Failure to Offer Timely and In-Person Care Plan Meetings per Resident and Family Preference
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that care plan meetings were offered in a timely manner, according to resident and family preferences, and in person as required. Specifically, for one resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple psychiatric diagnoses, the family member reported not being offered a care conference for over five months, with the last meeting conducted by phone. The family member also indicated a preference for in-person meetings and noted that she had not received the usual letter invitation for a care conference during this period. Interviews with facility staff, including the DON and LSW, confirmed that care plan meetings are to be held on admission, quarterly, annually, with significant changes, or upon family request. However, there was no evidence that a care conference letter was mailed or an RSVP received for the most recent scheduled meeting. Facility documentation and policy review revealed that invitations were only sent for phone meetings, and the standard practice was to conduct care conferences by phone rather than in person, despite the stated option for in-person meetings. This resulted in the resident's family not being properly notified or given the opportunity to participate in the care planning process as preferred.