Failure to Provide Written Transfer Notifications to Residents and Representatives
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide written notification to residents and their representatives regarding facility-initiated transfers to a community hospital. Specifically, for five residents, the facility did not document or deliver written notices that included the specific reason for each transfer. The notifications were either missing the required information or were not provided in a language and manner understandable to the resident or their representative. This was identified through a review of clinical records, transfer notification forms, and staff interviews. For each of the five residents reviewed, the transfer notification forms did not specify the reason for the transfer in writing, nor was there evidence that the notifications were communicated in an understandable way. During an interview, the nursing home administrator was unable to provide documentation that these notifications had been given as required. The deficiency was cited under 28 Pa. Code 201.14(a) for failure to meet the responsibility of the licensee regarding required notifications.