HospitalInspections.org

Based on interview and document review, it was determined that the facility failed to follow the facility policy to notify the patient's representative of change in status for one (1) of seven (7) Patients (Patient # 29).

The findings include:

On July 13, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., a Clinical Record review for Patient # 29 revealed the following:
Patient # 29 was admitted to the facility on January 13, 2021. Patient # 29's daughter was listed as Emergency Contact.
On January 15, 2021, Staff responded to a Code Blue for Patient # 29. The DNR/DNI (Do Not Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate) was confirmed. Patient # 29 was pronounced dead at 3:40 a.m.

A note by the Nurse Practitioner (NP) reads in part "attempted to reach family - unsuccessful, all 3 contacts called."
There was no follow up documentation that the Pronouncing or attending Physician or Designee contacted and informed the family of the patient's death.

An interview with Staff Member # 6 on July 13, 2021 at 11:45 a.m. revealed "There is no documentation that the NP followed up and contacted the family regarding the death. The hospital operator told the daughter the patient was deceased. That is not the facility policy."

The facility policy provided by Staff Member # 5 on July 14, 2021 at approximately 11:00 a.m. titled "Death of Patient" reads in part "Notify the family or legal guardian, and whenever possible, the legal next of kin of the patient's death. Performed by Pronouncing or attending Physician or Designee."