HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of documentation and interview with staff, the facility failed to ensure that the rights of Patient #1 relating to timely discharge were provided, as the four hour discharge policy was not followed for 1 of 2 applicable files reviewed. The physician was not notified that Patient #8 had requested to be discharged at the time of the request. This could result in delay in a patient's discharge.


Findings were:


Facility policy RI-21 entitled "Rights of Voluntary Patients Seeking Discharge" states under section 6 that "Immediately upon receiving a request for release, the nurse shall notify the patient's physician or physician on call if after hours, to determine the course of action."



The medical record of Patient #8 contains a form entitled "Request for Release from Voluntary Care," which is a request for release from the facility. This was signed and dated by the parent of Patient #8 on 9/25/14 at 8 pm. In nursing notes, the RN documented that the request was filed by the parent and that the house supervisor (a nurse) handled the matter. No notes were written regarding attempts to contact the physician or physician on-call.



In an in-person interview conducted the afternoon of 10/27/14, the facility Risk Manager stated that there was no documentation that the staff contacted the psychiatrist at the time Patient #8's parent requested that the patient be discharged.