Failure to Timely Inform Residents of Rights, Services, and Financial Information Upon Admission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that four residents were fully informed of their rights, rules, services, charges, and required financial information prior to or upon admission. Specifically, these residents did not receive or sign the admission agreement, which includes consent for treatment, financial agreements, and resident rights and responsibilities, within a reasonable timeframe. In several cases, the admission agreement was not acknowledged until days or weeks after admission, and in some instances, not at all before discharge. For example, one resident was admitted and discharged without ever signing the admission agreement or being informed of the facility's policies regarding safeguarding personal belongings. This resident later reported missing a significant amount of money, and there was no documentation that the facility had reviewed options or restrictions for safeguarding possessions with the resident. Other residents experienced similar delays, with admission agreements not reviewed or signed until well after admission, and in some cases, only after a second admission to the facility. Interviews with admissions staff revealed that there was no specific timeline for reviewing the admission agreement with residents, and it was common for the process to be delayed by several days. The facility's own policies require that residents be provided with information about services, rights, and financial matters prior to or upon admission, but these procedures were not consistently followed. As a result, residents were not fully informed of their rights, financial options, or consent for treatment in a timely manner.