Failure to Serve Food at Appropriate Temperatures and Incomplete Temperature Documentation
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food was served at appropriate temperatures, as required by their own policies and regulatory standards. Multiple interviews revealed that a resident and a family member both reported that food was often served cold, with the family member confirming they personally witnessed cold food being served. Another resident, who was cognitively intact according to her BIMS score, stated that her food was always cold and expressed disappointment during a meal observation, pushing her tray away and referencing ongoing complaints about food temperature at Resident Council meetings. Record reviews and staff interviews further substantiated the deficiency. The Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) acknowledged missing temperature documentation on several days and was observed writing temperatures on logs after being asked for them, rather than at the time food was served. The CDM and cook both described procedures for taking and documenting food temperatures, but logs reviewed showed missing entries for multiple meals. The Registered Dietician confirmed that temperatures were supposed to be taken and documented prior to tray line assembly, but this was not consistently done. These actions and inactions led to the failure to serve food at safe and appetizing temperatures.
Penalty
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