Failure to Timely Report Allegations of Abuse and Misappropriation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report allegations of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property to the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) within the required 24-hour timeframe for three residents. In one case, a resident with chronic respiratory failure and diabetes, who was cognitively intact, reported missing money from her purse shortly after admission. The inventory sheet completed at admission did not list a purse or money, and staff interviews confirmed the purse was not initially observed. The resident reported the missing money to a registered nurse, who notified the Administrator. The Administrator delayed reporting the incident to DIAL, waiting to verify the amount of money with the resident's family before initiating an investigation and contacting authorities. In another incident, allegations were made that a former Assistant Administrator used two residents' trust funds to purchase items for herself. Staff reported concerns that purchased items were not properly checked in or accounted for, and receipts were not signed to validate delivery to the residents. The facility conducted an internal investigation by reviewing receipts and checking the residents' rooms for the items, but did not report the allegations to DIAL. The Administrator confirmed that the residents involved were not cognitively able to express their wants and needs, and law enforcement was not notified as there was no missing money according to the facility's findings. The facility's own policy, as well as state and federal regulations, require that all allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation be reported to DIAL within 24 hours, and in some cases within 2 hours, depending on the severity of the incident. Despite these requirements, the facility did not report the incidents within the mandated timeframe, as confirmed by staff and Administrator interviews and review of facility documentation. The failure to report was attributed to the Administrator's decision to first verify details with family members or to conduct an internal investigation before notifying authorities.