§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 review of facility policy, clinical record review, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to make certain that the necessary resident information was communicated to the receiving health care provider for one of two residents sampled with facility-initiated transfers (Resident R1).
Findings include:
Review of facility policy "Transfer and Discharge Notice" dated 2,2026, indicated resident or representative are notified prior to transfer or discharge. Documentation will be completed in medical record.
Review of the clinical record indicated Resident R1 was admitted to the facility on 1/1/26.
Review of Resident R1's Minimum Data Set (MDS - a periodic assessment of care needs) dated 1/5/26, indicated diagnoses of heart failure (a progressive heart disease that affects pumping action of the heart muscles), Parkinson's disease (neuromuscular disorder causing tremors and difficulty walking), and high blood pressure.
Review of the clinical record indicated Resident R1 was transferred to the hospital on 1/15/26, and did not return to the facility.
Review of Resident R1's clinical record revealed no documented evidence that the facility had communicated specific information to the receiving health care provider for the residents transferred and expected to return, which included the resident's care plan goals, advanced directive information, specific instructions for ongoing care, resident representative information, and all information necessary to meet the resident's specific needs at the receiving facility.
During an interview on 3/4/26, at 2:45 p.m. the Director of Nursing confirmed that the facilityfailed to make certain that the necessary resident information was communicated to the receiving health care provider for one of two residents sampled with facility-initiated transfers (Resident R1).
28 Pa. Code: 201.29 (a)(c.3)(2) Resident rights.
| | Plan of Correction - To be completed: 03/20/2026
Can not correct the issue due to patient being discharged from facility
The DON or designee conducted a review of all resident transfers for the past 2 weeks for residents transferred and expected to return.
Transfer documentation was audited to ensure required information was communicated to the receiving provider.
For any identified transfers with incomplete documentation:
The receiving provider was contacted immediately to provide missing information.
Documentation was updated to reflect the communication.
Any trends identified were addressed through staff education and process improvement.
The facility reviewed its Transfer and Discharge Policy to clearly define required information that must be communicated to the receiving provider, including:
Care plan goals
Advance directive and code status information
Specific instructions for ongoing care
Resident representative and emergency contact information
All information necessary to meet the resident's specific needs
Nursing staff are required to document communication with the receiving provider in the medical record
All licensed nursing staff were educated on:
F Tag 628 requirements
Documentation expectations
Education was completed by the DON or designee and attendance was documented.
New hires will receive this education during orientation.
The DON or designee will conduct weekly audits of all transfers for four (4) weeks, then monthly audits for an additional two (2) months.
Audits will include review of:
Documentation of communication with receiving providers
Audit results will be reviewed during Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) meetings.
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