Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to Authorities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of abuse within the required regulatory timeframe for two residents. One resident, who had a history of inappropriate behaviors towards female residents and diagnoses including dementia, was reported by another resident to have grabbed and placed a female resident's hand on his groin. The incident was witnessed and reported to the Social Services Assistant, who then notified the Administrator. However, the Administrator did not report the allegation to the California Department of Public Health until three days after being notified, despite facility policy and federal regulations requiring reporting within two hours if the alleged violation involves abuse. Record review and staff interviews confirmed that the Administrator was aware of the incident but delayed reporting, and the Director of Nursing acknowledged that previous inappropriate behaviors by the same resident had not been reported or addressed with interventions. The facility's policy clearly stated that all reports of resident abuse must be promptly reported to the appropriate authorities, but this was not followed in this case.