Failure to Provide Medically-Related Social Services After Traumatic Incident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when the facility failed to provide medically-related social services to a resident with a history of Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder. The resident experienced a traumatic incident when she fell from a van while being transported for a medical appointment, resulting in her being evaluated and treated in the emergency room. Following the incident, the resident exhibited ongoing psychological distress, including preoccupation with the fall, repeated questioning, and a desire to speak with a counselor. Despite a psychiatric evaluation recommending psychological counseling for the resident due to her persistent distress after the fall, the facility did not arrange for such services. An interview with a social service employee confirmed that the facility had not had a counseling service available since the previous year and had not set up a counseling appointment for the resident. This lack of action resulted in the failure to provide necessary medically-related social services as required.