HospitalInspections.org

Based on Interview and Record Review the facility failed to notify the POA (Power of Attorney) of the patient's admission to the hospital in 1 (Pt.#1) of 10 patients in a sample of 10 medical records reviewed.

Findings Include:

Review of facility policy, number 67680, titled, "(facility) Patient Rights and Responsibilities", effective date of 01/17/2022, revealed, "Upon admission and with the patient's agreement, the hospital must immediately inform a family member/support person and the patients physician that the patient has been admitted to the hospital."

Review of Pt. #1 medical record, general consent for treatment, on 02/16/2022 at 04:17 AM, on the patient signature line, revealed the following statement, "Pt. has POA, middle of the night did not call."

In an interview on 05/24/2022 at 0:950 AM with ED (Emergency Department) doctor, Staff E, when asked what the process is for admitting a patient with an activated POA, Doctor E stated, "If they have an activated POA, we talk with the POA and discuss the plan and then call them again about admission to the hospital, if there is an activated POA, the patient can't sign the consent. We would let the POA know of the admission, but wouldn't admit without letting the POA know."

In an interview on 05/24/2022 at 3:50 PM with Hospitalist (doctor that manages inpatients) O, when asked why Pt. #1 didn't have a consent form signed to be admitted to the hospital, Hospitalist O stated, "The patient came from the ED at 6:30 and was admitted to the floor, the consent for admission should happen before coming to the floor....I intended to call the POA, but the call never happened and the floor was busy."

In an interview on 05/24/2022 at 4:05 PM with Chief Medical Officer (CMO) P, when asked how the consent to admit a patient to the hospital is obtained, CMO P stated, "Typically the ED doctor would get the consent."