Rancho Mesa Care Center

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at Rancho Mesa Care Center, in the surveyor’s own words.

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF727Sep 18, 2025

  Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to provide the services of a Registered Nurse (RN) for 8 consecutive hours for 15 sampled days during the fiscal year Quarter 4 of 2024 (July 1 - September 30) and Quarter 3 of 2025 (April 1 - June 30).This failure had the potential for all residents living in the facility to not receive services and advanced care activities specifically performed by a registered nurse including resident assessments, administration of intravenous medications, and general oversight of the residents' clinical needs either directly by the RN or indirectly by the Licensed Vocational Nurses or Certified Nursing Assistants for whom the RN was responsible for overseeing resident care.During a review of the facility's report titled, Payroll-Based Journal… […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF803Aug 9, 2024

  Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to follow the menu on Monday August 5, 2024, for lunch for 45 residents when: 1. The cook served 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes instead of 1/3 cup as indicated on the menu for the CCHO (carbohydrate controlled- diet involves eating the same number of carbohydrates every day, and the purpose is to help people manage their blood sugar levels) diets. 2. Facility did not have a way to ensure 4 oz (ounce - unit of measure) of meat was served for residents on the CCHO and regular diets, for lunch on August 5, 2024, as indicated on the menu. These failures have the potential for 45 of 52 highly vulnerable residents to have altered nutrition intake and weight loss. Findings: 1. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Aug 9, 2024

  Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure food was stored/prepared under sanitary conditions when: 1. Shelf under coffee maker had crumbs and dust and this had the potential to attract pests and for microorganism (bacteria) growth. 2. Floor under shelves in the dry storage had a build-up of food crumbs, white crumbs under one shelf and a liquid spill which can attract pests and cause microorganism growth. 3. Old food and dust under the fridges stored in the staff lounge and this had the potential to attract pests and microorganism growth. 4. Ice machine had some black and yellow discoloration in the area where ice is formed which can potentially contaminate the ice. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Jun 29, 2023

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure safe and sanitary food preparation and storage practices in the kitchen when: 1. Three oranges and seven onions with mold were found in the kitchen inside of a plastic box. 2. A box of 14 yellow squash was wet and leaking inside of the refrigerator, that was stored in the central supply room. 3. Thirty two ounces (unit of weight) of plain yogurt container found inside the refrigerator expired. 4. The ice machine was found dusty outside and inside with dark black stain seen on both sides of the ice maker tray. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF880Jun 29, 2023

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure their infection control practices were implemented in accordance with their policy and procedure when: 1. One of the kitchen sink air gaps (a form of backflow prevention device) had black, brown grime. 2. Two bar guns (a device used to serve types of carbonated drinks and non-cabonated drinks) were found to contain red residual fluid and were not clear. These failures had the potential to spread infectious disease (disease caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasite) to 56 medically compromised residents and staff in the facility. Findings: 1. During a concurrent observation and interview on June 27, 2023, at 12:55 PM, with the Dietary Aide (DA 3), the kitchen sink air gap had black, brown grime. […]