HospitalInspections.org

Based on record review and interview, the hospital failed to provide 2 of 4 (Patient #'s 1 and 6) sampled Medicare beneficiaries with the required standardized notice, "An Important Message from Medicare" (IM) within 2 days of their admission. The hospital also failed to provide 1 of 4 (Patient #4) sampled Medicare beneficiaries with an IM notice either upon admission or discharge. The findings are:

A. Review of the medical records for Patient #1 revealed that the patient was admitted to the hospital on 07/02/10. Only one signed IM notice, dated 07/09/10, the date of Patient #1's discharge, was located in the patient's medical record.
1. On 08/19/10 at 11:30 am, during interview, the hospital's Compliance Officer verified that there was no initial IM notice completed within 2 days of the patient's admission in Patient #1's medical record.

B. Review of the medical records for Patient #6 revealed that the patient was admitted to the hospital on 07/23/10. Only one signed IM notice, dated 07/27/10, the date of Patient #6's discharge, was located in the patient's medical record.
1. On 08/19/10 at 11:30 am, during interview, the hospital's Compliance Officer verified that there was no initial IM notice completed within 2 days of the patient's admission in Patient #1's medical record.

C. Review of the medical records for Patient #4 revealed that the patient was admitted to the hospital on 04/16/10. No IM notices were located in the patient's medical record.
1. On 08/19/10 at 11:30 am, during interview, the hospital's Compliance Officer verified that there were no IM notices in Patient #4's medical record.