Failure to Provide Routine Dental Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident received routine dental care as required. Review of the medical record for a resident admitted with multiple diagnoses, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, morbid obesity, uropathy, muscle weakness, anemia, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, major depressive disorder, tachycardia, edema, chronic ulcer, and cellulitis, showed no evidence of routine dental care provided from admission through a period of over six months. The resident was cognitively intact, independent with eating, and required set up assistance with eating and oral hygiene. Both the resident and a staff member in medical records confirmed that no routine dental care had been received during this time. Facility policy stated that assistance would be provided to obtain routine dental services, but this was not followed for the resident in question.