Failure to Notify Ombudsman of Resident Transfers
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to comply with the regulatory requirement to provide a transfer notice to a representative of the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Division for four residents. This deficiency was identified through clinical record reviews and staff interviews. The residents involved were transferred to the hospital on various dates, but there was no documented evidence that the required written transfer notification was sent to the Ombudsman. Resident R1, admitted on January 10, 2023, with diagnoses including hemiplegia, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, was transferred to the hospital on August 27, 2024. Similarly, Resident R18, admitted on August 22, 2024, with high blood pressure, anemia, and urine retention, was transferred on October 8, 2024. Resident R27, admitted on September 16, 2024, with congestive heart failure, respiratory failure, and diabetes mellitus, was transferred on September 1, 2024. Lastly, Resident R32, admitted on January 7, 2025, with high blood pressure, hyponatremia, and respiratory failure, was transferred on January 16, 2025. During an interview, Secretary Employee E3 confirmed the facility's failure to provide the necessary transfer notices for these residents. This oversight indicates a lack of adherence to the regulatory requirements for notifying the Ombudsman about resident transfers, as mandated by the relevant sections of the Code of Federal Regulations and Pennsylvania Code.
Plan Of Correction
Assuming for the sake of this discussion, the validity of the deficiencies noted in the Department of Health's Statement of Deficiencies Report to St. Barnabas Nursing Home, Inc. for the Survey ending January 30, 2025, which St. Barnabas does not admit, we offer the following Plan of Correction. Nothing contained in the Plan of Correction shall/should be deemed an admission, either expressed or implied, on the part of St. Barnabas Nursing Home, Inc. as to the validity of the deficiencies noted in the report. The monthly letter on transfers/discharges has been corrected to be mailed to the correct location of the State Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The letter will continue to be completed monthly and as needed and submitted per email, at the request of the State Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman as opposed to submitting to the Allegheny County Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The transfers/discharges letter for December 2024 and January 2025 have already been submitted to the State Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman via email. Education provided to administrative staff by the Administrator. A Quality Assurance Program will be implemented to ensure the letter is sent to the correct location and will be monitored on a monthly basis for the next 3 months and reported to the QAPI Committee.