Failure to Notify Responsible Party of Care Conference
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to inform the responsible party (RP) of a resident with moderately impaired cognition and multiple chronic conditions, including Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 2 diabetes, about an Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) Care Conference. The resident, who was dependent on staff for most activities of daily living and unable to make medical decisions, attended the care conference without the RP being notified or invited to participate. Review of the resident's records confirmed the absence of documentation showing that the RP was informed of the meeting. Interviews with the RP, Social Services Director (SSD), and Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the RP was not notified prior to the care conference, despite facility policy and federal and state regulations requiring such notification and involvement. The facility's policies emphasized the importance of including residents' families or legal representatives in care planning, but this was not followed in this instance, resulting in the RP not being able to participate in decisions regarding the resident's care, treatment, and services.