Delay in Providing Medical Records to Resident's Family
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide copies of medical records to a resident's family member within the required two business days after the request was made. The family member submitted a written request for the resident's medical records, as documented on the facility's Authorization Form For the Release of Health Information. Four business days after the request, the Medical Records Director confirmed that the request was still being processed and had not yet been completed, despite the facility's policy stating that records should be provided within forty-eight hours, excluding weekends and holidays. As a result, the family member was not aware of the resident's medical status during this period. The resident involved had a history of falls and had been admitted to the facility prior to the request.