Failure to Provide Audiology Services for Resident with Hearing Loss
Penalty
Summary
A resident with a diagnosis of unspecified bilateral hearing loss was observed to have significant difficulty hearing, requiring the use of a whiteboard for communication with staff. During interviews, the resident confirmed not having hearing aids and reported not having seen an audiologist since admission to the facility. Review of the resident's medical records and care plan confirmed the presence of hearing loss, with interventions limited to the use of a whiteboard for communication. Further review of the resident's Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment indicated moderate hearing difficulty, yet there was no documentation of an audiology consultation since the resident's admission. The Clinical Service Director acknowledged that the facility had not ordered an audiology consult to assess the resident's hearing. This lack of referral and assessment resulted in the resident not receiving appropriate audiology services to address their hearing loss.