Failure to Provide Required Written Transfer/Discharge Notifications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide required written notifications regarding transfer or discharge to the hospital for two residents. Specifically, the facility did not give written notice to the residents and/or their representatives at the time of transfer or within 24 hours, as mandated by policy and regulation. For one resident, written notification was only provided for one of several hospital transfers, and for another resident, no written notification was provided for either of their hospitalizations. The facility's policy requires that such notifications include the reason and basis for transfer, the effective date, the location, and an explanation of appeal rights, and that evidence of notification to the Ombudsman be maintained. Record reviews and staff interviews confirmed that the required notifications were not consistently provided to the residents, their representatives, or the Ombudsman. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that written notifications were not given for certain transfers, and the Social Services Director confirmed that the Ombudsman was not notified in at least one instance. The residents involved had significant medical conditions, including stroke and heart failure, and were transferred to the hospital due to changes in their medical status.