Helping my sister transition from SNF therapy rehab to LTC and I've submitted her signed HIPAA form to the social worker authorizing me to request records. Are there admission papers to be signed at SNF when moved there for therapy after hospital stay? Or would the discharge paperwork from the hospital serve that purpose? Would the SNF also have a copy of discharge paperwork as part of my sister's medical records? My sister says she hasn't signed anything, and the SNF social worker says I would need to get that from the hospital (& I'm in the process of doing that now). I gave written request to SW for my sister's medical records 2 weeks ago but haven't received yet. I think in Maryland they have up to 21 days & I'll be checking on that later today. Thanks for assistance.
If LTC wants her Hospital records all you sister needs to do is sign a form giving LTC permission to request it. You no way get involved. In my opinion you being on her HIPPA forms is limiting. You really need to be her POA.
Adding to Alva's explanation, in my experience the hospital faxed selected medical information to a rehab facility, but I'm not sure what papers would be faxed to LTC. I would think though that in addition to hospital discharge and relevant papers, the SNF from which she's transferring would also be requested to provide data to the LTC. I think you would have to request and deliver that data.
Either before, upon arrival, or afterwards, as Alva said, a "raft of papers" needs to be signed. My only experience is with SNFs. I either sat right in the Admin's office and read through every single paper, or got concurrence to read them at home and return them. I had no hesitation to raise and discuss, and change issues, that I felt were inappropriate. Sometimes I added that I had contract admin experience in my background to buttress my right to change selected provisions, some of which were inappropriate.
Of course I also got copies of the full package.
Alva's right about signatures. I signed as "(my name), not individually but as proxy pursuant to DPOA dated ______________."
I freely admit I may have misunderstood the situation. If so, please feel free to offer corrections.
It is important that YOU nor anyone else sign your own name to papers.This would mean that you are responsible. So if you are not POA this is the time to do that if your elder is competent. As she is signing I assume that she is. Then you would sign for her using "her name" followed by "your name as POA".
Stay in touch with the Discharge planners and social workers in any facility and make them your instant best friend.