Failure to Provide Timely Dental Services After Resident Request
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide dental services for a resident who was admitted with diagnoses including heart failure and kidney disease. During a care conference, the resident requested a dental appointment, and the care plan documented oral/dental health problems with instructions for staff to coordinate dental care and transportation as needed. Despite these documented needs and requests, the resident reported that staff had not scheduled the dental appointment after repeated requests. The staff member responsible for making dental appointments acknowledged that the resident's request was made during the care conference but confirmed that the appointment was not scheduled. The regional nurse stated that the expectation was for staff to follow up with a dental appointment immediately when requested by residents.