Failure to Provide Required Written Transfer/Discharge Notices and Bed-Hold Information
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide required written notices to residents and/or their representatives regarding transfers to the emergency department. Specifically, for four residents with various diagnoses including paraplegia, major depressive disorder, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anxiety disorders, metabolic encephalopathy, and osteoarthritis, there was no documentation of written notice specifying the reason for transfer, effective date, location, statement of appeal rights, or information about the bed-hold policy. Each resident was transferred to a local emergency department for medical evaluation or at the request of a representative, but the medical records lacked evidence that the mandated notifications were given. The facility’s own policy requires that residents and their families or legal representatives receive written information about bed-hold and readmission policies upon admission and when leaving the facility. This includes instructions on the duration of bed-hold, charges, and the need for a signed agreement if the bed is to be reserved. Despite this policy, record reviews and staff interviews confirmed that the required written transfer/discharge notices were not provided to the affected residents or their representatives at the time of transfer.