Failure to Timely Report Alleged Verbal Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely reporting of an allegation of verbal abuse involving a resident with moderate cognitive impairment and multiple medical diagnoses, including dementia and nervous system degeneration. On the evening of November 8, 2021, a registered nurse used inappropriate language toward the resident after being startled by the resident's actions. The incident was documented in a health status note, and the resident did not express offense or dissatisfaction with care during subsequent interviews. However, the facility did not report the allegation to the required authorities until November 16, 2021, several days after the incident occurred. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that the policy requires immediate reporting of suspected abuse, with some staff specifying a two-hour timeframe for such reports. The facility's abuse policy outlines the need for prompt reporting and investigation to protect residents. Despite these policies, the delay in reporting the incident to the appropriate entities constituted a failure to follow established procedures for handling allegations of abuse.