Failure to Maintain Required Hospice Documentation and Coordinate Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to collaborate with hospice representatives and coordinate the hospice care planning process for a resident receiving hospice services. Specifically, the facility did not maintain the required hospice forms and documentation, including the certificate of terminal illness and the hospice election form, for a female resident with diagnoses of dementia, kidney disease, and high blood pressure. The resident was admitted to the facility and was on hospice care, as indicated in her medical records and care plan. However, a review of her clinical records revealed that the necessary hospice documentation was missing. During an interview, the DON confirmed that the certificate of terminal illness and hospice election form should have been present in the hospice binder at the nurses' station and available at all times. The DON was unsure why the documents were missing and stated that the social worker was typically responsible for communication with hospice and ensuring the required documents were in place. The facility had recently hired a new social worker, which was suggested as a possible reason for the oversight. The facility's policy requires obtaining the hospice election form and physician certification of terminal illness for each resident receiving hospice services.