Failure to Provide Proper Notice and Discharge Planning for Resident Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the Notice of Proposed Transfer and Discharge form was properly completed and provided to a resident or their family representative prior to discharge to a lower level of care. Specifically, the notice was not signed by the resident or their representative, did not indicate the reason for discharge, and was not provided before the discharge occurred. The resident in question had diagnoses including Parkinsonism, dementia, and epilepsy, and was noted to be confused and lacking the mental capacity to make medical decisions. Despite this, the notice indicated the resident was self-responsible and capable of verbalizing needs. The facility's Social Service Director (SSD) did not contact the resident's family member as documented, and only left a message after the discharge had already taken place. Additionally, the discharge planning process did not include a tour or offer of a tour of the receiving facility to the resident or their family, and the family was not included in the interdisciplinary meeting or discharge planning. The receiving facility was not a board and care home and required residents to care for themselves, which was not communicated to the family prior to discharge. The facility's policy and procedure required that the notice be provided to the resident or representative prior to discharge, which was not followed in this case.