Failure to Provide Advance Written Notice of Room Change
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the responsible party (RP) in advance of a room change for a resident who was moderately cognitively impaired. Documentation showed that the Social Service Director left a voicemail and sent an email to the RP on the same day the room change occurred, but there was no evidence that the RP or the resident was notified prior to the move or provided with the reason for the change in advance. The resident was moved to a different room on the same day as the notification, and the RP reported being informed only after the move had already taken place. The resident had been in her previous room for over a year and had refused to move, but this refusal was not documented or communicated among staff. Interviews with facility staff, including the interim Social Service Director, MDS Coordinator, DON, and Administrator, revealed inconsistent practices and understanding regarding notification requirements for room changes. The MDS Coordinator stated that the facility did not need permission to change a resident's room, and the Administrator believed that simply notifying the RP by email was sufficient. There was no documentation of the resident's refusal to move or of any discussion with the resident about the room change prior to it occurring.