F 0689
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to
prevent accidents.
Level of Harm - Immediate
jeopardy to resident health or
safety
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on a
review of facility policy, observation, interviews with residents and staff, and review of facility
Residents Affected - Many
documentation, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure water temperatures in the central shower
room and
resident bathroom sinks were maintained at a safe temperature for the Transitional Skilled Unit (TSU). This
failure
placed residents on the TSU at risk for serious injury from thermal burns and resulted in an Immediate
Jeopardy situation.
Findings include:
Review of facility policy titled, Water Intrusion Response Algorithm, dated April 7, 2025, revealed that the
facility
was to maintain hot water temperatures allowable by state regulations or codes for nursing care facilities
between 95
degrees Fahrenheit (F) and 110 degrees F to help minimize the risk of scalding.
Observation of the TSU, on April 15, 2025, between 12:30 p.m. and 12:50 p.m., with the Employee 1
(Facilities Management) and Employee E2 (Engineering Maintenance), revealed the following:
In room [ROOM NUMBER], the hot water from the resident hand sink in the bathroom was 122.5 degrees
F.
In room [ROOM NUMBER], the hot water from the resident hand sink in the bathroom was 126.1 degrees
F.
In room [ROOM NUMBER], the hot water from the resident hand sink in the bathroom was 125.0 degrees
F.
In room [ROOM NUMBER], the hot water from the resident hand sink in the bathroom was 130.0 degrees
F.
(continued on next page)
Any deficiency statement ending with an asterisk (*) denotes a deficiency which the institution may be excused from correcting providing it is determined that other
safeguards provide sufficient protection to the patients. (See instructions.) Except for nursing homes, the findings stated above are disclosable 90 days following the
date of survey whether or not a plan of correction is provided. For nursing homes, the above findings and plans of correction are disclosable 14 days following the date
these documents are made available to the facility. If deficiencies are cited, an approved plan of correction is requisite to continued program participation.
LABORATORY DIRECTOR'S OR PROVIDER/SUPPLIER
REPRESENTATIVE'S SIGNATURE
TITLE
(X6) DATE
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Facility ID:
If continuation sheet
Page 1 of 4
Event ID:
395951
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
395951
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
04/16/2025
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Lehigh Valley Hospital Tsu
17th & Chew Sts
Allentown, PA 18105
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0689
In room [ROOM NUMBER], the hot water from resident hand sink in the bathroom was 134.2 degrees F.
Level of Harm - Immediate
jeopardy to resident health or
safety
In room [ROOM NUMBER], the hot water from the resident hand sink was 125.1 degrees F.
Residents Affected - Many
Observation of the thermostatic mixing valves (valves that blend hot water with cold water to ensure
constant, safe shower and bath outlet temperatures to prevent scalding, using a built-in thermostat to
control the temperature of the mixed water) on April 15, 2025, at 12:52 p.m., with Employee E1 and
Employee E2, revealed the temperature on two of three thermostatic mixing valves was identified between
120 and 130 degrees F. At the time of the observation, Employee E1, stated that the thermostatic mixing
valves should not exceed 110 degrees F, and that the mixing valves regulated the hot water to all residents'
rooms, the shower room, and all care areas on the TSU. He further stated that the temperatures were to be
recorded weekly.
A review of March and April 2025 water temperature logs revealed hot water temperatures were not
recorded.
In an interview on April 15, 2025, at 12:15 p.m., Resident 5, stated that the hot water from his hand sink
inside his bathroom was too hot.
During interviews on April 15, 2025, between 1:35 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., Residents 33, 35, 83, and 84 stated
that the hot water was too hot and they were able to independently use the hand sink in their rooms.
In an interview on April 15, 2025, at 2:05 p.m., a nurse aide (Employee 3) stated that the hot water
temperatures in the shower rooms had been too hot for up to two months.
In an interview on April 15, 2025, at 2:10 p.m., a nurse aide (Employee 4) stated that the hot water
temperatures in the shower rooms had been too hot for a few weeks, and that there were no thermometers
available to check the water temperature prior to providing showers.
During an interview on April 15, 2025, at 2:24 p.m., the occupational therapist (Employee 12) stated that no
thermometers were available in resident shower rooms.
Based on the above findings, notification of Immediate Jeopardy to the safety of the residents on the TSU
was provided to the Nursing Home Administrator on April 15, 2025, at 3:35 p.m., for failure to ensure that
hot water temperatures were maintained to ensure the safety of residents in the facility. The Nursing Home
Administrator was provided with the Immediate Jeopardy Template (document which included information
necessary to establish each of the key components of immediate jeopardy) and an immediate action plan
was requested.
On April 15, 2025, at 6:15 p.m., the facility provided the following corrective action plan.
- At 1:00 p.m., when the TSU was alerted regarding the high temperatures on the TSU, the facility also
identified that a bypass valve was left in the open position which prevented the hot and cold water from
mixing. The valve was immediately closed and high temperatures were reset. A lockout tag was installed on
the bypass valve to prevent the bypass valve from being placed in the open position.
- At 2:30 p.m., the water temperatures were rechecked after the bypass valve was closed and temperatures
were noted to be 106 degrees F.
(continued on next page)
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
395951
If continuation sheet
Page 2 of 4
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
395951
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
04/16/2025
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Lehigh Valley Hospital Tsu
17th & Chew Sts
Allentown, PA 18105
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0689
Level of Harm - Immediate
jeopardy to resident health or
safety
- The facility checked the sink water temperature in all resident rooms and shower rooms on the TSU after a
lockout tag was placed on the bypass valve. All temperatures were noted to be below the 110-degree F
threshold. There were no additional high temperatures identified.
- A policy for the TSU was to be developed to address water temperature safety and monitoring by April 16,
2025.
Residents Affected - Many
- Employees that were working on the day and evening shift were educated on the water temperature
policy, including acceptable hot water temperature ranges, appropriate methods to check hot water
temperatures, and measures to take if temperatures were outside acceptable parameters. All staff were to
be educated by the next shift worked.
Methods included:
- Water temperatures will be checked using a thermometer that is accessible and available on the unit prior
to assisting a resident in the shower.
- Facilities Management or designee will conduct random audits of a minimum of ten sinks daily for four
weeks. Water temperatures will be recorded.
- Facilities Management or designee will complete a daily log with visual inspection of the lockout tags
being in place.
- The logs (temperature and visual inspection) will be audited by the Nursing Home Administrator or
designee weekly. The team will review the findings with the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement
Committee for recommendations.
- Facilities Management will educate maintenance staff on temperature monitoring required for random
water temperature audits and on documentation of temperatures by the completion of their next shift.
- Staff will be re-educated on temperature monitoring required for showers by the Nursing Home
Administrator or designee by completion of the next working shift and documented on a sign-in sheet.
- If the water feels or measures out of range, engineering will be contacted for immediate correction.
- The Medical Director was updated on the Correction and Removal-Abatement Plan, as well as
occurrences of which this plan pertains. Monitoring will be initiated and completed by the Administrator
and/or designee as indicated above.
Maintenance and supervisory staff were observed checking water temperatures and completing audit logs.
Water temperature logs were reviewed and revealed appropriate water temperatures.
The water temperature policy was reviewed on April 16, 2025, and safe processes for monitoring water
temperatures had been developed.
Interviews were conducted on April 15, 2025, between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., with nursing staff. Nursing
staff were able to verbalize the facility's water policy, including that water temperatures
(continued on next page)
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
395951
If continuation sheet
Page 3 of 4
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
395951
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
04/16/2025
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Lehigh Valley Hospital Tsu
17th & Chew Sts
Allentown, PA 18105
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0689
Level of Harm - Immediate
jeopardy to resident health or
safety
Residents Affected - Many
should not exceed 110 degrees F, what to do prior to assisting a resident in the shower, what to do if water
temperatures were found to be too hot, and how to check water temperatures. The hot water on the TSU at
residents' hand sinks and in the Central Shower Room were tested and verified that they did not exceed
110 degrees F.
Following verification of the implementation of the immediate action plan, review of water temperature logs,
and review of staff education documentation, the Immediate Jeopardy was lifted on April 15, 2025, at 7:37
p.m.
28 Pa. code 201.14(a) Responsibility of licensee.
28 Pa. Code 201.18(b)(1)(3) Management.
28 Pa. Code 205.63(c) Plumbing and piping systems required for existing and new construction.
28 Pa. Code 211.12(d)(5) Nursing services.
.
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
395951
If continuation sheet
Page 4 of 4