When should a facility refuse to admit any person?

• A. When the facility is at capacity
• B. When the person cannot pay
• C. When it doesn't have the personnel &/or resources to provide all services and care prescribed for that person
• D. When the resident refuses admission

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that a facility must be able to provide the level of care and services a person needs. If there aren’t enough staff, trained personnel, or essential resources to deliver all the prescribed care, admitting that person could put their safety and well-being at risk. In such a case, it’s appropriate to refuse admission until the facility can meet the required care needs or help the person find a setting that can.

Paying ability or capacity constraints are not the primary reason to determine admission in terms of patient safety and service delivery; and if a resident themselves refuses admission, that means admission isn’t happening in the first place. The key standard is whether the facility can safely and adequately provide the necessary care.