RESIDENT RIGHTS                                                                                     04-02-010

DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS

POLICY STATEMENT.

The Division of Veterans Healthcare Services (DVHS) requires that each of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes (VMH) inform residing residents of all impending transfers and discharges, and actively assist the resident to move to a more suitable environment to meet their individual needs.

PURPOSE.

To facilitate a resident's transfer from one location to another with as little discomfort or inconvenience as possible.

DEFINITIONS.

DEPARTMENTAL FACILITIES – refers to the three New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes: the Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home (Central- NJ), the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home (North-NJ), and the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home (South-NJ).

INTERNAL TRANSFER - is the physical movement of a resident from one location to another, within the living unit (room to room transfer) or from one living unit to another (unit to unit transfer) within the same VMH.

DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFER - is the physical movement of a Veterans Home resident who desires to move to one of the other NJ Veterans Memorial Homes within the Department (VMH to VMH transfer).

EXTERNAL TRANSFER - is the physical movement of a resident residing in one of the New Jersey VMHs to a facility outside the Department. The resident, or the representative payor, must meet all fiscal obligations to the sending New Jersey VMH prior to being transferred.

INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM (IDT) - a group of professional and/or ancillary staff members, representative of each service, coordinated by a Registered Nurse (RN), and responsible for the development of individual resident care/treatment plans in accordance with regulatory/licensing standards.

A. For Departmental and External Transfers, the resident must satisfy all fiscal obligations to the Veterans Memorial Home prior to being transferred.

B. Any of the following may result in a resident transfer:

1. A change in medical status

2. A change in behavioral status

3. Medical emergency

4. Psychosocial incompatibility

5. Meets the administrative needs of the facility

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DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS

PROCEDURE.

A. New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes

1. The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes will ensure all licensing and regulatory standards guiding the resident transfer process will be followed and enforced.  To this end, residents and/or designated representatives will be given notice of any impending transfer in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Resident’s Bill of Rights.

a. INTERNAL MOVEMENT:

(1) In order for a resident to be reassigned from one residence to another, the following criteria must be met:

(a) The change is necessary to better meet the resident's medical/psychological needs.

(b) The change is necessary to ensure the overall appropriate management of the facility.

(c)  The change has been requested by the resident and/or designated representative and has been approved by the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT).

(d) The change has been agreed to by the resident and/or designated representative.

(e) If the change has not been agreed to by the resident and/or designated representative, the change may still be accomplished if all licensing and regulatory standards have been met.

      (2) Priority for affecting a transfer will be as follows:

(a) Medical/Psychological need.

(b) Operational needs of the facility, and approval by the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT).

      (c)  Privacy of the sexes.

(d)  Requested by resident and/or designated representative.

(e)  Seniority of residence.

(f) The IDT will review and determine the appropriateness of the transfer.

      (3) Approved transfers:

(a) The nursing department will coordinate the move.

(b) The assigned Social Services Case Manager will issue notice of the impending transfer to the resident and/or designated representative, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Resident’s Bill of Rights.

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DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS

      (4) Denied transfers:

(a) The assigned Social Services Case Manager will notify the resident and/or designated representative of the transfer request denial, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Resident’s Bill of Rights.

      (5) Appeals process:

(a) The resident and/or designated representative may appeal a transfer decision in the following manner:

1. An appeal of transfer must be received by Social Services within forty-eight (48) hours of notification, followed by written verification of the appeal.

2. The Interdisciplinary Team Chairperson will schedule a meeting with the person(s) filing the appeal within five (5) days, and they will be informed of the reason for the transfer or the reason for denial of a requested transfer.

i. The resident and/or designated representative must be given an opportunity to state their objections to the decision.

ii. The Chairperson will document the results of the appeal, and the assigned Social Services Case Manager will send the Interdisciplinary Team’s decision within five (5) days to the appealing party.

(6) The Chief Executive Officer/designee will review all appeals and notify the resident,   and/or designated representative of his/her decision within 10 business days of receipt of the appeal, concluding the internal appeals process.

b. DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFER.

(1) A resident and/or designated representative may make application for transfer from one New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home to another.

(2) Transfers will follow the admission procedure. Once the transfer is approved, the applicant will be placed at the end of the Approved Waiting List at the receiving VMH.

(3) Resident Responsibilities:

(a) All financial responsibilities of the resident to the transferring VMH must be met prior to transfer.

(b) The resident and/or their designated representative will be responsible for the financial obligations of the move.

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DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS

c. EXTERNAL TRANSFER.

(1) The resident and/or designated representative may inform the VMH that they are transferring the resident to a facility outside the Department.

(2) A resident may require a level of care that cannot be provided by the VMH, therefore the VMH may initiate the process of transferring the resident to another facility outside the Department.

(3) If a resident or their designated representative requests an external transfer, they must sign a discharge form which states the date the resident is leaving, and their understanding of the fact that the resident cannot apply for readmission to the VMH for a period of six (6) months.

(4) The assigned Social Services Case Manager will oversee the external transfer, will obtain a signed “Release of Medical Records” form from the resident and/or designated representative, and will ensure that all required medical records are sent to the receiving facility.

(5) All financial responsibilities of the resident to the VMH must be met prior to transfer.

(6) The resident and/or designated representative will be responsible for the financial obligations of the external transfer.

Revised:  October 1993

Reviewed:  November 1996

Revised:  March 2004

Revised:  July 2007