Troy Health & Rehabilitation Center v. McFarland

187 So. 3d 1112, 2015 Ala. LEXIS 103, 2015 WL 5086430
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedAugust 28, 2015
Docket1140090
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 187 So. 3d 1112 (Troy Health & Rehabilitation Center v. McFarland) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Troy Health & Rehabilitation Center v. McFarland, 187 So. 3d 1112, 2015 Ala. LEXIS 103, 2015 WL 5086430 (Ala. 2015).

Opinion

PARKER, Justice.

Troy Health and Rehabilitation Center (“Troy Health”) appeals the decision by the Pike Circuit Court (“the circuit court”) to deny Troy Health’s motion to compel arbitration. We reverse and remand.

Facts and Procedural History

On May 13, 2011, Garnell Wilcoxon, who was 74 years old and living alone, suffered a stroke, awoke on the floor of his bedroom covered in sweat, feeling sore -and ■with no memory of how he had gotten there. Wilcoxon was admitted to the Troy Regional Medical Center for analysis and treatment! That same day, May 13, 2011, Wilcoxon was transferred to Flowers Hospital because he was experiencing an elevated troponin level.1

At Flowers Hospital, Dr. Roland Brooks was Wilcoxon’s attending physician. On May 17, 2011, pursuant to Dr. Brooks’s request for a consultation, Dr. Linda Marden examined Wilcoxon. Dr. Brooks requested the consultation because of Wilcoxon’s “mental status changes and abnormal MRI.” According to Dr. Mar-den’s notes, Wilcoxon was alert during her examination and orientated to himself and the situation but was- not orientated to time or location. Dr. Marden also noted that, during her examination, “[Wilcox-on’s] memory for recent events [was] poor and for remote events [was] fair. [Wilcox-on’s] attention and concentration [were] normal. [Wilcoxon’s] language [was] spontaneous, fluent, and grammatical, and [Wilcoxon’s] fund of knowledge [appeared] to be decreased from his baseline.”

Dr. Marden’s notes indicate that she believed that Wilcoxon suffered from hypo-magnesemia,2 which, she believed, caused Wilcoxon’s stroke on May 13, 2011. Dr. Marden’s notes also indicate that she believed that, at the time of her examination, Wilcoxon “likely [had] severe cognitive or chronic cognitive changes associated with the nutritional depletion and toxicity of alcohol” and that Wilcoxon had “underlying dementia ... likely due to the chronic effects of alcohol....”

On May 20, 2011, Dr. Marden examined Wilcoxon again and made additional notes concerning Wilcoxon. Dr, Marden’s notes [1114]*1114indicate that on May 20, 2011, Wilcoxon was .“still confused.” Dr. Marden’s notes also state that Wilcoxon had “dementia due to alcoholism, but still could have B-12 deficiency components.” That same day, May 20, 2011, Wilcoxon was transported to a 'facility operated or owned by Troy Health, where he was admitted; according to the medical-necessity certificate for ambulance transportation, Wilcoxon was “exhibiting signs of a decreased level of consciousness.”

In order to be admitted to Troy Health, Wilcoxon was required to sign a document titled “Troy Health & Rehabilitation Center’s Dispute Resolution Agreement” (“the 2011 arbitration agreement”). Herford Bean, Wilcoxon’s nephew, .signed the agreement as Wilcoxon’s “authorized representative.” According to the 2011 arbitration agreement, an authorized representative is permitted to sign on behalf of a Troy Health resident if the resident “is unable to consent to or sign [the] Agreement because of a physical disability or mental incompetence.... ” The 2011 arbitration agreement, states that “all claims, disputes, and controversies which are subject to this Mandatory Dispute Resolution agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration” and that “[Troy Health] regularly engages in transactions involving interstate commerce and the services provided by [Troy Health] to [Wilcoxon] involve such interstate commerce.”

Also on May 20, 2011, employees of Troy Health completed a form concerning Wil-coxon titled “Fact Sheet.” The “Fact Sheet” indicates that Wilcoxon was diagnosed with “altered mental status” and “alcohol persistent dementia,” among other diagnoses. Troy Health employees also performed an assessment of Wilcoxon’s level of functioning. Troy Health’s assessment indicates that, at the time of Wilcox-on’s admission to Troy Health, Wilcoxon’s speech was clear; he was able to be understood; he" was able to perform acts of personal hygiene unassisted; he was walking in his room with no help from family; and he was bathing independently. On May 24, 20X1, a Troy Health employee completed an “Activity Intake Form” indicating that Wilcoxon answered questions about his interests, including, among others, his hobbies, his favorite sports teams, and his religion.

In July 2011, Wilcoxon signed a document, which was then notarized, titled “Lien for Medical Payments Under Alabama Medicaid Program.” The notary’s certification indicates that Wilcoxon was informed of the contents of the document and that he signed it voluntarily. On August 12, 2011, Wilcoxon executed a document titled “Alabama Durable Power of Attorney — Broad Powers.” That document, which was notarized, named Bean as Wilcoxon’s attomey-in-fact. The. notary’s certification indicates that Wilcoxon was fully aware of the contents of the document and that he executed the document voluntarily.

On Februaiy 15, 2012, Wilcoxon was admitted to Troy Regional Medical Center. Dr. Satinderjit Gill was Wilcoxon’s attending physician. Dr. Gill’s notes from his examination of Wilcoxon indicate that Wil-coxon had lost 40 to 50 pounds over the 3 months before his examination by Dr. Gill. Dr. Gill’s notes indicate that he and Wil-coxon discussed the possibility of Wilcoxon undergoing a procedure to insert a feeding tube in Wilcoxon and that Dr. Gill received Wilcoxon’s informed consent to perform that procedure. On February 16, 2012, Dr. Gill placed a feeding tube in Wilcoxon.

On February 18, 2012, Wilcoxon was transported by Haynes Ambulance of Alabama, Inc. (“Haynes”), apparently to Troy Health. A form prepared by Haynes indicates that, at the time of Wilcoxon’s trans[1115]*1115portation, Wilcoxon Wás “confused.” That same day, February 18, 2012, Wilcoxon was readmitted to Troy Health.

On February 24, 2012, Troy Health evaluated Wilcoxon and completed a form summarizing the findings of its evaluation of Wilcoxon titled “Minimum Data Set (MDS) — Version 3.0” (“the first MDS form”). The first MDS form reflects the results of assessments performed by Troy Health employees of Wilcoxon’s hearing, speech, vision, cognitive patterns, mood, behavior, and functional status, along with other areas of Wilcoxon’s health. The “Hearing, Speech, Vision” s'eetion of the first MDS form states, in part:'

“Makes self understood 1. Usually understood — difficulty communicating some words or finishing thoughts but is-able if prompted or given time[.]
“Ability to understand others 1. Usually understands — misses some part/intent of message but comprehends most conversation.”

The “Cognitive Patterns” section of the first MDS form states, in part:

“BIMS:[3] should resident interview be conducted 1. Yes
“BIMS res interview: repetition. of three words 3. Three
“BIMS res interview: able to report correct year 0. Missed by > 5 years ¡or no answer
“BIMS res interview: able to report correct month Missed by > 1 month or no answer
“BIMS res interview: can report' correct dayof week -1. Correct
“BIMS res interview: able to recall ‘sock’ 1, Yes, after cueing (‘something to wear’) .
'“BIMS res interview: able to recall ‘blue’ X. Yes, after cueing (‘a color’)

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187 So. 3d 1112, 2015 Ala. LEXIS 103, 2015 WL 5086430, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/troy-health-rehabilitation-center-v-mcfarland-ala-2015.