Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to Authorities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an abuse allegation involving one of four sampled residents within the required timeframe. Specifically, after a resident made derogatory comments and yelled profanities at another resident in the hallway, the incident was not reported to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Ombudsman, or local law enforcement within two hours as required by facility policy and state regulations. Instead, the abuse allegation was reported three days after the event occurred. Record review showed that the incident was documented, but the mandated SOC341 form was not completed and submitted until three days later. The Director of Nursing confirmed during an interview that the reporting was delayed and acknowledged that the report should have been made within two hours of the initial allegation. This delay in reporting had the potential to leave the affected resident and others vulnerable and unprotected from mistreatment.