§483.60(a) Staffing The facility must employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, taking into consideration resident assessments, individual plans of care and the number, acuity and diagnoses of the facility's resident population in accordance with the facility assessment required at §483.71.
This includes: §483.60(a)(1) A qualified dietitian or other clinically qualified nutrition professional either full-time, part-time, or on a consultant basis. A qualified dietitian or other clinically qualified nutrition professional is one who- (i) Holds a bachelor's or higher degree granted by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States (or an equivalent foreign degree) with completion of the academic requirements of a program in nutrition or dietetics accredited by an appropriate national accreditation organization recognized for this purpose. (ii) Has completed at least 900 hours of supervised dietetics practice under the supervision of a registered dietitian or nutrition professional. (iii) Is licensed or certified as a dietitian or nutrition professional by the State in which the services are performed. In a State that does not provide for licensure or certification, the individual will be deemed to have met this requirement if he or she is recognized as a "registered dietitian" by the Commission on Dietetic Registration or its successor organization, or meets the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section. (iv) For dietitians hired or contracted with prior to November 28, 2016, meets these requirements no later than 5 years after November 28, 2016 or as required by state law.
§483.60(a)(2) If a qualified dietitian or other clinically qualified nutrition professional is not employed full-time, the facility must designate a person to serve as the director of food and nutrition services. (i) The director of food and nutrition services must at a minimum meet one of the following qualifications- (A) A certified dietary manager; or (B) A certified food service manager; or (C) Has similar national certification for food service management and safety from a national certifying body; or D) Has an associate's or higher degree in food service management or in hospitality, if the course study includes food service or restaurant management, from an accredited institution of higher learning; or (E) Has 2 or more years of experience in the position of director of food and nutrition services in a nursing facility setting and has completed a course of study in food safety and management, by no later than October 1, 2023, that includes topics integral to managing dietary operations including, but not limited to, foodborne illness, sanitation procedures, and food purchasing/receiving; and (ii) In States that have established standards for food service managers or dietary managers, meets State requirements for food service managers or dietary managers, and (iii) Receives frequently scheduled consultations from a qualified dietitian or other clinically qualified nutrition professional.
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Observations:
Based on staff interviews and a review of employee credentials, it was determined the facility failed to ensure the Registered Dietitian (RD) provided the required on-site supervisory oversight of the Food and Nutrition Services Department.
Findings include:
A review of a facility provided job description for the Registered Dietitian (RD) indicated that the primary purpose of the position is to implement, coordinate, and evaluate the medical nutrition therapy for the residents, provide resident, and family education, provide nutritional assessment and consultation to assist planning, organizing, and directing the food and nutritional services of the facility. Functions of the RD included to perform administrative duties such as completing necessary forms, reports, evaluations, studies, etc., to assure control of the Food Service Department, inspect food storage rooms, utility/janitorial closets, etc., for upkeep and supply control, participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies, assist in developing methods for determining quality and quantity of food served, and participate in Quality Assurance programs, and any facility committee or program, which seeks to improve the performance or accuracy of resident care.
During an interview conducted on November 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM, the Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) confirmed the facility's full-time RD had been hired on October 7, 2024. The NHA confirmed that the facility did not employ a qualified dietary manager at the time of the survey.
The NHA further stated that the RD did not complete on-site supervisory duties for the Food and Nutrition Services Department. These duties would include direct oversight of kitchen operations, review of meal service, staff training, completion of required observations for nutritional assessments, and monitoring of food and nutrition systems to ensure resident needs were met. The NHA confirmed that this oversight did not occur on-site.
The information provided by the NHA on November 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM and the review of the RD job description showed that supervisory responsibilities for the Food and Nutrition Services Department were assigned to the RD, and the RD was not on-site performing these responsibilities. The absence of on-site supervisory involvement by a qualified professional meant food service practices, staff procedures, and resident nutritional evaluations were not directly overseen by the individual identified as responsible for these functions.
Cross Refer F804 and F812
28 Pa. Code 201.14(a) Responsibility of licensee.
28 Pa Code 201.18 (b)(1) Management.
| | Plan of Correction - To be completed: 12/23/2025
The facility cannot retroactively correct the absence of on-site supervisory duties for the Food and Nutrition Services Department. The job description will be reviewed with the Dietitian for an understanding of providing on-site supervisory duties for the Food and Nutrition Services Department. The facility will make a good faith effort to recruit and hire a qualified individual to oversee the Food and Nutrition Services Department. The Dietitian/designee and the NHA/designee will be completing including but not limited to tray temperature audits, sanitation audits, and random meal rounds 2x weekly for 3 months for compliance of on-site supervisory duties. The NHA/designee will conduct weekly meetings with the Dietitian to verify the on-site supervisory duties to include but not limited to review of meal service, completion of observations for nutritional assessments, and the monitoring of food and nutrition systems until a qualified Food Service Director can be hired. The weekly meetings and food and nutrition audits will be reviewed at monthly QAPI x 3 months.
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