Resident Sent to Appointment Unattended and Inappropriately Dressed
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with a zygomatic fracture and depression, who required maximum assistance with toileting and dressing and used a wheelchair, was sent to an oral surgery appointment without appropriate clothing or an escort. The resident was dropped off by a transport company and left unattended in the medical center lobby, dressed only in two hospital gowns and socks during cold winter weather, with no paperwork or clear understanding of the appointment. Staff at the oral surgery office found the resident unaccompanied and unsure of her purpose for being there. Facility staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness regarding the resident's appointment, and the nursing supervisor was not informed until contacted by the oral surgery office. The resident was sent out without an escort, and staff confirmed she did not have her own clothing. Although the facility maintained a supply of donated clothing for residents without personal clothes, this resource was not utilized. The weather on the day of the appointment was notably cold, with temperatures ranging from 18 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.