Failure to Explain and Obtain Signature for Admission Agreement at Admission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to explain and obtain a signature for the admission agreement at the time of admission for one resident, as required by its policy and procedures. The resident, an elderly female with multiple complex medical conditions including ventricular fibrillation, morbid obesity, diabetes, asthma, congestive heart failure, vascular dementia, and a pressure ulcer, was admitted without the proper completion of the admission agreement. The Minimum Data Set assessment indicated that the resident did not have intact cognition and was dependent on staff for toileting, personal hygiene, and transfers. Documentation and interviews revealed that the resident's family member did not receive the admission packet until several weeks after admission, despite being present at the facility daily. The family member sent questions regarding the admission agreement via email, but did not receive timely responses from the admissions coordinators. The facility's policy requires that the admission agreement, which outlines covered and non-covered services and payment responsibilities, be explained and signed at admission, but this process was not followed, resulting in a lack of clarity regarding the services provided and covered by the facility versus the resident's insurance.