Failure to Assist Resident in Obtaining Requested Dental Services
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to assist a resident in obtaining requested dental services, as required by facility policy. The resident, who had paraplegia and type 2 diabetes, was cognitively intact and had no documented dental issues such as cavities, broken teeth, dentures, or bridges on the admission MDS and Nursing Admit/Re-admit Data collection. However, the Nursing Admit/Re-admit Data form included a comment that the resident would like to pursue dental care. Despite this documented request, there was no evidence in the medical record of any attempts to arrange a dental appointment. During interviews, the resident reported that no one at the facility had worked with him to make a dental appointment, although he stated he had informed the clinical care leader RN. The clinical care leader RN confirmed she completed the Nursing Admit/Re-admit Data and acknowledged that county case workers managed the resident and that either they or the DON would have to approve a dental appointment, describing it as a process. She was unable to articulate the process for obtaining a dental appointment when requested by a resident and was unsure who was responsible for initiating it. Review of the resident’s record by the clinical care leader RN did not reveal any documentation of efforts to set up a dental visit, despite the facility’s policy stating that the location provides or obtains routine and 24-hour emergency dental services and assists residents, when necessary, in making appointments and arranging transportation and referrals.
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