Failure to Timely Report Allegation of Missing Resident Funds
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to timely report an allegation of missing funds for a resident with a cognitive communication deficit and moderate cognitive impairment. The resident's representative reported bringing $80 into the facility and giving it to the previous Business Office Manager (BOM) to be placed in a safe. Later, when the representative inquired about the funds, the current BOM was unaware of the money's location, and the resident was not listed in the facility's grievance records for missing items or funds. During a meeting with the current BOM, the resident's representative, the Ombudsman, and the Social Services Director, the allegation of missing funds was raised, and the BOM indicated she notified the Executive Director (ED) afterward. However, the ED was on vacation at the time of the meeting and could not confirm being notified of the missing funds. The ED stated that if she had been made aware, she would have reported the incident to the Department of Health. The facility's policy requires reporting allegations of misappropriation of resident property within 24 hours of forming a suspicion, but the incident was not reported in a timely manner as required. The missing funds were later located, but the initial failure to report the allegation constituted a deficiency.