Failure to Obtain Dental Services for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to obtain necessary dental services for a resident who had been admitted with a history of stroke and diabetes. The resident's care plan indicated significant dental needs, including missing upper teeth and most lower teeth, with interventions specifying coordination of dental care and transportation. Despite these documented needs, there was no evidence in the resident's medical record that a dental appointment had been scheduled or completed. Observations confirmed the resident was missing upper teeth and had chipped and worn lower teeth. The resident reported repeatedly requesting assistance from the Social Service Director over a four-month period to schedule an appointment with an outside dental provider for removal of tooth fragments and remaining lower teeth, in order to be fitted for dentures. Both the Social Service Director and the LPN-Care Manager acknowledged awareness of the resident's requests but confirmed that no appointment had been scheduled. The Director of Nursing Services also confirmed that the dental appointment had not yet been arranged and stated that it should have been scheduled more promptly.