HospitalInspections.org

Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure appropriate arrangements for post-hospital care were made before discharge for 1 (Patient #1) of 3 residents sampled.

Findings:

A record review for Patient #1 revealed Patient was admitted to facility on 07/13/2020. Patient's record included a discharge planning and documentation note dated 07/20/20, which included the following: "Contacted facility who refused to allow patient back due tothe facilty due to increase in 'COVID-19' cases over this past weekend." Discharge documentation completed on 07/20/20 was signed by patient and facility, which confirmed Patient receiving transportation from facility to Skilled Nursing Facility (home).

During an interview on 08/18/20 at 2:20 PM, Staff A a therapist confirmed contacting Patient #1's Skilled Nursing Facility prior to discharge. Staff A said facility refused to receive Patient as written in note, but could not explain why Patient was discharged same day to facility. Staff A & Staff B( Program Manager) also stated no COVID testing was requested by Skilled Nursing Facility; however, the facility had not confirmed whether the discharge location could safely receive and isolate the Patient as outlined by Agency for Health Care Administration's Emergency Rule 59AER20-8.

A record review of the Agency for Health Care Administration's Emergency Rule 59AER20-8 Hospital Screening Requirements for Long-Term Care Facility Residents states the following:
(3) Every hospital must test any long-term care facility resident whose COVID-19 status is unknown using a nucleic acid amplification laboratory test that has been given Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) prior to discharging the individual to any long-term care facility. Hospitals may discharge a long-term care facility resident who is awaiting test results for COVID-19 if the long-term care facility resident has never tested positive for nor been suspected of having COVID-19, as long as the hospital confirms that the long-term care facility is able to isolate the resident while the hospital's test results are pending and the hospital confirms that the long-term care facility is able to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") infection prevention and control precautions for a person with unknown COVID-19 status.