seam, cracks, and chipped areas.
2. During the Federal Recertification Survey from 6/7/21-6/10/21 multiple issues were identified inside the kitchen including cleanliness of the environment such as a significant amount of residue, dirt, and/or dust on windows, window screens, window shade, walls, vents, window air-conditioner unit, on the inside surface of cabinets holding clean cooking utensils, food carts, light switch and light switch covers, and imbedded residue in cracked floor tiles. In addition, it was identified that drywall was damaged throughout the kitchen, caulking along wall seems were crumbling, cabinet doors were worn with exposed particle board, and a drawer front surface was cracked.
In an interview on 6/8/2,1 at 9:25 a.m., the DS stated she did not know who was responsible for cleaning the support structure which was a cylindrical support structure from floor to ceiling of at least 10 inches in diameter. It had a rough, painted surface. The surface had orange drip marks on a large portion of the surface. She said the kitchen staff should be responsible for cleaning it and it needed to be cleaned. The DS also stated maintenance was responsible for cleaning a vent located above a reach-in refrigerator. The vent surface was covered with a thick, black, residue. The residue also fanned out on the surrounding wall and ceiling. The DS confirmed the vent and the surrounding area was very dusty and dirty. She said maintenance did not do rounds in the kitchen on a regular basis to check for things that had to be cleaned or fixed. In order for maintenance to clean or fix anything, she had to write it in her logbook, which maintenance checked daily.
In an interview and observation on 6/8/21, at 9:49 a.m., the DS stated a kitchen staff cleaned floor by mopping but the maintenance staff was responsible for deep cleaning things that kitchen staff could not do. An observation of the window air conditioner located in a food preparation area had a fuzzy, gray matter on the surface of accordion plastic that connected the air conditioner to the window. She stated maintenance was responsible for cleaning the air conditioner. She said the air conditioner was used every day and stated it was dusty and dirty but did not have it in her logbook for maintenance to clean.
On 6/8/21, at 10:31 a.m., in an interview with DS and Dietary Aide 2, DS confirmed 2 tall, metal resident meal tray carts were dirty. An observation showed the area at the base above the wheels of the cart had a thick layer of a thick black residue. DS wiped the black residue with a towel and a black residue came off onto a towel. She stated DA 2 was responsible for cleaning the carts. DA 2 confirmed he cleaned the carts by wiping them down with sanitizer after trays were delivered, but he did not clean the bases to try to remove the built-up residue.
In an interview and observation with the Maintenance Supervisor (MS) on 6/9/21, at 10:29 a.m., he stated he did not clean anything in the kitchen, and he was not responsible for cleaning vents. He stated he did clean the window screens once a month but from standing outside of the kitchen and hosing them off. MS confirmed the cabinets located under a food preparation table had a surface that was coming off and exposing the underneath particle board. He said it was not in good condition, so it had to be repaired. He also stated a drawer under the preparation table was cracked and had to be replaced. He said he was not aware of these things since they were not reported to him in the logbook. MS also stated he was not responsible for cleaning the window air conditioner.
In an interview with the Administrator on 6/9/21, at 3:10 p.m., she stated the janitor was to make sure every aspect of the kitchen was clean. She stated the janitor went into the kitchen one time per week, early in the morning, and did a deep cleaning. She stated he did things such as scrub and buff the floors. She stated the janitor was also responsible for keeping the baseboards clean. The Administrator stated MS was in charge of cleaning the air conditioner and changing the air conditioner filters in the kitchen.
In an interview on 6/9/21, at 4 p.m., Housekeeper 1 (HK1) stated he worked at the facility for 20 years and there was no deep cleaning done in the kitchen by housekeeping staff. He stated housekeeping staff was not allowed in the kitchen to clean. He said the one housekeeping staff that did deep cleaning in the kitchen left working for the facility about 8 years ago.
Review of the undated facility cleaning schedule titled Janitor did not showed public bathrooms were cleaned but did not show other areas within the kitchen were cleaned.
Review of the undated facility daily work schedule titled Housekeeping did not show any areas in the kitchen were cleaned.
In an interview on 6/10/21, at 8:42 a.m., DS stated she did not always check to see that staff cleaned areas they were responsible for on the cleaning schedule. She stated she was too busy.
Review of the document titled Dietary aid/Tuesday 11:00 - 2:00 pm Cleaning Schedule dated 1/5/2021 showed wipe windows on the schedule.
Review of the job description titled FNS [Food and Nutrition Supervisor] dated 2018, showed the DS was responsible for maintaining cleanliness of kitchen equipment.
Review of the document titled Sanitation dated 2018, showed all equipment shall be maintained as necessary and kept in working order. Also, all utensils, counters, shelves, and equipment shall be kept clean, maintained in good repair and shall be free from breaks, corrosions, open seam, cracks, and chipped areas.
3. An observation during the initial tour of the kitchen on 6/7/21, at 10:20 a.m., showed tile baseboards throughout the kitchen were missing or coming away from the wall. Where there was missing baseboard, the drywall was missing or not intact. (Refer to F-812) In addition, a large mixer with a bowl was observed. The inside surface of the bowl had a dark residue that covered the bottom surface.
In an interview on 6/7/21, at 10:30 a.m., the Dietary Supervisor (DS) stated the residue in the bowl was not removeable and she did not know what it was. She said it had to be replaced and it was in this condition for 6 years.
In an interview with the RD on 6/8/21, at 9:25 a.m., she stated she reported baseboards in disrepair on a regular basis on her monthly inspection report. She also stated she noticed the mixer bowl was in bad condition a couple of years ago and reported it consistently on the inspection report.
In a concurrent interview with the Maintenance Supervisor (MS) on 6/8/21, at 9:25 a.m., he stated he was not aware the baseboards were missing and coming off the wall because he did not see the RD reports.
Review of the last 3 kitchen audits completed by the RD titled Sanitation and Food Safety Checklist with a revised date of 2019, showed the RD documented the mixing bowl needed to be replaced on 3/24/21, 4/30/2, and 5/28/21. The report also indicated tiles on baseboard falling off on 4/30/21 and 5/28/21.
In an interview on 6/9/2,1 at 10:29 a.m., the RD stated her monthly kitchen inspection reports were given to the Administrator, the DS, and the Director of Nursing (DON). She stated she did not take part in the QAPI program and did not know if any kitchen projects were in QAPI. The DS stated the baseboards and mixer were reported in QAPI.
In an interview on 6/9/21, at 3:10 p.m., the Administrator (ADM) stated she kept the RD sanitation reports in a binder and usually took care of issues right away. She stated the mixer and baseboards were addressed in QAPI. ADM did not answer when she was asked why the mixing bowl was still in the kitchen if it was not useable. She stated it did not matter if it was in there because the mixer did not work. She stated in QAPI the first priority was giving the facility a face lift. She said in QAPI patient care items and infection control were next on the priority list. She did not consider the mixing bowl and the damaged baseboards a part of infection control.
In an interview on 6/9/2, at 4:15 p.m., the RD and DS stated the mixer was plugged in and did work as far as they knew.
In an interview and observation with the Administrator on 6/10/21, at 9:55 a.m., the Administrator reviewed her QAPI notes form April 21 showing sideboards were noted to be repaired by the remodeling team by July 2021. She stated sideboards meant baseboards. There was no additional information or documentation to show a plan for fixing the baseboards. The Administrator was not able to show a QAPI plan that was systematic, comprehensive, and data-driven. She stated the baseboards were not in the May 28 QAPI notes. She confirmed the RD was not a part of QAPI. She said there was no documentation