Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of abuse to the State Agency within the required two-hour timeframe. According to the facility's policy, any allegation involving abuse must be reported to the State Survey Agency no later than two hours after management becomes aware of the allegation. In this case, a resident who was cognitively intact reported to nursing staff that she had been touched inappropriately by a nurse while vital signs were being taken. The incident was communicated to the RN and then to the DON on the same day it was reported by the resident. An internal investigation was initiated at that time. Despite the prompt internal communication and initiation of an investigation, the facility did not submit the required report to the State Agency until two days after the allegation was made. This delay in external reporting was confirmed through interviews with staff and review of the clinical record. The deficiency centers on the failure to adhere to the mandated reporting timeline for suspected abuse, as outlined in both facility policy and federal and state regulations.