Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) within the required timeframe after an allegation of potential abuse was made by a resident. The resident, who had no cognitive impairment and required substantial to maximal assistance with bathing, reported that a bath aide was rough during a shower, pinched her breast with a gait belt, and jammed a toothbrush in her mouth. The incident was documented in the resident's progress notes, and staff interviews confirmed that the resident communicated these concerns to another staff member. Despite the facility's policy requiring that all allegations of neglect, mistreatment, or abuse be reported to the state agency within two hours if serious bodily injury occurred, or within twenty-four hours otherwise, the administrator confirmed that the incident was not reported to DIAL in a timely manner. The delay in reporting was acknowledged during the investigation, and the facility's own policy was not followed in this instance.