HospitalInspections.org

.
Based on medical record review and interview, in 1 of 20 medical records, the facility failed to ensure that appropriate referral was made for a patient in need of community resources at discharge (Patient #1).

Findings include:

Review of medical record revealed a 29-year old homeless male who was admitted to the facility on 1/23/18 for seizure-like activities on the street. On 2/20/17, the medical team cleared him for discharge with no identified post hospital medical care needs.

Social worker notes revealed that several attempts to secure the patient a Skilled Nursing Facility for short-term rehabilitation failed. The patient's unwillingness to cooperate with the discharge planning process was documented by physicians, nurses and the social worker.
On 2/19/18 at 2:56 PM, the social worker noted that the patient refused to sign a form for referral to the Homeless Shelter.

On 2/21/18 at 3:15 pm, the patient was transported to a Homeless Drop-in Shelter.

On 8/7/18 at 12:15 PM, interview with the Manager of the Ambulance Service that transported the patient to the Homeless Drop in Shelter revealed the patient was denied admission at two homeless Drop-in Centers including the one he was referred to by the hospital. The patient was then taken to another hospital at his request.

During interview with Staff A, Director of Case Management on 7/31/18, at 12:15 PM, she stated that it is not the policy of the hospital to discharge patients via stretcher to a Drop-in Center, and that Drop-in centers would not take post hospital patients that require special accommodation.