Failure to Timely Report Alleged Physical Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that an allegation of physical abuse involving a resident was reported to the State Survey Agency within the required timeframe. According to the facility's policy, all suspected abuse must be reported immediately, but not later than two hours after the allegation is made. Documentation showed that a resident, who was moderately cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 9, was struck on the forehead by another resident using a hand grabber while on the smoker's patio. This incident resulted in a laceration that required the resident to be transferred to the emergency department for treatment. Despite the incident being witnessed by the DON, and the facility's policy requiring immediate reporting, there was no evidence that the alleged abuse was reported to the State Survey Agency. The DON confirmed during an interview that the incident was not reported as required, and that the responsibility for reporting lay with the Administrator, who was on medical leave at the time. No self-reported incident was filed for the resident involved.