Delta Healthcare: Medical Records Denied to Family - CA
The family member held durable power of attorney for the resident, a legal document dated August 18, 2012, that explicitly granted access to "healthcare and medical records and statements regarding billing, insurance and payments." Despite this clear authorization, the facility's corporate office denied the April 13, 2025 request.
Federal inspectors found the nursing home violated regulations requiring facilities to provide residents or their legal representatives with copies of medical records upon request.
The resident had signed a formal request form on April 13, asking the facility to send copies of protected health information to the family member. The family member signed the request as the resident's legal representative.
Medical Records Supervisor told inspectors during a July 28 interview that all record requests went through corporate headquarters for approval. She said the family member's request was initially denied because "the facility not having the DPA on file."
The family member then provided the durable power of attorney document to the facility. The medical records were still not released.
This denial violated the facility's own written policy, which requires medical records to be provided within specific timeframes. According to the nursing home's November 1, 2015 policy, residents or their personal representatives should be allowed to inspect medical records "within twenty-four hours of receipt of a written request for access, excluding weekends and holidays."
For copies of medical records, the policy states the facility "will provide the resident and/or their personal representative with a copy of the medical record within two working days after receiving the written request."
The durable power of attorney document was comprehensive in its grant of authority. It appointed the family member as the resident's "attorney-in-fact" with broad powers including healthcare decision-making and access to all medical information.
The Medical Records Supervisor explained the facility's process during her interview with inspectors. She said written requests were forwarded to corporate headquarters, where officials determined whether records could be released. In this case, corporate denied the request despite the valid legal authorization.
The family member's request specifically asked to "access and inspect" the resident's protected health information and requested the facility send copies to them. The request form was properly signed by the family member in their capacity as the resident's legal representative.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to provide residents and their authorized representatives with access to medical records. The failure to honor a valid durable power of attorney represents a violation of these access requirements.
The facility's own policy acknowledges residents' rights to their medical information. The policy designates a HIPAA Privacy Officer as responsible for handling such requests and establishes clear timelines for providing access.
Despite having both the resident's written request and the family member's durable power of attorney on file, Delta Healthcare & Wellness Center failed to provide the requested medical records. The Medical Records Supervisor confirmed to inspectors that even after the power of attorney document was provided to address corporate's initial concern, the records were still not released to the family member.
This case illustrates how nursing home corporate structures can create barriers to families accessing medical information they are legally entitled to receive. The resident had properly executed legal documents and followed the facility's formal request process, yet still could not obtain their own medical records through their authorized representative.
The inspection found the facility failed to follow its own established procedures for handling medical record requests from legal representatives. The policy clearly outlined the process and timelines, but these were not followed in practice.
The family member's legal authority was unambiguous. The 2012 durable power of attorney specifically granted access to healthcare records and medical billing information. The 2025 request form was properly completed and signed. Yet months after the initial request, the medical records remained unreleased.
Federal inspectors classified this as a violation affecting few residents with minimal harm or potential for actual harm. However, the denial of access to medical records can prevent families from making informed healthcare decisions and obtaining necessary information about their loved one's care and treatment.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Delta Healthcare & Wellness Center, Lp from 2025-08-14 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
DELTA HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS CENTER, LP in VISALIA, CA was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 14, 2025.
The resident had signed a formal request form on April 13, asking the facility to send copies of protected health information to the family member.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.