Failure to Obtain Signed Bed-Hold Notice After Hospital Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide documentation of a signed bed-hold notice from a resident or their responsible party following a hospital transfer. Record review showed that the resident was transferred to the hospital, and while the responsible party was notified of the transfer and a note indicated that the bed-hold policy was sent, there was no documentation of a signed bed-hold notice. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the bed-hold policy was reviewed with residents and responsible parties upon admission, and a bed-hold notice was sent with the resident to the hospital. Additionally, a reminder of the bed-hold policy was mailed to the responsible party. However, the administrator was unaware that a reply or signed acknowledgment from the resident or responsible party was required, and stated that such replies had never been received. The facility's bed-hold policy required that residents and/or responsible parties receive written notice of the bed-hold policy on admission and be informed in writing at the time of hospitalization. Despite these procedures, there was no evidence that the resident or responsible party signed or acknowledged the bed-hold notice after the hospital transfer. The social services designee confirmed reviewing the policy on admission but was unaware of the mailed bed-hold notice for this specific resident. The lack of a signed bed-hold notice constitutes a failure to meet the facility's own policy and regulatory requirements regarding notification and documentation related to bed-hold during hospitalization.