Failure to Secure Transportation for Radiology Appointments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to assist Resident R1 in securing transportation to a radiology appointment, as required by their policies. Resident R1, who was admitted to the facility with diagnoses including high blood pressure, dementia, and age-related physical debility, missed several scheduled CT scans and a biopsy due to the facility's inability to provide necessary transportation. The facility's policy mandates assistance in arranging transportation for services not covered, but Resident R1's appointments were missed because the facility did not have access to a bariatric stretcher and had not paid the transportation company. Interviews with staff revealed that the facility was unable to secure transportation from early February to late March due to nonpayment to the transportation company. The Director of Transportation and the Transportation Scheduler confirmed that Resident R1 missed appointments because the facility could not pay for the transport service that provided a bariatric stretcher. The Director of Nursing also confirmed the facility's failure to obtain transportation for Resident R1's radiology appointments, which was necessary for determining a potential cancer diagnosis.
Plan Of Correction
1. The third-party transportation vendor was returned to service. Resident R1 attended their scheduled appointment with no negative effect to care identified. 2. An audit will be conducted to identify Residents who require appointments and to ensure, in the event the in-house fleet is unable to accommodate the trip, that the trip be made timely by a third-party transportation vendor. 3. The NHA will re-inservice the transportation director to ensure Residents who require appointments and to ensure, in the event the in-house fleet is unable to accommodate the trip, that the trip be made timely by a third-party transportation vendor. 4. Residents who require transportation to an appointment will be audited for two weeks by the transportation director. Audit findings will be shared with QAPI.