Failure to Involve POA in Discharge Planning
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to include a resident’s family/Power of Attorney (POA) in the discharge planning process, contrary to the resident’s care plan and facility policy. The resident had multiple complex medical diagnoses, including encephalopathy, peripheral vascular disease, malnutrition, acute and chronic respiratory failure, emphysema, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and other chronic conditions, and had a BIMS score of 10 indicating moderate cognitive impairment. A care conference document showed the current discharge plan was for the resident to remain in the facility for long-term placement, with the resident present but her family not in attendance. The resident’s care plan documented that she wished to return to the community, but also reflected that, per the POA, she was considered a possible long-term placement. The care plan included an intervention that social services would meet with the resident and family on admission to determine the discharge plan. Progress notes showed that the resident met with a physician assistant to discuss an upcoming discharge home and that both the resident and the physician assistant signed the discharge packet, which included medication orders and home health orders. However, review of progress notes for the days leading up to the discharge revealed no evidence that the facility consulted with or notified the resident’s family or POA about the discharge prior to the day it occurred, when the family member received a call from the resident to pick her up. The family member, who confirmed she was the POA and wanted to be kept up to date on all care and changes, reported that she had not been consulted about this discharge and that prior notifications had been inconsistent. The DON confirmed that the discharge process had not been discussed with the family before it occurred, despite the care plan and the facility’s discharge planning policy requiring collaborative planning with the resident and representative and documentation of resident and representative notification.
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