Every finding on record at Lowcountry Nursing Group LLC

It is required that the comprehensive assessment includes an initial bereavement assessment of the needs of the patient's family and other individuals, focusing on the social, spiritual, and cultural factors that may impact their ability to cope with the patient's death. Information gathered from the initial bereavement assessment is incorporated into the plan of care and considered in the bereavement plan of care. This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review, document review, and interview. Agency policy "Evaluation of Hospice Eligibility" stated in part, "The comprehensive assessment process is completed by the hospice interdisciplinary group (IDG), in consultation with the individual's attending physician, if any, no later than 5 calendar days after the effective date of election by the individual." In 1 of 19 (5%) clinical records reviewed, the hospice did not ensure the comprehensive assessment included an initial bereavement assessment. Clinical Record 6: The patient elected hospice care on 12/21/2024. On 12/21/2024, the initial nursing assessment was completed, on 12/30/2024, a psychosocial assessment was completed, and on 01/03/2025, an assessment of spiritual needs was completed. None of these initial assessments included an initial bereavement risk assessment. The Social Worker (SW) reached out to the patient on 12/24/2024, and the Chaplain (SC) reached out on 12/22/2024. Both documented that the family wanted to reschedule their visits until after the holidays. A review of the record revealed there was no initial bereavement assessment documented as of 07/02/2025. During a joint review of clinical records and an interview on 07/02/2025, the Administrator confirmed the finding and stated that the initial bereavement assessment had not been completed. No further information was provided.

It is required that if a patient revokes the election of hospice care or is discharged from hospice per hospice regulation §418.26 (i.e., no longer terminally ill), the hospice forwards to the patient’s attending physician: a copy of the hospice discharge summary and the patient's record, if requested. This standard was not met as evidenced by a review of clinical records and interview. In 1 of 2 (50%) applicable clinical records of patients who were live discharges revealed that there was no documented evidence that the discharge summary was forwarded to the attending physician. Clinical Record 11: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 5/21/2022 and was discharged for no longer meeting eligibility requirements on 8/18/2022. There was no evidence in the clinical record that the discharge summary was sent to the attending physician. The Administrator was interviewed on 9/14/2022 and agreed that there was no documentation to show that the discharge summary was provided to the attending physician. revealed that there was no documentation that the discharge summary was forwarded to the attending physician.