Failure to Notify Ombudsman of Resident Hospitalizations and Discharges
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman of the hospitalization and discharge of two residents. For one resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes, who was cognitively intact, the clinical record showed a hospitalization and subsequent return to the facility, but there was no documentation of Ombudsman notification. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) and progress notes confirmed the resident's transfer to the hospital and return, yet the required notification was not present in the records. The facility administrator confirmed that staff did not notify the Ombudsman and that there was no policy in place for such notifications. For another resident, the records indicated an admission and later discharge to home with hospice services, with the intent for end-of-life care at home. Again, the clinical record lacked documentation of notification to the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman regarding the discharge. The administrator and DON both stated they were unaware of the requirement to notify the Ombudsman in cases of resident discharges and hospitalizations.