NEW IBERIA, LA - Federal inspectors cited Belle Teche Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for electrical safety violations after discovering an exposed outlet near a resident's bed that remained unrepaired for multiple days.
Missing Safety Equipment Creates Electrical Hazard
During a May 2025 inspection, surveyors found an electrical outlet without a protective cover plate in a resident's room. The exposed outlet was positioned within arm's reach of the bed, creating potential shock and electrocution risks for the vulnerable resident.
The violation was documented over a two-day period. On May 19th at 12:30 p.m., inspectors first observed the missing safety plate. When they returned the following day at 9:21 a.m., the electrical hazard remained unaddressed.
Electrical outlets without proper covers pose serious risks in healthcare settings. Exposed wiring can cause electrical shock, burns, or electrocution, particularly dangerous for elderly residents who may have compromised mobility or cognitive awareness. Standard safety protocols require all electrical outlets to have secure cover plates to prevent accidental contact with live wires.
Staff Claims Contradict Maintenance Records
When questioned about the safety hazard, nursing staff initially claimed they had submitted a work order for repairs. A Licensed Practical Nurse told inspectors on May 20th that maintenance had been notified about the missing outlet plate.
However, inspection of the facility's maintenance logs revealed a different story. Surveyors reviewed records from January 2025 through the inspection date with maintenance staff, the charge nurse, and the LPN present. The documentation showed no work order had been submitted for the electrical plate replacement.
When confronted with this evidence, both the LPN and charge nurse confirmed that no work order had actually been filed with maintenance staff. This discrepancy raises questions about the facility's communication systems and safety reporting procedures.
Electrical Safety Standards in Long-Term Care
Healthcare facilities must maintain strict electrical safety standards to protect residents. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires nursing homes to keep all essential equipment in safe operating condition, including basic electrical infrastructure like outlet covers.
Missing outlet plates represent a fundamental safety oversight. Proper electrical maintenance includes regular inspections of all outlets, switches, and covers throughout the facility. When damage or missing components are discovered, immediate temporary protection should be provided while permanent repairs are scheduled.
The facility's failure to address this hazard promptly, combined with the lack of proper work order documentation, indicates potential gaps in their safety maintenance protocols. Effective maintenance programs require clear reporting procedures, prompt response times, and accurate record-keeping to ensure resident safety.
Federal Oversight and Facility Response
The violation was classified as causing minimal harm with potential for actual harm, affecting few residents. While this specific incident involved one resident, the underlying maintenance and communication issues could impact facility-wide safety standards.
Federal inspectors documented this finding as part of their comprehensive evaluation of the facility's compliance with Medicare and Medicaid safety requirements. Nursing homes must demonstrate they can provide safe environments for their residents to maintain their federal certification.
The facility will be required to submit a plan of correction addressing how they will prevent similar electrical safety violations in the future. This typically includes staff retraining, improved maintenance procedures, and enhanced monitoring systems.
Belle Teche Nursing & Rehabilitation Center must demonstrate that all electrical outlets throughout the facility have proper safety covers and that their maintenance reporting systems function effectively. The incident highlights the importance of routine safety inspections and prompt response to identified hazards in long-term care settings.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Belle Teche Nursing & Rehabilitation Center from 2025-05-21 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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