What happens when this decision is made? The Kensington is unique among Assisted Living facilities as we have nurses on staff twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. When an emergency does arise, our nurses move into action making the necessary arrangements. All pertinent records, reports and information always accompany each resident when sent to the hospital.
This is typically how this journey starts:
- The nurse contacts the Resident Physician and both the Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing to alert them that a resident needs to go to the hospital.
- The family is notified of the decision to send the resident to the hospital.
- 911 is called.
- The nurse fills out a transfer record and the resident is sent with their current medication list, last labs, last doctor note and vaccination information.
- We also send the face sheet, insurance cards copies and the health care proxy information.
- The nurse gives a report to EMS and calls the Emergency Room to give a report to the ER nurse as well.
When a resident is in the hospital, nursing is in communication with the social worker, doctors and the nurses and as many of you have experienced, our staff frequently visit our residents while they are in White Plains Hospital. We work with the hospital to get all the necessary paperwork and the discharge instructions as well as any new prescriptions or orders for meds that are to be discontinued. This is a lengthy process as the Department of Health is very specific about the paperwork needed for a resident to return.
If the resident is discharged to a rehabilitation facility, we work with that facility to obtain all the necessary information. If a resident is gone for an extended period, Mary Ann (DON) will typically come to the facility and complete another assessment so that care needs can be updated.
The Kensington does not provide transport from the hospital upon discharge. The social worker will set this up and discuss the details with families prior to the date of discharge. We accept residents returning seven days a week, again as long as we have the documentation and we have provided for a safe discharge back to the Kensington.
Families are always notified by The Kensington before we send a resident to the hospital via a 911 emergency call. If it has been determined an emergency, we will call no matter the time of day or night. Families should be notified by the hospital about the discharge plan back to the Kensington.
This is a small sample of what goes on behind the scenes – the preparation, communication and paperwork involved. So be assured that we know what has been happening and our nurses are monitoring the safe return and speedy treatment of all our Kensington Family.