Failure to Timely Obtain Outside Professional Services for Residents
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to obtain necessary outside professional services for two residents as required. For one resident admitted with a diagnosis of cerebral infarction, the hospital discharge summary included instructions for a neurology follow-up. However, review of the medical record showed that no order was placed and no neurologist appointment was scheduled from admission through discharge. The DON confirmed that the neurology appointment was not scheduled. For another resident admitted with diagnoses including bladder neck obstruction, solitary pulmonary nodule, and low back pain, the hospital discharge summary required follow-up appointments with urology, pulmonology, and orthopedics. The urology appointment was not ordered until several months after admission, and although the resident was eventually seen by the urologist, the pulmonology and orthopedic appointments were not ordered until even later, with no evidence that the resident was seen by those specialists. The Administrator confirmed that these appointments were not ordered in a timely manner and that there was no evidence of visits to pulmonology or orthopedics.