Failure to Allow Resident Return After Hospitalization
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to allow a resident to return after hospitalization, violating the resident's right to return and remain at the facility. The resident, who had diagnoses including schizophrenia, osteoarthritis of the knees, and generalized muscle weakness, was admitted and noted to be alert and oriented. On the morning of the incident, the resident became verbally and physically aggressive, leading staff to contact the police. The resident expressed a desire to leave against medical advice (AMA), was informed of the risks and benefits, but refused to sign the AMA form. The police subsequently took the resident to a general acute care hospital (GACH) for psychiatric evaluation. When the hospital contacted the facility to coordinate the resident's discharge and return, the facility refused re-admission, citing the resident's prior aggression and AMA departure. Facility staff, including the admission coordinator and administrator, confirmed the refusal, stating the resident was not welcome back due to the incident. There was no physician documentation indicating the facility was an inappropriate placement for the resident, and the facility's own policy permitted residents to return following hospitalization or therapeutic leave. The policy also required specific physician documentation if a transfer or discharge was necessary for safety reasons, which was not present in this case.