Delayed Reporting of Abuse Allegation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an alleged abuse incident involving a resident within the required timeframe. On January 12, 2024, a resident with severe cognitive impairment and diagnosed with unspecified dementia, vascular dementia, and cerebrovascular disease, alleged that a staff member slapped them in the face. The incident was reported to a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) during the morning shift, who then informed a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The LPN subsequently reported the allegation to a Registered Nurse (RN), who then informed the Director of Nursing (DON). Despite the facility's policy requiring immediate reporting of abuse allegations to the State Survey Agency within two hours, the DON delayed reporting the incident to the New York State Department of Health until 7:03 PM, citing disbelief in the allegation due to lack of injury and inconsistencies in the resident's account. The delay in reporting the alleged abuse was a violation of the facility's abuse prevention policy, which mandates that all alleged abuse violations be reported immediately, but not later than two hours after the allegation is made. The DON's decision to delay the report was based on their personal assessment of the situation rather than adhering to the policy requirements. This failure to comply with the reporting protocol was identified during the Recertification and Complaint Survey, highlighting a deficiency in the facility's handling of abuse allegations.
Plan Of Correction
Plan of Correction: Approved March 5, 2025 I. Immediate Corrective Action 1. Resident # 97 was assessed by the DNP on 1/12/2025 and there were no visible signs of injury. There were no complaints of pain. 2. Resident # 97 was assessed by the RN Supervisor on 1/12/2025 and there were no visible signs of injury. There were no complaints of pain. 3. The Administrator received an Educational Counseling by the Medical Director with emphasis on ensuring that all alleged violations involving abuse were reported immediately, but not later than 2 hours after the allegations were made, to the State Survey Agency and Law Enforcement. 4. The Director of Nursing received an Educational Counseling by the Medical Director with emphasis on ensuring that all alleged violations involving abuse were reported immediately, but not later than 2 hours after the allegations were made, to the State Survey Agency and Law Enforcement. II. Identification of Others 1. The facility respectfully acknowledges that all residents who have accidents/incidents have the potential to be affected by this deficiency. 2. The DNS / designee reviewed Accident/Incident reports for the past 30 days to ensure that any residents with alleged violations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment, including injuries of unknown sources and misappropriation of resident property, were reported no later than 2 hours if the event results in bodily injury or no later than 24 hours if the events that cause the allegation do not involve serious bodily injury. 3. No other issues were identified. III. Systematic Changes 1. The Administrator, Medical Director and DNS reviewed the policy related to residents' right to be free from abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property, and exploitation. This policy was found to be compliant. This policy includes: Abuse Prevention with emphasis on ensuring residents remain free from abuse and neglect, and the immediate removal from the facility of any individual alleged to have been involved in the abuse / neglect until completion of the investigation. All alleged abuse or serious bodily injury must be reported to the Department of Health and law enforcement within 2 hours. It also emphasizes reporting guidelines to submit the outcome of investigations within 5 days. 2. All staff will be in-serviced by the DNS/Designee on the above policy with emphasis on the importance of ensuring all alleged violations involving abuse are reported immediately, but not later than 2 hours after the allegation was made, to the State Survey Agency and law enforcement. 3. A copy of the Lesson Plan and Attendance filed for reference and validation. IV. Quality Assurance 1. An audit tool was developed by the Administrator and DNS to ensure that any residents with alleged violations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment, including injuries of unknown sources and misappropriation of resident property, were reported no later than 2 hours if the event results in bodily injury or no later than 24 hours if the events that cause the allegation do not involve serious bodily injury. 2. Audits will be done by the DNS / Designee on 10 accident / incident reports weekly x 4 weeks, 10 accident / incident reports monthly x 3 months and 10 accident / incident quarterly thereafter. 3. Audits with negative findings will have an immediate corrective action taken by the DNS and reported to the Administrator for review & follow up. 4. Audit findings will be presented to the QA committee quarterly by the DNS / designee for monitoring of performance and recommendations and follow-up. V. The Director of Nursing will be responsible to ensure correction of this deficiency by 4/7/2025.