HospitalInspections.org

Bsed on interveiw and record review, the facility failed to provide 2 (#9, #14) of 3 discharged patients an opportunity to appeal the hospital discharge. Findings include:

Patient #9 was admitted on 5/20/10 - 6/8/10 with pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The medical record lacked documentation of the "An Important Message From Medicare About Your Rights" which outlines the patients' appeal rights if they feel they're being discharged too soon. Patient #9's second admission of 6/20/10 - 6/25/10 for exacerbation of COPD revealed that he did not receive his second notice prior to discharge as required. The patient did not want to be discharged on Friday, 6/25/10. Interview with the Case Managers on 1/18/11 at approximately 1300 revealed that they were unaware of the patient not wanting to go home. Additionally, patient #14 was admitted from 9/29/10 - 10/8/10 and the Medicare Discharge Rights second notice was not documented as given as required.

Interviw with the Manager Patient Registration and Utilization Management, on 1/18/11 at approximately 1330, verified that the Medicare Discharge Rights signed form was not documented as being given in patient #9's or #14's medical records.