Failure to Timely Refer Resident for Dental Services
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to refer a resident with worn down dentures for dental services in a timely manner. The resident repeatedly reported issues with chewing, sore gums, and difficulty eating due to ill-fitting dentures. These concerns were documented by the Registered Dietitian (RD) on multiple occasions, who also notified the kitchen, speech language pathologist (SLP), and activities personnel. However, there was no documentation indicating that any dental follow-up was initiated by these staff members. The SLP assessed the resident and recommended a change to a pureed diet due to the denture issues, but did not document any referral for dental services. The Social Worker Assistant (SW) was unaware of the resident's dental concerns until several months after the initial reports, indicating a breakdown in communication among staff. The Director of Nursing (DON) acknowledged that interventions to address the resident's dental needs were delayed. Despite the resident's ongoing complaints and requests for new dentures, no timely action was taken to ensure the resident received appropriate dental care, resulting in a deficiency related to the provision and coordination of dental services.