Failure to Provide Bed Hold Policy Notification at Hospital Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete and provide required discharge paperwork related to the bed hold policy for a resident who was transferred to the hospital. The resident, who had a medical diagnosis of a displaced intertrochanteric fracture of the left femur and was experiencing routine healing, was transferred to the emergency room following a physician's order due to a low hemoglobin level. Documentation showed that the RN notified the hospital of the transfer and attempted to contact the resident's family, but was unable to reach them and could not leave a voicemail. There was no documentation in the resident's record indicating that the resident or their family was informed of the facility's bed hold policy at the time of transfer. During an interview, the DON confirmed that no discharge paperwork related to the bed hold policy could be found for the resident. The facility's policy requires that all residents or their representatives receive written information about bed hold policies both in advance and at the time of transfer, or within 24 hours if the transfer is an emergency. This requirement was not met in this instance.