Failure to Hold Routine Interdisciplinary Care Conferences
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide routine care conferences for a resident who was cognitively intact and had been admitted to the facility. Documentation showed that the resident had only one care conference since admission, despite policy and staff statements indicating that care conferences and care plan reviews should occur at least quarterly, in conjunction with the MDS assessment cycle. The resident confirmed participation in only one care conference and expressed concerns about her care. Interviews with facility staff, including a licensed social worker and the director of nursing, revealed that the interdisciplinary team is expected to meet quarterly to review and update care plans, even if the resident declines to participate. The social worker acknowledged that no care conference had been held for the resident due to her lack of agreement, but also stated that the team should still meet to discuss the resident's care. Facility policy also requires quarterly interdisciplinary review and update of care plans. The failure to hold these routine care conferences resulted in a lack of regular interdisciplinary review and update of the resident's care plan.