Failure to Provide Written Notice Prior to Resident Room Changes
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide written notice to residents and/or their responsible parties prior to making room changes for five out of seven residents reviewed. According to the facility's policy, the Social Worker is responsible for contacting family members or responsible parties to discuss room changes. However, clinical records for the affected residents did not contain evidence that residents were asked for their agreement to the room change or that written notification, including the reason for the change, was provided before the move occurred. The residents involved had various medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and vascular dementia. Documentation for each resident showed that room changes were made, but there was no record of written notification or consent prior to these changes. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed during an interview that the required written notifications were not present in the clinical records for these residents.