Failure to Timely Report and Investigate Abuse Allegation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure the timely reporting of a reasonable suspicion of a crime, specifically regarding an allegation of physical and sexual abuse made by a resident diagnosed with dementia, bipolar disorder with current manic episodes and psychotic features, and unsteadiness on her feet. The resident, who had recently been admitted, voiced the allegation to staff, but the incident was not immediately reported to the Administrator, Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), the resident's previous facility, physician, responsible party, or local law enforcement. The LPN involved believed the allegation was related to the resident's mental state and did not report it as required. The facility's abuse policy required immediate reporting and investigation of any abuse allegations, but this was not followed in this case.