Failure to Assist Resident in Accessing Hearing Services
Penalty
Fine: $50,164
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Summary
A resident who had been diagnosed with abnormal auditory perceptions in the left ear and was identified as a good candidate for bilateral hearing aids requested to be seen by an audiologist due to worsening hearing. Despite the resident's expressed concerns and a documented need for hearing services, the facility failed to make an appointment with the audiologist as requested. The resident's Durable Power of Attorney confirmed ongoing communication difficulties, and staff acknowledged that the request for a hearing consult was not acted upon. Facility policy required that outside clinical services be provided as ordered and available, but this was not followed in this instance.