Failure to Provide Advance Notice and Right to Refuse Room Change
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with diagnoses including epilepsy, hypertension, and muscle weakness was moved from the first floor to the third floor of the facility. The facility's policy required that residents or their representatives receive advance notice, either orally or in writing, before any room or roommate assignment changes, and that the reason for the change be provided. However, documentation in the clinical record showed that the resident was notified of the room change on the same day it occurred, rather than in advance. The Roommate Change-Advanced Notification form and nursing notes both indicated the move happened on the same day as the notification. Additionally, there was no evidence in the clinical record that the resident was given the opportunity to refuse the room change, despite the resident stating during an interview that he expressed a desire not to move. The Director of Nursing confirmed that there was no documentation showing the resident received prior notice or was allowed to refuse the transfer. This failure to provide advance notification and the opportunity to refuse the room change was found to be out of compliance with facility policy and state regulations regarding resident rights.