My cousin was in the hospital for a week, 4 days in a coma and they released to a rehab and health facility and he stayed there one day and left. I went there and they told me that I couldn't get his medications and other belongings that came with him from the hospital. I have been reading a lot about this but can't seem to find all of the rights that they are breaking by withholding his meds. Please let me know what you all think. Thanks
Shawn
But I’ve got to ask you...... is Cousin Wade competent and cognitive to be on his own? On his own, not with you or others helping him?
To leave AMA from a facility basically a day after arising from coma is pretty serious stuff. There’s a tendency for regression for coma patients and rehab is done to bring them back to pre-incident stage and could be weeks of rehab and followup care. Going AMA can have consequences down the line apart from him not getting his clothing or whatever RXs he thinks are his. Insurers may opt not to pay for future care related to what he walked AMA on. All this stuff is coded in his health chart; matchups can be done.
I’m somewhat concerned for you in this drama...... What was your role in his leaving AMA?...l. like were you the one that picked him up?.... are you housing him?..... you at all paying for things for him? or doing any paperwork for him? or receiving things for him?
And since the rehab did not discharge your Cousin, no medicine would be allowed to go with him. As other posters had mentioned, your Cousin's doctor would be the one to write up new prescriptions, not the rehab center.
Again, "HE WALKED OUT", along with his rights.
When I inquired they told me that I could go to the laundry area to find it. There it was. I brought it back to my mom. Mishaps happen.
Mom discovered a few pairs of pants in her closet that didn’t belong to her. I told the laundry person about them so they could go to their rightful owner.
You are absolutely correct about the meds. They had mom’s meds portioned out for the length of time that she was there. No extra pills.
Any of his personal belongings should have been in his room. In my experience, rehab does not take anything personal. Thats what u have a night stand for. My Dad always had money on him. Cousin didn't even stay long enough to have laundry done. I agree, why didn't he take his stuff with him.
They owe him no medication. I have never taken my Moms meds to a hospital or rehab. Just the list what she is on. These facilities in my area use blister packs because they are easier to keep trac of and less stealing by staff. Moms AL didn't want to take her meds but Moms plan would not allow the prescriptions to be filled until their records showed her pills had been used up. So the AL had to take them.
I can imagine. You'd like to think, wouldn't you, that a person leaving a hospital or rehab facility would be helped to pack his things, and that someone would ensure his medication and supplies were organised and ready to go with him. Then the cab arrives, with a wheelchair to take the person to it, and away they go: prompt, efficient and calm.
Nope.
We've had four new clients discharged home from acute or rehab hospitals this week, "shambles" is putting it politely. And that's when the discharge is *planned*.
His belongings are a separate issue and frankly walking out without them seems like an indication that he probably wasn’t ready and shouldn’t have left but it is his rite. Unless you have provided them paperwork making you his legal agent I imagine they are being careful to follow all the “rules” given the way it sounds like he left. If he is able you might arrange with them a time for you to bring him to pick up his belongings so they can verify he is taking responsibility for receiving them. He wasn’t there very long though so are there a lot of important belongings or valuables that he left behind?
listed at discharge from hospital to rehab
Listed on intake to rehab
listed and returned on discharge from rehab.
All medications, phones, keys, cash, and clothing should have been followed. Any medications should have been safely kept in pharmacy, esp. so if they are pain meds or anxiety med.
If these things were not returned to the patient go to the admin of the rehab and review the chart intake of possessions and the disposition of all.
And do know he has a right only to the medications he BROUGHT INTO THE HOSPITAL, which are clearly marked with his name.
I am afraid that the only thing you can do when this complicated system fails (as so often it does) is file with lost and found, and hope some compensation is forthcoming.
Meanwhile do get the new medication regime worked out with current doctor, and refill prescriptions; that can't wait.
My bro went hospital to rehab, got covid went back to hospital and back to rehab. Somewhere in all of that his cell phone, his cash, his credit cards and wallet, his medications and watch ALL went missing. Go figure. His fiduciary awaits compensation from someone, and tracking down responsibility in covid times is not worth the time.
Once she was home, the prescriptions she needed were called into our pharmacy.
I'm just curious as to why your cousin didn't bring his other belongings home with him when he left the facility? We brought my mom's stuff home with us the same day we picked her up.
With my Mom when the discharge person called it was "we are sending Mom to rehab, here r ur choices", But you can say NO. You can ask for "in home" care. I wish I knew then what I knew now. I would have had PT/OT done at the AL.
Did he call the rehab and ask that u be aloud to pick them up. Like said, they don't have to release them to you. I would not be surprised if his stuff was not there. We cleaned out Moms room the day after her death. I know there was stuff in the laundry but have never been able to get it. Told nothing there.
Have the patient contact his doctor.
Medications coming from the hospital to the rehab to discharge or home would be different meds. For example, one would not take the same meds in a coma if one is improving and ambulatory.
It would be against the law to give you your cousin's meds.
When mom was in a nursing home for rehab they provided all the medicines.
So, I don’t see why they would give it to a person that was no longer a resident.