Failure to Coordinate PASARR Screening for Resident with Mental Disorder
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to coordinate assessments with the Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASARR) program for a resident with newly evident or possible severe mental disorder. Specifically, a male resident with diagnoses of bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder was not referred for a Level I PASARR screen after being diagnosed with a mental disorder. Record reviews showed that the resident had active diagnoses of psychiatric mood disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, and was receiving medication for hallucinations and paranoia. Despite these documented mental health conditions, there was no evidence that the required PASARR screening was completed. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the MDS coordinator, who was responsible for referring and screening residents for Level I PASARR, was unaware of the resident's mental illness due to not having reviewed all residents' active diagnoses. The DON confirmed that the MDS coordinator should have referred the resident for evaluation in accordance with facility policy. Facility policy required PASARR screening for all individuals with mental illness, but this process was not followed for the resident in question.