Failure to Post Required State Agency and Ombudsman Contact Information
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to post, in an accessible and understandable manner, the required list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all pertinent State agencies and advocacy groups, including the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. This deficiency was observed over a three-day period, during which surveyors noted the absence of the required information in public postings on multiple occasions. The lack of posting was confirmed during interviews and observations, with no information available for residents or their representatives to access. During interviews, the DON acknowledged the missing ombudsman contact information and was unable to provide a timeline for how long the posting had been absent. The DON also stated that there was no facility policy regarding required postings and was unable to identify any staff responsible for ensuring the postings were maintained. The absence of this information could impact residents' ability to contact advocacy resources and exercise their rights, as noted by the DON during the interview.