Complaint·November 15, 2023

It is alleged that client was charged for transportation to medical appointments and that this service is included in the admission agreement. According to the Admission agreement signed by PoA for client #1, non-emergency transportation will be planned and/or arranged to medical appointments, and "facility will assist in arranging for a transportation provider...and the resident is responsible for the fare, if any." Client #1 developed deep tissue injury of heels due to pressure, which was documented in resident notes in April 2021 and treated by home health RNs. Client was already receiving home health visits since March 2021 for physical and occupational therapy. Wound care for heel wounds was documented by home health visit reports starting in May 2021. Request for healing wound exception was submitted to CCLD on 6/23/21 with physician's report. Care plans, assessment from vascular surgeon and home health RN visit notes dated in June 2021 and August 2021 were reviewed. Client #1 was admitted 11/19/20 and discharged 1/31/22, but was out of the facility for almost 4 1/2 months hospitalized, in rehabilitation, or other. According to text messages to assisted living director, staff failed to respond to client's emergency calls in timely manner on several occasions. History report of calls and responses was not available until LPA requested administrator to contact Tek Tone to make this information accessible to staff on 2/18/22. Based on call history report for client #1 for August, September, October 2021, client called for staff up to 6 times per day; in August, staff responded after 16 minutes; in September, there was a 25 minute response and a 21 minute response; in October, there was a 16 minute response. Staff responded to all other calls in a timely manner--most within 5 minutes. These lengthy response times were rare occurrences and not indicative of failing to respond to calls timely. Although the allegations may have occurred or are valid, there is not enough evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur.