HospitalInspections.org

Based on interview and review of 1 of 1 clinical record, the facility failed to inform the patient of a change in discharge plans resulting in a transfer of the patient to another hospital without notifying the patient.
Findings:

Record review reflected a progress note entered described the patient, a 53 year old female presented to the emergency room of hospital #1 on 12/10/10 at 2:11pm. Chief complaint: "depression" The patient reported uncontrollable depression due to chronic pain over 20 years.
Plan: transfer to a psychiatric facility.
On 12/10/10 at 8:38pm it was noted "will be transferred for psych treatment and stabilization. Patient/ husband RN and MD agreed.

Present in the record was a form from hospital #2, a psychiatric hospital titled "Exclusionary Criteria: This form ,dated 12/10/10 at 7:55pm was faxed to the ER physician to attest that the patient was medically(to transfer to psychiatry) with the direction to fax back to hospital #2.
Per interview with the CEO at hospital #2 on 2/15/11 at 2:15pm, hospital #2 records show that hospital #1 contacted his hospital on 12/10/10 about 7:00pm requesting a female bed. He stated that, at that time his hospital had 3 female beds available. Acceptance was pending returning, via fax the signed exclusionary criteria form. He stated their records show this form was never faxed back.

Per interview with the patient on 3/3/11 at 2:10pm she was informed she would be transferred to hospital #2 and she agreed to this transfer only. but she ended up being transferred to hospital #3 the next day. She stated no one told and she did not agree to going to hospital #3 until she arrived at hospital #3.

Further record review reflected on 12/11/10 at 0718 the patient was transferred to hospital #3