Failure to Provide Trauma-Informed, Culturally Competent Care for Residents with PTSD
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide trauma-informed and culturally competent care for two residents diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as required by professional standards and facility policy. Both residents had care plans that referenced PTSD as a diagnosis but did not identify or address their specific trauma-related needs, preferences, or triggers. For one resident with schizophrenia and severe cognitive impairment, the care plan listed general problems such as risk for falls, chronic pain, and behavior issues related to PTSD, but interventions were limited to medication administration, anticipating needs, and general encouragement, without individualized strategies to prevent re-traumatization. For the other resident, who had intact cognition and diagnoses of dementia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, the care plan similarly focused on medication management and general behavioral interventions, without specifying trauma-informed approaches or identifying personal triggers. Interviews with the Director of Nursing confirmed that while PTSD was acknowledged in the care plans, there was no specific focus on the unique needs associated with the diagnosis. The facility's policy outlined the importance of individualized assessment, care planning, and interventions to prevent re-traumatization and support healing, but these were not implemented for the residents in question. The deficiency was cited under regulations related to nursing services, resident care planning, and social services.