Who's behind this transfer? The hospital discharge planner?
Do you have authority to make decisions on his behalf through a DPOA? Have you been involved in his care since his admission?
You have the right to choose a facility that meets your standards. Start researching, calling, visiting, taking notes, but in the meantime tell the discharge planner (if she's the one pushing this substandard place) that it's not acceptable with you.
Some of these planners are difficult to deal with, and it's been my experience that they're less than honest about the substandard places.
If she gives you a rough time, go to the charge nurse or higher up and explain the situation and ask if it's possible for your father to be in the hospital for another day while you find a place that meets your standards. The DP doesn't have this authority and probably would resist, so you may have to ask one of the higher-ups, all the way to the hospital administrator, to get involved and contact the attending physician.
If worse comes to worse and he is put in this place, speak with the attending, or your father's specialty doctor or a doctor who's involved with his care, explain the situation, and ask if he'll script for a change.
I did this when I found what I thought was a very good SNF (ratings were good, place looked good, met my standards), but the food was inedible, completely inedible (frozen, thawed, microwaved and looked like wall plaster). Staff to patient ratios was a subject I forgot to research and that was a major issue as well.
The doctor's PA said Medicare might refuse to pay if I moved Dad to another SNF, but that if the doctor wrote a letter to the place I planned to take him, that would help. And it did; there was never an issue of payment.
Another thought - the DP has to send medical information to the potential nursing homes. This is part of her job. If she tells you she's already sent out info and he's been accepted, don't let her manipulate you. She has obligations to send the information to nursing homes you request be considered.
I've found that these people really don't have ability to deal with pressure and just want to shoo the patient out the door and move on to the next one to be shooed out.
You really have to be firm with them; don't let them push you around.
If Dad is a Medicare patient it is usual to send the patient to the first place that has a bed available. Does not stop you from finding somewhere better.
Same in my area, first place that has a bed available. If I wanted to move my parent, then transportation would come out of my own pocket, as Medicare only pays once from the hospital to the rehab facility.
FF, that's interesting about the transportation issue. I have a vague recollection that might have been a threat when I moved Dad - the ambulance driver was employed by one of the joint venture partners which owned the facility with despicable service, and made some not very subtle comments about leaving that dump and the fact that I might end up paying for transit costs.
However, we didn't. Medicare picked up the costs. Had it not, I would have followed up with complaints on the mistakes made by the dumpy place (including losing my father's chart). Had things not been so hectic, I would have followed up on even more complaints, but I switched focus to Dad's healing and moved on.
Whose ratings? Medicare ratings? NYS ratings? Google ratings? I stayed in a place with low "ratings" and got excellent care. Go look with your own eyes and talk to the staff and residents. Find out who the NYS Ombudsman is and talk to them too.
I have to agree with Pam. My mom's nursing home has one Medicare star. She's getting good care. Stable staff. Responsive to our concerns. No smells ( the 5 star rated one stank both times we went). Go visit.
Good point about the rating. What are the subject matters regarding the ratings?
My Dad had stayed in a rehab place for a couple of weeks, years ago. The building was built 40 years ago and it looked it. Not very cheery looking decor wise. But Dad got excellent physical therapy and the food was excellent... I even went there to join Dad for lunch a few times because the meals were soooo good :) And the Staff was very attentive. I bet on some internet rating sites the place probably got low ratings on looks alone.
Are you close enough to visit your father regularly?
Do you have authority to make decisions on his behalf through a DPOA? Have you been involved in his care since his admission?
You have the right to choose a facility that meets your standards. Start researching, calling, visiting, taking notes, but in the meantime tell the discharge planner (if she's the one pushing this substandard place) that it's not acceptable with you.
Some of these planners are difficult to deal with, and it's been my experience that they're less than honest about the substandard places.
If she gives you a rough time, go to the charge nurse or higher up and explain the situation and ask if it's possible for your father to be in the hospital for another day while you find a place that meets your standards. The DP doesn't have this authority and probably would resist, so you may have to ask one of the higher-ups, all the way to the hospital administrator, to get involved and contact the attending physician.
If worse comes to worse and he is put in this place, speak with the attending, or your father's specialty doctor or a doctor who's involved with his care, explain the situation, and ask if he'll script for a change.
I did this when I found what I thought was a very good SNF (ratings were good, place looked good, met my standards), but the food was inedible, completely inedible (frozen, thawed, microwaved and looked like wall plaster). Staff to patient ratios was a subject I forgot to research and that was a major issue as well.
The doctor's PA said Medicare might refuse to pay if I moved Dad to another SNF, but that if the doctor wrote a letter to the place I planned to take him, that would help. And it did; there was never an issue of payment.
Good luck; this must be frustrating.
I've found that these people really don't have ability to deal with pressure and just want to shoo the patient out the door and move on to the next one to be shooed out.
You really have to be firm with them; don't let them push you around.
However, we didn't. Medicare picked up the costs. Had it not, I would have followed up with complaints on the mistakes made by the dumpy place (including losing my father's chart). Had things not been so hectic, I would have followed up on even more complaints, but I switched focus to Dad's healing and moved on.
My Dad had stayed in a rehab place for a couple of weeks, years ago. The building was built 40 years ago and it looked it. Not very cheery looking decor wise. But Dad got excellent physical therapy and the food was excellent... I even went there to join Dad for lunch a few times because the meals were soooo good :) And the Staff was very attentive. I bet on some internet rating sites the place probably got low ratings on looks alone.