§483.15(c)(2) Documentation. When the facility transfers or discharges a resident under any of the circumstances specified in paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) through (F) of this section, the facility must ensure that the transfer or discharge is documented in the resident's medical record and appropriate information is communicated to the receiving health care institution or provider. (iii) Information provided to the receiving provider must include a minimum of the following: (A) Contact information of the practitioner responsible for the care of the resident. (B) Resident representative information including contact information (C) Advance Directive information (D) All special instructions or precautions for ongoing care, as appropriate. (E) Comprehensive care plan goals; (F) All other necessary information, including a copy of the resident's discharge summary, consistent with §483.21(c)(2) as applicable, and any other documentation, as applicable, to ensure a safe and effective transition of care.
§483.15(c)(3) Notice before transfer. Before a facility transfers or discharges a resident, the facility must- (i) Notify the resident and the resident's representative(s) of the transfer or discharge and the reasons for the move in writing and in a language and manner they understand. The facility must send a copy of the notice to a representative of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. (ii) Record the reasons for the transfer or discharge in the resident's medical record in accordance with paragraph (c)(2) of this section; and (iii) Include in the notice the items described in paragraph (c)(5) of this section.
§483.15(c)(4) Timing of the notice. (i) Except as specified in paragraphs (c)(4)(ii) and (c)(8) of this section, the notice of transfer or discharge required under this section must be made by the facility at least 30 days before the resident is transferred or discharged. (ii) Notice must be made as soon as practicable before transfer or discharge when- (A) The safety of individuals in the facility would be endangered under paragraph (c)(1)(i)(C) of this section; (B) The health of individuals in the facility would be endangered, under paragraph (c)(1)(i)(D) of this section; (C) The resident's health improves sufficiently to allow a more immediate transfer or discharge, under paragraph (c)(1)(i)(B) of this section; (D) An immediate transfer or discharge is required by the resident's urgent medical needs, under paragraph (c)(1)(i)(A) of this section; or (E) A resident has not resided in the facility for 30 days.
§483.15(c)(5) Contents of the notice. The written notice specified in paragraph (c)(3) of this section must include the following:
(i) The reason for transfer or discharge; (ii) The effective date of transfer or discharge; (iii) The location to which the resident is transferred or discharged; (iv) A statement of the resident's appeal rights, including the name, address (mailing and email), and telephone number of the entity which receives such requests; and information on how to obtain an appeal form and assistance in completing the form and submitting the appeal hearing request; (v) The name, address (mailing and email) and telephone number of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman; (vi) For nursing facility residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities or related disabilities, the mailing and email address and telephone number of the agency responsible for the protection and advocacy of individuals with developmental disabilities established under Part C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-402, codified at 42 U.S.C. 15001 et seq.); and (vii) For nursing facility residents with a mental disorder or related disabilities, the mailing and email address and telephone number of the agency responsible for the protection and advocacy of individuals with a mental disorder established under the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act.
§483.15(c)(6) Changes to the notice. If the information in the notice changes prior to effecting the transfer or discharge, the facility must update the recipients of the notice as soon as practicable once the updated information becomes available.
§483.15(c)(8) Notice in advance of facility closure In the case of facility closure, the individual who is the administrator of the facility must provide written notification prior to the impending closure to the State Survey Agency, the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, residents of the facility, and the resident representatives, as well as the plan for the transfer and adequate relocation of the residents, as required at § 483.70(l).
§483.15(d) Notice of bed-hold policy and return-
§483.15(d)(1) Notice before transfer. Before a nursing facility transfers a resident to a hospital or the resident goes on therapeutic leave, the nursing facility must provide written information to the resident or resident representative that specifies- (i) The duration of the state bed-hold policy, if any, during which the resident is permitted to return and resume residence in the nursing facility; (ii) The reserve bed payment policy in the state plan, under § 447.40 of this chapter, if any; (iii) The nursing facility's policies regarding bed-hold periods, which must be consistent with paragraph (e)(1 ) of this section, permitting a resident to return; and (iv) The information specified in paragraph (e)(1) of this section.
§483.15(d)(2) Bed-hold notice upon transfer. At the time of transfer of a resident for hospitalization or therapeutic leave, a nursing facility must provide to the resident and the resident representative written notice which specifies the duration of the bed-hold policy described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
§483.21(c)(2) Discharge Summary When the facility anticipates discharge, a resident must have a discharge summary that includes, but is not limited to, the following: (i) A recapitulation of the resident's stay that includes, but is not limited to, diagnoses, course of illness/treatment or therapy, and pertinent lab, radiology, and consultation results. (ii) A final summary of the resident's status to include items in paragraph (b)(1) of §483.20, at the time of the discharge that is available for release to authorized persons and agencies, with the consent of the resident or resident's representative. (iii) Reconciliation of all pre-discharge medications with the resident's post-discharge medications (both prescribed and over-the-counter).
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Observations:
Based on clinical record reviews and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to provide the resident/resident's responsible party with complete information regarding medications upon discharge for one of 14 residents reviewed (Resident 6) who were discharged to home.
Findings include:
An admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment (a federally mandated assessment of a resident's abilities and care needs) for Resident 6, dated November 21, 2025, revealed that the resident was cognitively intact, was incontinent of bowel and bladder, was at risk for developing pressure ulcers, and had no current pressure ulcers.
An admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment (a federally mandated assessment of a resident's abilities and care needs) for Resident 6, dated March 30, 2026, revealed that the resident was moderately cognitively impaired, able to make her needs known, and had a urinary tract infection.
Physician's orders, dated March 12 and 24, and April 6, 2026, included orders for the resident to receive 650 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen every six hours as needed, 100 mg of allopurinol (used to treat gout) twice a day, 5 mg of Eliquis (blood thinner) twice day, 10 mg of famotidine (used to treat acid reflux and heartburn) daily, 800 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid (supplement) daily, 24 units of Lantus(insulin glargine) daily, 500 mg of levetiracetam (anti-convulsant medication) twice a day, 25 mcg of levothyroxine (used to treat thyroid disease) daily, a multivitamin daily, 20 mg of nadolol (used to treat heart disease) daily, a sliding scale (amount of insulin based on blood sugar results) of Novolog (insulin) before meals and at bedtime, 50 mg of pregabalin (anti-convulsant medication) daily, 17 grams of polyethylene glycol as needed for constipation, 100 mg of thiamine (vitamin B supplement) daily, 50 mg of tramadol (pain medication) every six as needed, and 550 mg of Xifaxan (antibiotic) twice a day.
A nursing note dated April 15, 2026, at 11:12 a.m. revealed the resident's family member was in to take Resident 6 home. The resident was educated on all discharge orders and medications and all belongings and medications including narcotics were sent home with the resident.
The discharge instructions for Resident 6, dated April 15, 2026, revealed that the resident was being discharged home and the current list of medications and instructions provided to the resident at the time of discharge only included Novolog, Lantus, acetaminophen, and polyethylene glycol. There was no documented evidence that the resident or her family was provided a complete list of current medications and instructions.
Interview with the Director of Nursing on April 22, 2026, at 6:07 p.m. confirmed that there was no documented evidence that Resident 6 or her family was provided a complete list of her current medications and instructions.
28 Pa. Code 211.12(d)(1)(3)(5) Nursing services.
| | Plan of Correction - To be completed: 05/08/2026
The facility cannot retroactively correct for Resident R 6 as she was discharged.
Licensed staff were educated by Staff Development on the proper discharge process.
Moving forward, the assigned nurse will complete a medication reconciliation before discharge to ensure all medications are present.
The Director of Nursing or designee will audit discharges 2x per week times 30 days to ensure all medications are present upon discharge.
These audits will be reviewed at the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement meeting for further recommendations as needed.
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