Failure to Ensure Safe and Appropriate Discharge Planning
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with complex medical needs, including type 1 diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, hypokalemia, degenerative disease of the nervous system, and long-term insulin use, was discharged from the facility to a homeless shelter after residing there for over 22 years. The resident had a history of impaired vision, required supervision with insulin administration, and had documented deficits in adaptive functioning and executive skills. Despite these needs, there was no evidence of discharge planning, diabetic teaching, or preparation for self-care documented in the medical record prior to discharge. The resident was not provided with sufficient notice or preparation for the discharge, and there was no documentation of attempts to secure income, alternative housing, or necessary identification documents. The homeless shelter to which the resident was discharged did not have medically trained staff, only allowed a maximum 90-day stay, and had recently lost funding for programs that could assist with housing. Upon arrival, the resident lacked essential supplies such as insulin needles, which were only provided days later. The shelter staff and executive director expressed concerns that the resident lacked the life skills, income, and resources to care for himself and that the shelter was not an appropriate or safe discharge location. The resident missed a scheduled follow-up medical appointment due to lack of transportation arrangements, and interviews confirmed that he was unaware of the discharge plan until the day of transfer. Facility staff, including the DON and social services, confirmed that no discharge notice was provided to the resident or the Ombudsman, and that the discharge was prompted by insurance denial of payment for continued stay. Multiple interviews with staff, the resident, and external parties revealed that the discharge process was abrupt, lacked proper planning, and failed to ensure the resident's needs and preferences were met. There was no evidence of interdisciplinary team involvement or adequate preparation for the resident's transition to the community.
Removal Plan
- The Administrator immediately reviewed the last 30 days of discharges to ensure safe discharges occurred. No other areas of concern were noted.
- Follow up contact was made to Resident #83, #84, #85, #86, #87, and #88 who were discharged in the last 30 days. No concerns regarding discharge and no additional needs were identified by each resident.
- The Administrator immediately reviewed the pending discharges for Resident #16 and Resident #26 to ensure safe discharges plans with no other areas of concern noted.
- Social Services Director #180 and/or designee will notify the Ombudsman of the date the discharge notice is given.
- An in-service regarding the discharge process was completed by the Administrator with Social Services Director #180 that addressed the following: Except as specified below, a resident, and/or his or her representative will be given advance notice of an impending transfer or discharge from our facility: The transfer is necessary for the residents' welfare and the residents' needs cannot be met in the facility. The transfer or discharge is appropriate because the resident's health has improved sufficiently so the residents no longer need the services provided by the facility. The safety of individuals in the facility is endangered due to clinical or behavioral status of the residents. The health of individuals in the facility would otherwise be endangered. The resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for (or to have paid under Medicare or Medicaid) a stay at the facility. An immediate transfer or discharge is required by the residents' urgent medical needs. The resident is transferred for other than medical reasons. The resident has not resided in the facility for thirty days; and/or the facility ceases operating. The resident, and/or representative will be provided with the following information: The facility will send a copy of the discharge notice to a representative of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The reason for the transfer or discharge. The effective date of the transfer or discharge. The location to which the resident is being transferred or discharged. The name, address, and telephone number of the state long-term care ombudsman. The name, address, and telephone number of each individual or agency responsible and the name, address, and telephone number of the state department agency that has been designated to handle appeals of transfers and discharge notices. The facility will not transfer or discharge the resident while an appeal for discharge is pending, unless the failure to discharge or transfer will endanger the health or safety of the resident or other individuals in the facility.
- A Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) meeting with the Administrator, Director of Nursing, Medical Director #275 and SSD #180 was held to review the discharge policy and procedure. No changes were made to the discharge policy and procedure at this time.
- The Facility Administrator was in-serviced by President of Operations #375 regarding the discharge process, required notifications, required notices, and preparation and orientation for discharge.
- A full Intradisciplinary Team (IDT) meeting was held which included the Administrator, DON, SSD #180, Business Office Manager (BOM) #152, Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) #166, and Activity Director #128 regarding the discharge process, required notifications, required notices, and preparation and orientation for discharge that addressed the following: Except as specified below, a resident, and/or his or her representative will be given advance notice of an impending transfer or discharge from our facility: The transfer is necessary for the residents' welfare and the residents' needs cannot be met in the facility. The transfer or discharge is appropriate because the resident's health has improved sufficiently so the residents no longer need the services provided by the facility. The safety of individuals in the facility is endangered due to clinical or behavioral status of the residents. The health of individuals in the facility would otherwise be endangered. The resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for (or to have paid under Medicare or Medicaid) a stay at the facility. An immediate transfer or discharge is required by the residents' urgent medical needs. The resident is transferred for other than medical reasons. The resident has not resided in the facility for thirty days; and/or the facility ceases operating. The resident, and/or representative will be provided with the following information: The facility will send a copy of the discharge notice to a representative of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The reason for the transfer or discharge. The effective date of the transfer or discharge. The location to which the resident is being transferred or discharged. The name, address, and telephone number of the state long-term care ombudsman. The name, address, and telephone number of each individual or agency responsible and the name, address, and telephone number of the state department agency that has been designated to handle appeals of transfers and discharge notices. The facility will not transfer or discharge the resident while an appeal for discharge is pending, unless the failure to discharge or transfer will endanger the health or safety of the resident or other individuals in the facility.
- A full house education was done by the Administrator and DON regarding the discharge process, required notifications, required notices, and preparation and orientation for discharge.
- Pending discharges will be discussed in the Stand-up Meeting daily Monday-Friday on business days, discharges pending for the weekends or holidays will be covered in the meeting Monday-Friday by Friday, with the IDT to ensure safe discharge plans and teaching or other needs. The IDT includes the following: Administrator, DON, ADON #166, BOM #152, SSD #180, and Activity Director #128. In the absence of one of these team members the other team members will act on their behalf.
- The Administrator, DON, or SSD #180 will notify Medical Director #275 of any pending discharge plans daily Monday-Friday on business days, discharges pending for the weekends or holidays will be covered in the meeting Monday-Friday by Friday.
- Pending discharge plans will be reviewed by the Administrator and/or designee and Director of Nursing and/or designee in Stand-up Meeting at least 3 times weekly for 6 weeks to ensure safe discharge plans have been made.