Failure to Follow Up with Oncology Office Post-Discharge
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to follow hospital discharge instructions for a resident with a diagnosis of Stage 4 left breast cancer. The discharge summary and nursing admission note both directed that the resident's oncology office be contacted within two weeks post-discharge. However, record review did not show any evidence that this follow-up contact was made within the specified timeframe. Interviews with the oncology office RN, the Director of Nursing Services (DNS), and the Administrator confirmed that the oncology office did not receive a call from the facility, and facility leadership could not locate documentation of any such contact. The facility's own policy required the admitting RN to review discharge instructions and schedule necessary follow-up appointments in a timely manner, but this was not done for the resident in question.