HospitalInspections.org

Based on interviews and a review of facility policies and physician credentials, it was determined the facility failed to ensure that a dentist would be provided or obtained from an outside resource to provide routine and emergency dental services to meet the needs of each resident.

The findings include:

Review of facility policy titled "Dental Care Services" revealed the facility would provide needed dental services to hospital and swing bed patients. According to the policy, the hospital would make arrangements, as necessary, to assist patients to obtain routine and emergency dental care. Further review of the policy revealed the physician or charge nurse would arrange for emergency dental care when a patient's attending dentist was not available.

A review of physician credentials on 02/28/14 revealed the facility did not have a physician on staff that was privileged to provide dental services to residents/patients in the facility.

Interview on 02/28/14 at 3:00 PM with the Administrative Assistant revealed she conducted reviews of physician credentials prior to the appointment of a physician to provide services at the facility. The Administrative Assistant stated the facility did not have a physician on staff that was privileged to practice dentistry. According to the Administrative Assistant, the dental contract had expired in 2010 and was never renewed.

Interview with the Interim Director of Nursing (DON)/Charge Nurse on 02/27/14 at 1:20 PM revealed the facility's Dentist Contract had expired and had not been renewed. The DON/Charge Nurse stated, "I don't know what we would do if a swing bed patient needed a dentist."

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) stated in interview on 02/28/14 at 2:55 PM that the facility's failure to have a current contract with a Dentist to ensure dental services were provided was "an oversight that needed corrected."