Failure to Complete and Transmit Discharge MDS Assessments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete and transmit discharge Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments within the required 14-day timeframe for three residents who were discharged. Record review showed that each of these residents had been admitted and subsequently discharged, but their medical records did not contain a completed or transmitted discharge MDS assessment. The last MDS assessments on file for these residents were comprehensive assessments conducted prior to their discharge dates, with no evidence of a discharge assessment being performed as required. During interviews, the MDS Coordinator acknowledged that the discharge MDS assessments for these residents were missing and stated that she typically completed these assessments when aware of a discharge, coding them appropriately based on whether the discharge was anticipated or not. She indicated uncertainty about how the assessments were missed and noted that they did not appear on her MDS progress list. The Administrator confirmed the expectation that discharge MDS assessments should be completed and transmitted according to established guidelines.