Failure to Timely Report Alleged Resident-to-Resident Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that an allegation of abuse involving two residents was reported to the state surveying agency in a timely manner. In December 2023, two residents were involved in a physical altercation in their shared room, which resulted in one resident being knocked down and kicked by the other. Progress notes indicated that one resident initially denied physical contact but later reported being kicked while on the floor, with visible bruising to his right upper arm, elbow, and head. Despite these allegations and physical findings, the incident was not reported to the state agency or local police at the time it occurred. The facility's administrator stated that the incident was not reported initially because it was determined that no contact had occurred. However, months later, after receiving an anonymous compliance hotline call, the administrator reported the incident to the state agency and local police, eight months after the original event. The facility's own abuse prevention policy requires immediate reporting of abuse allegations, but this protocol was not followed in this case. Documentation shows that the facility only submitted a report after the anonymous call, and no further information was provided to the state agency beyond the original late report.