Failure to Notify Law Enforcement After Resident Altercation Resulting in Injury
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify local law enforcement following a physical altercation between two residents that resulted in injury. According to the facility's Abuse Prevention Program Facility Procedures, law enforcement must be contacted in cases of physical abuse involving injury, except when the behavior is associated with dementia or developmental disability. In this incident, one resident was found lying on the smoking patio, unable to stand due to pain, and was subsequently diagnosed with a complex fracture of the left hip. Progress notes indicated that the altercation stemmed from a verbal exchange, and the injured resident required emergency room evaluation. Despite these circumstances, the facility's Administrative Quality Assurance/Grievance/Abuse Coordinator confirmed that the police were not notified of the incident.