HospitalInspections.org

Based on findings from facility document review and interview, the hospital's discharge planning policy and procedure (P&P) did not specify the qualifications for clinical discharge planners in the Patient and Family Services (PFS) department that perform discharge planning evaluations.

Findings include:

-- The hospital's P&P titled "Discharge Planning," last revised 6/2014, indicated that the PFS department is responsible for establishing discharge planning in the hospital. However, the P&P did not address qualifications of clinical discharge planners.

-- During interview with the Director of Patient and Family Services (PFS) on 6/8/15 at 11:45 am, he/she acknowledged that the discharge planning P&P did not address the qualifications of clinical discharge planners.

Based on findings from medical record (MR) review and interview, in 1 of 5 MRs reviewed, written discharge instructions were not provided to a patient's (Patient A's) representative upon discharge to an assisted living facility.

Findings include:

-- Per MR review, Patient A was admitted to the hospital on 2/6/15. He/she had a court appointed legal guardian. On 4/10/15 Patient A was discharged to an assisted living facility. There is no documentation in Patient A's MR indicating that written discharge instructions were completed and/or provided to the patient's legal guardian at discharge.

-- During interview with Clinical Discharge Planner #1, on 6/24/15 at 2:30 pm, he/she acknowledged lack of discharge instructions in Patient A's MR and agreed that the discharge instructions should have been completed.

Based on findings from facility document review, medical record (MR) review and interview, in 1 of 5 MRs reviewed, the hospital did not provide a patient (Patient B) with a list of Medicare participating home health agencies (HHAs) available to meet the needs of the patient after discharge. The hospital's discharge planning policy and procedure (P&P) did not describe the process for providing a list of Medicare participating HHAs and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to patients identified as needing those services.

Findings include:

-- The hospital's policy and procedure titled "Discharge Planning," last revised 6/2014, indicated that the discharge planning process should include options available to patients for post acute durable equipment, nursing care needs, transportation, emergency systems, etc.

-- Per MR review, Patient B was admitted to the hospital on 5/31/15 with fever. Patient B was treated with antibiotic therapy and on 6/8/15 Patient B was discharged from the hospital with home care nursing services and home infusion services. There is no documentation in Patient B's MR indicating that a list of Medicare participating HHAs was provided to the patient during the discharge planning process.

Based on findings from facility document review and interview, the hospital's discharge planning policy and procedure (P&P) did not specify the qualifications for clinical discharge planners in the Patient and Family Services (PFS) department that perform discharge planning evaluations.

Findings include:

-- The hospital's P&P titled "Discharge Planning," last revised 6/2014, indicated that the PFS department is responsible for establishing discharge planning in the hospital. However, the P&P did not address qualifications of clinical discharge planners.

-- During interview with the Director of Patient and Family Services (PFS) on 6/8/15 at 11:45 am, he/she acknowledged that the discharge planning P&P did not address the qualifications of clinical discharge planners.