Failure to Provide Interpreter Services During Resident Assessment
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident whose primary language was Cantonese was not provided with interpretation services during their admission nutrition assessment. The facility's policies required the use of telephonic interpreters or a language bank to ensure adequate communication for residents with limited English proficiency. Despite these policies, the resident, who was cognitively intact and did not speak English, reported that no interpreter was used during their assessment. Documentation confirmed that the resident's preferred language was Cantonese and that they needed or wanted an interpreter to communicate with healthcare staff. The care plan also specified the use of interpreter services to reduce language barriers. Interviews with facility staff, including the assigned Certified Nursing Assistant and the Registered Dietitian, revealed that the Registered Dietitian did not use the language line or language bank staff when completing the Minimum Data Set assessment for the resident. The Registered Dietitian acknowledged this omission and stated that the language line should have been used. The facility administrator confirmed that interpreter services and language bank staff were available and that staff were expected to use these resources for non-English speaking residents. Despite the presence of signage and available resources, the required interpretation services were not utilized during the assessment.