Failure to Provide Timely Dental Services for Resident with Denture Issues
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to promptly provide dental services for a resident who experienced pain and difficulty when wearing dentures. The resident, who had a history of hypertension, dysphagia, protein-calorie malnutrition, and bipolar disorder, reported that her dentures did not fit for months and caused pain when eating. She stated that she had informed staff about her inability to chew food due to the pain, but no dental referral was set up. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) 1 confirmed that the resident had complained about denture pain on multiple occasions and that these concerns were reported to Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) 3 and 4. However, LVN 3 admitted to only notifying the Speech Therapist and not the attending physician or Social Services Director (SSD), which was necessary for initiating a dental referral. The SSD was unaware of the resident's denture issue and emphasized the importance of timely communication to resolve such problems. Speech Therapy notes indicated that the resident's dentures were loose and that she did not want to wear them, but it could not be confirmed if this information was communicated to nursing staff or SSD. The resident's care plan included monitoring dental condition and referring for evaluation if needed, and the facility's policy required dental referrals within three days for damaged or lost dentures. Despite these protocols, there was a delay in addressing the resident's dental needs, resulting in ongoing pain and poor food intake.