Health inspection·October 1, 2024

F 0573 Level of Harm - Minimal harm or potential for actual harm Residents Affected - Few Let each resident or the resident's legal representative access or purchase copies of all the resident's records. **NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to provide a copy of medical records upon written request from an authorized legal representative ([LR] a person who is legally authorized to act on behalf of another) for one of three sampled residents (Resident 1) within two working days per the facility's policy and procedure (P&P) titled, Release of Information. This deficient practice violated Resident 1 and the LR's rights to obtain a copy of the resident's medical record. Findings: During a review of Resident 1 ' s admission Record (Face Sheet), the face sheet indicated Resident 1 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including severe sepsis (a life-threatening condition that occurs when an infection causes organ damage) with septic shock (a life-threatening condition that occurs when a body-wide infection causes dangerously low blood pressure and organ failure), and vascular dementia (a chronic condition that affects the brain ' s ability to think, remember, and behave due to poor blood flow). During a review of Resident 1 ' s Minimum Data Set ([MDS] a federally mandated assessment tool), dated 6/5/2024, the MDS indicated Resident 1 had severe cognitive (ability to think and reason) impairment. During a review of Resident 1 ' s Authorization for the Release of Information (any information in the medical record or designated record set that can be used to identify an individual and that was created, used, or disclosed in the course of providing a health care service such as diagnosis or treatment) faxed form dated 8/13/2024, and faxed 8/14/2024, indicated LR 1 signed a release to disclose the Medical Records Information for Resident 1. During a review of an email dated 9/24/2024, the email indicated the facility provided LR ' s requested records on 9/24/2024. During an interview on 10/1/2024 at 10:36 a.m., the Medical Records Director (MRD) stated their policy had been changed 9/2024 to release medical records from 15 calendar days to 48 hours from the time requested by residents or their legal representative. During an interview on 10/1/2024 at 12:00 p.m., the Administrator (ADM) stated the facility had 48 hours to submit requested records from the resident or representative. The ADM stated LR ' s request Page 1 of 2 055527 055527 10/01/2024 Los Palos Post-Acute Care Center 1430 West 6th Street San Pedro, CA 90732

F 0573 Level of Harm - Minimal harm or potential for actual harm Residents Affected - Few on 8/14/2024 was sent late by the facility because when a law office requests medical records it had to go through their legal team first. During a review of the facility ' s policy and procedure (P&P) titled Release of Information revised 11/2009, the P&P indicated the resident may obtain photocopies of his or her records by forty-eight hours after request excluding weekends and holidays. 055527 Page 2 of 2