Failure to Provide Vital Documents in Resident's Primary Language
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide vital documents in the primary language of a resident whose preferred and primary language was Spanish. Review of the resident's admission record and social history assessment confirmed Spanish as the resident's primary language. However, the Admissions Agreement provided to the resident was in English, and the facility did not have a Spanish version available. The Admissions Coordinator confirmed that the facility does not have an Admissions Agreement in Spanish. Additionally, the resident's hospital record indicated a need for an interpreter, and the Director of Nursing acknowledged that vital documents should have been provided in Spanish. The facility's policy on translation and interpretation services requires that individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access to information and services, including written translation of vital information such as admission agreements. The policy also specifies that when written translation is unavailable, oral translation should be provided, and that family members should not be relied upon for interpretation unless explicitly requested by the resident. In this case, the facility did not provide the required written or oral translation of vital documents to the resident in their primary language.