Failure to Update PASARR Following New Mental Health Diagnoses
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASARR) process was accurate and updated for one resident. Upon admission, the resident had a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, and later developed additional diagnoses of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. The initial PASARR Level I Screening indicated that the resident did not have a serious mental illness, despite the presence of anxiety disorder at the time. The facility's policy required that all admissions have the appropriate PASARR completed and that state-specific guidelines be followed. Further review of the resident's medical record showed that no updated PASARR screening was completed when the resident was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder after admission. During an interview, the ADON confirmed responsibility for ensuring PASARR accuracy and acknowledged that the screening should have been updated and referred accordingly when the new diagnoses were made. The failure to update the PASARR meant the resident's mental health status was not accurately reflected or reassessed as required.