Failure to Involve Conservator in Medical Appointment Cancellation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's conservator was included in the decision to cancel a scheduled dermatology appointment. The resident, who was admitted for long-term care following head trauma resulting in cerebral swelling and a right temporal contusion, had a dermatology consult scheduled for a skin lesion related to dermatitis. The appointment was canceled due to a lack of available staff to accompany the resident, and the conservator was not consulted prior to this decision. Instead, the conservator was only notified after the cancellation and informed of the need to reschedule. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that there was no communication with the conservator before the appointment was canceled, despite the conservator's legal authority to make medical decisions for the resident. The facility's own admission agreement and resident rights documentation indicated that residents and their representatives have the right to participate in care planning and to be informed about medical appointments. The Director of Staff Development acknowledged that the lack of communication with the conservator before canceling the appointment was a violation of the resident's rights.