Failure to Ensure Resident Access to External Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident's right to communication with and access to persons and services outside the facility. The resident, who was moderately cognitively impaired with a diagnosis of hereditary ataxia and muscle weakness, had a scheduled telephone hearing with an Administrative Law Judge regarding a fair hearing appeal. Documentation showed that the resident's attendance at the hearing was confirmed by a staff member, who signed and returned the required acknowledgement card. However, the staff member responsible for this process resigned abruptly prior to the hearing and did not inform other facility staff about the scheduled event. As a result, the resident was not made available for the hearing, and no valid reason for the absence was provided. Consequently, the resident's appeal was dismissed due to non-attendance. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that the facility did not ensure the resident had access to the scheduled external service.