Resident Diet Order and Tray Card Audit

Audit to verify resident tray cards and meal tickets accurately reflect current diet orders, allergies, textures, and documented preferences at the point of service.

Audit Details and Scope

• Meal period identified
• Unit/wing or service area identified
• Number of resident trays reviewed
• Current diet order source verified
  Confirm the source used for comparison, such as the electronic health record, diet office report, or current meal ticket list.

Diet Order Match

• Tray card matches current ordered diet
  Diet type on the tray card matches the active diet order exactly, including regular, diabetic, renal, cardiac, puree, mechanical soft, or other ordered diet.
• Therapeutic diet restrictions are reflected
  Any ordered restrictions such as sodium, carbohydrate, fluid, potassium, or protein limits are shown on the tray card or meal ticket.
• Recent diet changes have been updated on tray card
  Verify new orders, discontinued orders, or temporary diet changes are reflected on the tray card before service.
• NPO or hold status is correctly identified
  Residents who are NPO, on hold, or otherwise restricted from receiving a tray are clearly flagged and excluded from service.
• Diet order discrepancy count
  Enter the number of trays reviewed that did not match the current diet order.

Allergy and Safety Alerts

• Documented food allergies are displayed
  All active food allergies are visible on the tray card or meal ticket and match the resident record.
• High-risk allergens are clearly flagged
  Major allergens are highlighted in a way that is readily visible to foodservice staff at point of service.
• Allergy information matches current resident record
  The allergy list on the tray card matches the current chart or diet order without omissions or outdated entries.
• Cross-contact precautions are noted when required
  If the resident requires allergen precautions, the tray card or meal ticket indicates the need for special handling or separate preparation.

Texture, Consistency, and Preferences

• Texture modification matches order
  Texture level on the tray card matches the current order, such as regular, chopped, ground, minced, puree, or other facility-approved texture.
• Fluid consistency matches order
  Any ordered liquid thickness, such as thin, nectar, honey, or pudding, is shown correctly on the tray card or meal ticket.
• Resident preferences are documented when applicable
  Documented preferences that affect service, such as no pork, no fish, no milk, or preferred beverage substitutions, are reflected when approved by policy.
• Special serving instructions are visible
  Instructions such as cut-up food, separate condiments, no straws, or adaptive dining notes are visible to the tray line or delivery staff.

Tray Card Accuracy, Delivery, and Corrective Actions

• Tray card and meal ticket are legible and current
  The printed or electronic tray card is readable, current, and not obscured, torn, or outdated.
• Any discrepancy was corrected before tray delivery
  If a mismatch was found, confirm the tray was held and corrected before reaching the resident.
• Corrective action documented for all non-conformances
  Record the cause, immediate correction, and follow-up action for each tray card discrepancy found during the audit.
• Inspector signature