Failure to Provide Timely Bed-Hold Policy Notification to Resident Representative
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide the resident representative (RR) with the required written bed-hold policy within 24 hours of an emergency transfer of a resident to the hospital. According to the facility's own policy, written notification of the bed-hold policy must be given to the family, surrogate, or representative at the time of transfer, or within 24 hours in the case of an emergency. Record review and staff interviews confirmed that, following the resident's emergency transfer due to behavioral issues, the social services staff mailed the bed-hold policy to the RR but did not confirm receipt, and there was no documented evidence that the RR received the policy within the required timeframe. The administrator stated the policy was included in the transfer packet sent to the hospital, but acknowledged the resident would likely not understand the policy, and there was no evidence the RR was properly notified as required.