Failure to Provide Resident Access to Medical Records
Penalty
Summary
A resident with multiple medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis, obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, hypertension, anemia, anxiety, PTSD, asthma, major depressive disorder, and COPD, requested a copy of her medical records from the facility. The resident, who was cognitively intact and dependent on staff for medication administration but independent in some activities of daily living, made her request to the Medical Records Manager (MRM). The MRM informed the resident that the copier was broken at the time of the request and stated that copies would be provided once the copier was repaired. Despite the copier being repaired, the MRM did not follow up with the resident or provide the requested records. The copied records remained in the office, and the resident did not receive them. Facility policy confirmed that residents have the right to access their medical records at any time. This failure to provide the requested records was confirmed through interviews, observation of the undelivered records, and review of facility policy.