F695—Respiratory & Tracheostomy Care in LTC
In today’s skilled nursing environment, respiratory and tracheostomy care isn’t just a specialized service—it’s an essential competency. With increasing acuity among residents and heightened regulatory scrutiny, facilities must ensure staff are not only trained, but consistently compliant in delivering needed respiratory care. Unfortunately, that’s not always what we see during surveys. Between humidifier bottle labeling issues, poor documentation practices, and a general lack of awareness around sterile technique and equipment maintenance, respiratory-related deficiencies are showing up more often—and they’re hitting facilities with “potential for actual harm” tags that could have been easily prevented. Let’s review strategies to avoid these pitfalls.
Top Deficiency Trends in Respiratory/Tracheostomy Care
- Unlabeled sterile water bottles for humidified oxygen, which poses contamination risks
- Failure to document equipment changes or verify respiratory supplies are dated and properly maintained
- Improper care of tracheostomy sites, including suctioning technique, dressing changes, and infection control lapses
- Lack of staff training or competency validation in trach and oxygen administration procedures
Respiratory Care Focus
Respiratory needs in LTC have changed over time. Facilities now routinely admit residents with trachs, ventilators, and chronic oxygen needs. And while the equipment may be familiar, the standards and expectations around their use continue to evolve. Focus your training and QAPI efforts on:
- Interdisciplinary coordination for residents with respiratory needs
- Maintaining thorough care plans and real-time documentation
- Monitoring infection control practices and humidification equipment
- Regular assessment of staff competencies—don’t assume staff are following correct protocols just because they’ve “done it before”
Next Steps to Boost Your Team’s Respiratory Care Confidence
Join Proactive’s webinar Respiratory & Tracheostomy Care: Preventing Deficiencies and Ensuring Best Practice on August 12, 2025. You’ll get actionable guidance and real-world examples from recent citations of F695. If your facility provides care to residents with oxygen, nebulizers, or tracheostomies—you need this training.
Written By:
Shelly Maffia, MSN, MBA, RN, LNHA, QCP, CHC, CPC, CLNC
Director of Regulatory Services
Proactive LTC Consulting
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