Fairview Rehab: Records Denied to Resident - PA
Federal inspectors found the facility violated residents' rights to access their personal records during a complaint investigation completed August 28. The violation affected one resident whose identity was protected in the inspection report.
The resident had attended a care conference on June 2, according to their clinical record. More than two months later, during an interview with inspectors on August 28 at 10:38 a.m., the resident confirmed they had requested their complete medical and financial records.
Those records never arrived.
Administrator Employee E1 told inspectors during a noon interview that day about a meeting held "a few weeks ago" with the resident and their family. During that meeting, the resident asked for copies of their medical and financial records.
The administrator confirmed no records had been provided to the resident. The medical records department was "in the process of making a copy of the records to provide" to the resident as of the inspection date, the administrator said.
But even that promise lacked documentation.
A second interview with the administrator at 4:10 p.m. the same day revealed no written records showing the facility had ever provided any medical or financial documents to the resident. The clinical record contained no documentation that records had been given or that a process was underway to fulfill the request.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to allow residents or their legal representatives to access or purchase copies of all their records. The requirement exists so residents can make informed decisions about their care, seek second opinions, or transition to other facilities with complete medical histories.
The violation represents a breakdown in basic administrative processes at Fairview Rehab. Residents depend on facilities to maintain accurate records and provide access when requested. Without their medical histories, residents cannot fully participate in care decisions or ensure continuity when seeking treatment elsewhere.
The facility's medical records department apparently needed months to begin copying records that should be readily accessible. The administrator's acknowledgment that no documentation existed of the records request or response suggests the facility lacks systems to track such basic resident services.
Fairview Rehab and Care Center is located at 184 Bethlehem Pike in Philadelphia. The facility must submit a plan of correction to continue participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
The inspection classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting few residents. However, the resident who made the records request remains without access to their own medical and financial information despite repeated attempts to obtain it.
Inspectors found no evidence the facility had policies or procedures in place to ensure timely response to records requests. The administrator's statement that records were being prepared only after inspectors arrived suggests the facility began addressing the violation only when confronted during the federal investigation.
The resident's care conference in June may have prompted their records request, as such meetings often involve discussions of treatment plans, discharge planning, or care transitions that would require access to complete medical histories.
Federal rules give facilities reasonable time to prepare records but do not permit indefinite delays. The gap between the resident's request and the inspection date suggests the facility failed to prioritize this basic resident right.
The violation occurred despite Pennsylvania state regulations that mirror federal requirements for resident access to records. Both 28 Pa Code 201.14(a) on licensee responsibility and 28 Pa Code 201.18(b)(2) on management were cited in the inspection findings.
Without documentation of the records request or response, inspectors could not determine exactly when the resident first asked for their information or how many times they repeated the request. The administrator's reference to a meeting "a few weeks ago" suggests the request was relatively recent, but the resident's confirmation during the inspection indicates they had been seeking their records for some time.
The facility's failure to maintain written documentation of resident requests creates additional compliance risks. Proper record-keeping would have shown when requests were made, what actions were taken, and when records were provided.
Fairview Rehab must now demonstrate it can consistently fulfill residents' rights to access their own information while maintaining proper documentation of all requests and responses.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Fairview Rehab and Care Center from 2025-08-28 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
FAIRVIEW REHAB AND CARE CENTER in PHILADELPHIA, PA was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 28, 2025.
Federal inspectors found the facility violated residents' rights to access their personal records during a complaint investigation completed August 28.
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.