Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely reporting of an allegation of abuse to the state agency as required by its own policy. According to the facility's policy, any allegations of abuse must be reported to the state survey agency and adult protective services within two hours of the allegation being made. In this case, a resident with diagnoses including schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and altered mental status, who was assessed as cognitively intact, reported verbal abuse by a CNA to the Administrator. The resident stated that the CNA was rude and told her to get off the phone while attempting to provide care, and the resident felt this could be considered abuse. The grievance form documenting the resident's complaint was dated and reported to the Administrator, but the exact date of the incident was unclear, with the Administrator later stating she believed it may have occurred earlier than the date recorded. The Administrator, who also served as the abuse coordinator, confirmed that the allegation was not reported to the state agency before she initiated an internal investigation. This failure to report the abuse allegation in a timely manner was confirmed through interviews and review of facility records.