Failure to Timely Report Abuse Allegation and Investigation Results
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely reporting of an abuse allegation and the results of its investigation to the State Survey Agency, as required by its own policy. Specifically, an allegation was made that a staff member, a CNA, had punched a resident in the head. The initial report of the incident was submitted, but the required follow-up investigation report was not submitted within the five business days stipulated by facility policy. Instead, the follow-up report was submitted more than two months after the initial allegation. The resident involved had severe cognitive impairment, as indicated by a BIMS score of four, and diagnoses including aphasia and hemiplegia following a nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Interviews with staff confirmed the delay in reporting, with the DON acknowledging the late submission and attributing it to recent administrative turnover. The administrator, who was newly hired, also confirmed the dates of the reports and identified the missing five-day report upon starting employment.