Failure to Provide Required Transfer Notifications and Discharge Documentation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide required written notifications and documentation during resident transfers to the hospital for three residents. Specifically, there was no evidence that written notification of transfer was given to the residents or their representatives, nor was a bed-hold notice provided to the responsible parties. Additionally, the facility did not notify the ombudsman of these hospital transfers as mandated by regulation. These deficiencies were confirmed through review of clinical records and staff interviews. The residents involved had significant medical conditions at the time of transfer. One resident was cognitively intact with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was transferred to the hospital for acute respiratory failure. Another resident, who was severely cognitively impaired with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and a history of respiratory failure, was transferred after being found lethargic and difficult to arouse. The third resident, also cognitively intact but with paraplegia, respiratory failure, and pneumonia, was transferred due to difficulty breathing and was later diagnosed with sepsis in the hospital. In all three cases, the required notifications and documentation were not completed. Additionally, the facility failed to complete a post-discharge summary for another resident who was discharged back to a personal care home. The physician did not provide a discharge summary that included the diagnosis, course of treatment, and pertinent test results as required. The Director of Nursing confirmed these documentation and notification failures during an interview.
Plan Of Correction
Written notification of Resident 2's transfer to the hospital on November 18, 2024, was immediately provided by the new Social Services Director to Resident 2 and the resident's representative. Facility's new Social Service Director immediately provided Bed-hold notice to Resident 2's responsible party for her transfer to the hospital on November 18, 2024. Ombudsman was immediately notified by the facility's new Social Services Director, as required, of Resident 2's transfer to the hospital on November 18, 2024. Written notification of Resident 19's transfer to the hospital on November 5, 2024, was immediately provided by the new Social Services Director to Resident 19's representative. Facility's new Social Service Director immediately provided Bed-hold notice to Resident 19's responsible party for her transfer to the hospital on November 5, 2024. Ombudsman was immediately notified by the facility's new Social Services Director, as required, of Resident 19's transfer to the hospital on November 5, 2024. Resident 38 no longer resides in the facility. Physician Discharge Summary Form completed for Resident 37. Any resident transferred from the facility to the hospital has the ability to be affected by this alleged deficient practice. A whole house audit was completed on recent resident transfers to the hospital to ensure written notification was provided to resident and resident's responsible party regarding the reason for transfer to the hospital. A whole house audit was completed on recent resident transfers to the hospital to ensure a bed-hold notice was provided to resident's responsible party. A whole house audit was completed on recent resident transfers to the hospital to ensure the Ombudsman was notified of the transfer to the hospital. Any resident discharged from the facility has the ability to be affected by this alleged deficient practice. A whole house audit was completed on recent resident discharges to ensure the Physician Discharge Summary Form has been completed. Facility's new Social Services Director and Marketing Liaison/Admissions Director were educated by the Nursing Home Administrator on contacting the resident/resident's representative following a facility-initiated transfer to an acute care facility or hospital, including the need to provide written notification of hospital transfer to resident/resident's representative, the need to provide bed-hold notice to responsible party, and the need to notify the Ombudsman as required. Registered Nurses, including agency Registered Nurses, were re-educated on the facility Physician Discharge Summary Policy. Resident transfers to the hospital will be audited by the Nursing Home Administrator/designee to ensure written notification was provided to resident and resident's responsible party regarding the reason for transfer weekly times three weeks then monthly times three months. Results of these audits will be reviewed in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement times four months or until substantial compliance is noted. Facility transfers to acute care facilities/hospitals will be audited weekly times three weeks then monthly times three months by the Nursing Home Administrator/designee to ensure resident's electronic medical record contains written documentation that the resident/resident's representative was notified via phone call or in person and received a written copy of facility bed-hold policy. Results of these audits will be reviewed in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement times four months or until substantial compliance is noted. Nursing Home Administrator/designee will audit resident transfers to the hospital to ensure the Ombudsman was notified of the transfer weekly times three weeks then monthly times three months. Results of these audits will be reviewed in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement times four months or until substantial compliance is noted. Director of Nursing/designee will audit resident discharges to ensure a Physician Discharge Summary Form is completed weekly times six weeks then monthly times six months. Results of these audits will be reviewed in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement times eight months or until substantial compliance is noted.