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I receive my mother's medical records. Documents in my mother's medical records say I was contacted although I did not receive any contact. I have noted that nurses sign a document saying they informed me regarding the content. But based on both my memory as well as official phone records no notification was completed.. I sent a complaint to the State Department of Health. Eventually they investigated and stated my complaint was valid but that the home was within regulatory guidelines. When I contacted the ombudsman she indicated that the information they failed to report was not an event required to be reported to CMS according to their regulatory guidelines. My question is why did they sign and date the document and put my name down as informed? I know fraud usually refers to gain of money but isn't this falsification of a medical record? Examples are changes in laboratory values or medication dose, Is there any recourse, what could be the motivation? This is not the first negative interaction with the home and I don't want to have yet another altercation that could result in retribution, transfer is not a possibility, isn't there a legal recourse or other action I can take.

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The ombudsman says these events did not require reporting to you. What is your desired solution? Do you want to be notified, or do you want them to stop claiming on a form that they did notify you when they didn't? Do you want to be allowed to insert a note indicating that you were not informed, so the record will be accurate?

Decide what a satisfactory solution would be, and discuss it with the care center director or the director of nursing. Keep it friendly and polite, but be firm in stating what you want to have happen. Simply accusing them of making mistakes isn't as effective as being clear on what you want to have happen going forward.

As sunflo says, pick your battles.
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Agree. I think the best thing to do is sit down with director and care team and ask that they contact you regarding all activities, issues, med changes, care updates or changes, etc. You may just have to get specific with information you wish to be alerted on. Also, approach that you want to update NH on current contact info and ask that the both contact you by phone and email. Maybe give a secondary contact number for you such as a trusted friend or family member if they can't get ahold of you for authorization of any changes.

Hope this helps, but there are bound to be some clerical errors, and personnel come and go with some more conscientious than others.

Certainly if it is a safety issue or a matter of moms imminent health and welbeing you may want to take legal action or make a report --just be sure to pick your battles...
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Well you could try to sue them, but initiating a lawsuit would get your mother bounced out the front door. There is no guarantee the next NH would be any better. Don't let a clerical error turn things upside down. I'm sure they will be more vigilant.
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