Delayed Provision of Medical Records Following Resident Requests
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide copies of medical records within the required timeframe for two residents following written requests. For one resident, who had diagnoses including acute respiratory failure, end stage renal disease, and was dependent on renal dialysis, a request for medical records was made through a law office. The facility acknowledged receipt of the request, but there was a delay in sending the invoice and the records, which were ultimately provided 18 days after the initial request. The delay was attributed to the facility's attempt to collect additional records from an external dialysis center, but the invoice was eventually sent without those records. For another resident, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory failure with hypoxia, and adult failure to thrive, a family member requested medical records and provided the necessary authorization. The facility delayed providing the invoice and did not supply the requested records within the 48-hour policy window. The Medical Records Director confirmed that the records were not provided in a timely manner and could not provide documentation that the records had been sent as of the date of the interview. The facility's policy required records to be provided within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, but this was not followed in both cases.