Failure to Notify POAs of Abuse Allegations
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly notify family representatives or Powers of Attorney (POA) regarding allegations of physical abuse involving five residents. In several documented incidents, the facility's records indicated that POAs were notified as per policy, but interviews with the POAs and family members revealed that they were either not informed at all or were not given accurate or complete information about the nature of the incidents. For example, in one case, a POA was told that two residents were arguing, with no mention of physical contact, despite documentation of a physical altercation. In other cases, POAs stated they were unaware of any calls from the facility regarding abuse allegations, and only learned of the incidents from the residents themselves. Additionally, in an incident where a resident was handled roughly by staff resulting in a bruise, the POA was only informed about the presence of a bruise with no explanation of the alleged rough handling or abuse. The facility's abuse prevention policy requires immediate and accurate notification to POAs, physicians, and authorities, but the documentation and interviews indicate a pattern of incomplete or absent communication. The administrator acknowledged that nurses are responsible for accurate documentation and timely notification, but the evidence shows this was not consistently done.