Failure to Notify Ombudsman of Resident Discharges
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman upon the discharge of two residents, as required by facility policy and state regulations. Review of the facility's admission, transfer, and discharge policy indicated that discharges should be conducted in an organized manner with a focus on continuity of care, including required notifications. However, documentation and notifications related to the discharges of two residents were missing from the records sent to the Ombudsman office. One resident was discharged home with his wife and home health services, and his medical history included diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Another resident, who had a left clavicle fracture, hypertension, and osteoporosis, was discharged to another nursing facility. Staff interviews and record reviews confirmed that the required notifications to the Ombudsman office were not completed for these discharges.