Failure to Document Thorough Investigation of Resident Grievance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to thoroughly investigate a grievance regarding missing cash belonging to a resident with chronic pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure. The resident's representative reported the missing money, but neither the resident nor the representative could specify the amount lost. The facility conducted a search for the money and interviewed other residents, none of whom reported missing items. The resident's representative requested police involvement, and law enforcement conducted interviews. However, the facility's documentation of the investigation was incomplete, lacking staff interview records, the police report, and a summary of the investigation's conclusion. During interviews, facility leadership acknowledged that staff interviews were conducted but not documented, and they did not have a copy of the police report at the time of the survey. The police report, later obtained, indicated that determining the whereabouts of the missing money was unlikely due to the number of visitors and absence of cameras. The investigation was left inconclusive, and the resident did not wish to pursue the matter further. The facility's failure to document all investigative steps and provide a summary of findings constituted a deficiency in responding to the grievance.