Failure to Assist Residents in Obtaining Dental Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to assist two cognitively intact residents in obtaining necessary dental services. For one resident, documentation showed a scheduled dental appointment that was not completed, and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the appointment was not rescheduled. This resident had previously returned from an oral surgery appointment and had a follow-up scheduled, but there was no evidence that the follow-up occurred or was rescheduled after being missed. For another resident, the facility lost the resident's dental partial during a room move and did not replace it. The resident reported the missing partial to the Administrator in Training, and a missing item form was completed. Although a dental appointment was scheduled, it was canceled by the dental provider, and there was no documentation of a rescheduled appointment or further action taken by the facility to address the resident's dental needs. The facility's own policy requires prompt referral and assistance for dental services, including documentation of actions taken if delays occur, but these steps were not followed.