Failure to Timely Report Suspected Abuse Allegation
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to immediately report an allegation of suspected resident abuse to the administrator and State Survey Agency within the required 2-hour timeframe. A resident complained of soreness in the right hip after an incident involving a Hoyer lift, stating that staff had hurt them. The physical therapy assistant (PTA) documented these complaints in progress notes and informed the Director of Therapy, but did not notify other facility administrative staff. The resident continued to express pain and reluctance to participate in therapy, and later submitted a concern form to a nursing unit manager. The unit manager addressed the concerns several days after the initial complaint, but there was no documentation of staff education or immediate reporting of the abuse allegation as required. Review of the resident's medical record showed ongoing complaints of pain and a request to go to the emergency room, which was eventually granted. The hospital record indicated diagnoses including atypical chest pain, ambulatory dysfunction, and neglect of an adult. The facility's failure to promptly report the suspected abuse and the results of the investigation to the proper authorities constituted a deficiency in meeting regulatory requirements for timely reporting of abuse allegations.