Failure to Provide Prescribed Speech Therapy Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a resident with the specialized rehabilitative services of speech therapy as required by the resident’s plan of treatment. The resident, who had a history of encephalopathy, aphasia, dysarthria, cerebral infarction, dysphagia, hemiplegia, and cognitive impairment, was admitted with significant communication challenges. The speech therapy plan called for treatment five times a week for six weeks, but documentation showed inconsistent delivery of services, with the resident receiving therapy fewer times than prescribed in several weeks. The speech therapy discharge summary included recommendations for ongoing strategies and caregiver training to support the resident’s communication needs. However, interviews with the Rehabilitation Director revealed uncertainty about what specific training was provided to caregivers, which caregivers received it, and whether any visual aids or communication tools were supplied to the resident. The Rehabilitation Director also confirmed that the lack of a full-time speech therapist led to irregular therapy sessions, as services were only provided when a therapist was available. The resident expressed ongoing frustration and difficulty with communication, both with family and caregivers, and indicated a need for additional speech therapy. Observations during interviews confirmed the resident’s communication struggles and emotional distress related to these challenges. The deficiency was identified during a complaint investigation and affected one resident reviewed for therapy services.