Failure to Provide Written Bed Hold Notice Upon Hospital Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a written 7-day bed hold notice to a resident who was transferred to a general acute care hospital. The resident, who had end stage renal disease and was dependent on renal dialysis, was cognitively intact and required varying levels of assistance with daily activities. Upon review of the resident's admission and medical records, there was no documentation confirming that the required bed hold notification was given at the time of transfer. Interviews with facility staff, including the Health Information Manager, a registered nurse, and the Director of Nursing, confirmed that the resident did not receive the written bed hold notice as required by facility policy. The policy states that all residents or their representatives must be provided with written information about bed-hold policies both in advance of any transfer and at the time of transfer, or within 24 hours if the transfer was an emergency. The absence of this documentation constituted a failure to inform the resident of their right to have their bed held during their hospital stay.