Failure to Notify Responsible Party of Change in Resident Condition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the responsible party when there was a change in condition for one of the sampled residents. Specifically, a resident experienced gurgling sounds in the throat, burning sensation during urination, increased confusion, and throat pain. The physician was notified and provided orders for suction as needed, a speech therapy evaluation, and increased fluids. However, there was no documentation that the resident's responsible party was informed of these changes. During an interview and record review, the Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that the responsible party was not notified, which was contrary to the facility's policy requiring notification of a resident's representative in the event of a significant change in the resident's status.