Failure to Immediately Report Suspected Abuse and Injuries of Unknown Origin
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that incidents of suspected abuse and injuries of unknown origin were reported immediately to management staff for two residents. In the first case, a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions, including COPD and heart disease, was found to have bruising on the right eye and hip area. Although an LPN observed these bruises while accompanied by the resident's responsible party, she did not notify management at the time, believing the issue had already been addressed. Management only became aware of the bruising after being informed by a marketer who visited the resident in the hospital several days later. In the second case, a resident with moderate cognitive impairment and a history of dementia and anxiety reported to a CNA that two women were trying to harm her. The CNA relayed this to an LPN, who assessed the resident but delayed reporting the allegation of abuse to the administrator, sending a text message several hours later instead of immediately. Both staff members acknowledged during interviews that they should have reported these incidents to management without delay, as required by facility policy.