Failure to Report Allegation of Mental Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of mental abuse (bullying) involving a resident to the state survey agency as required. The incident began when a hospital social worker informed a facility LPN that a resident had reported being bullied by their roommate. The LPN immediately notified the facility administrator, who is also the abuse prevention coordinator. The administrator conducted an internal investigation by interviewing staff and the accused roommate but was unable to substantiate the bullying allegation. Despite this, the residents were separated following the allegation. The administrator acknowledged that bullying constitutes mental abuse and confirmed that the allegation should have been reported to the state survey agency, but it was not. Facility policy requires immediate notification of the Department of Public Health's regional office when any allegation of abuse is made, regardless of substantiation. Documentation reviewed included a witness statement from the accused roommate referencing the bullying accusation. The failure to report the allegation as required constitutes the deficiency.