Failure to Schedule Timely Medical Follow-Ups
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that two residents received timely follow-up medical care as recommended by their healthcare providers, leading to significant health complications. Resident #22, a male with a history of esophageal obstruction and other related conditions, was discharged with instructions to have an esophageal stent removed within 4-6 weeks. However, the facility did not schedule the follow-up appointment until 10 weeks later, by which time the stent had migrated into the stomach, necessitating an unplanned removal procedure that caused traumatic dilation of the esophagus. Similarly, Resident #5, a female with a history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and myocardial infarction, was discharged with instructions to follow up with a cardiologist within 1-2 weeks. The facility failed to schedule this appointment, and the resident did not see a cardiologist until a hospitalization several months later for heart health issues. The delay in follow-up care was attributed to a failure in the facility's process for managing medical appointments, as the necessary paperwork was not uploaded correctly, and the appointment was not rescheduled after being canceled. Interviews with facility staff, including the Director of Nursing (DON) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), revealed a lack of clarity and responsibility in scheduling follow-up appointments. The DON acknowledged that the facility should have intervened to ensure timely appointments and that the nursing staff should have been responsible for making these appointments. The failure to adhere to professional standards of practice in scheduling necessary medical follow-ups placed residents at risk for delayed treatment and diminished quality of care.
Removal Plan
- Resident #22 was assessed by licensed nurse, no adverse reactions noted.
- Resident #5 was assessed by licensed nurse, no adverse reactions noted.
- Licensed nurses physically present were educated in person regarding the community process for scheduling consults and medical appointments. Training conducted by DON and/or ADON.
- Licensed nursing staff not physically present, to include those that are PRN and on leave, were contacted by the Administrator, ADON and/or DON via phone and provided education regarding the communities process on scheduling consults and medical appointments.
- All licensed staff will be required to have training on community process of resident appointments before assuming resident care responsibilities.
- Licensed nurse, ADON and/or DON will review documentation from the hospital to confirm appointments are scheduled in the timeframe requested for new residents.
- Upon return from appointments, Licensed nurse, ADON and/or DON will review documentation from resident appointments to confirm appointments are scheduled in the timeframe requested if follow up is documented for current residents.
- Once documentation is reviewed, the Licensed Nurse, ADON or DON will enter an order into Point Click Care that will include the appointment details per the documentation received from the hospital and/or the appointment.
- DON and/or ADON will review orders the following business day and ensure that appointments are made per the recommendations of the physician.
- DON, ADON or Licensed Nurse will enter progress note after appointment is confirmed to ensure staff have the details for the appointment.
- If doctor/clinic is unable to coordinate in the specified timeframe, DON, ADON or Licensed Nurse will work with the resident/family and physician to locate a different provider that can accommodate their needs if physician deems necessary.
- If an appointment is made outside of the timeframe requested by the physician, the DON, ADON or Licensed Nurse will enter a progress note explaining the reason for the delay and confirm attending physician.
- The DON, ADON, MDS Coordinator or other designee will review re-admission paperwork as a secondary review from admitting nurse to ensure that residents care is followed up.
- When the community is notified of a cancelled appointment, they will follow the process and enter a new order into PCC, stating that appointment was cancelled and needs to be rescheduled.
- Appointments will be maintained in a calendar book to be located at nurses' station for appointment tracking.
- DON, ADON or other designee will be responsible for ensuring calendar is up to date and will be reviewed no less than three times a week.
- The process outlined above was reviewed by the Director of Nursing, Nursing Home Administrator and Medical Director during an Ad Hoc QAPI meeting.
- The Administrator will be responsible for monitoring the above actions for compliance which will be an ongoing process.
- The Administrator will complete an audit no less than one time per month and a report of findings will be reported to the facility's QAPI committee no less than one time per month for six months.
Penalty
Resources
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