Failure to Provide Timely Dental Services for Resident with Dental Pain
Penalty
Summary
A resident with diagnoses including legal blindness and a disorder of teeth and supporting structures reported experiencing intermittent dental pain. The resident had requested a dental appointment approximately two months prior but had not received any follow-up or information regarding the request. Review of the provider's progress note indicated the resident had a broken tooth and poor dentition, with a recommendation to schedule a follow-up appointment for extractions. However, there were no physician orders for dental services documented in the medical record from the time of the provider's note through the survey period. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of awareness and action regarding the resident's dental needs. The Health Unit Clerk was unaware of the resident's request and found no dental orders in the chart. A licensed nurse confirmed the resident had previously cancelled dental appointments due to not feeling well but had no upcoming appointments scheduled. The Director of Nursing stated that the physician should have entered the necessary orders for a dental appointment. The facility's policy requires assistance in making dental appointments and provision of dental services, but these steps were not followed for this resident.