Failure to Notify Physician After Allegation of Inappropriate Contact
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to notify the physician in a timely manner after an allegation of inappropriate touching was made by one resident against another. According to the facility's policy, staff are required to observe, record, and report any change in a resident's condition to the attending physician. In this incident, staff documented the allegation, notified the administrator, the Department of Health and Senior Services, corporate, and the police department, but did not document that the physician was notified. The investigation records and nurse's notes for both residents involved did not show evidence of physician notification. The residents involved included one who was cognitively intact with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, and another who was moderately cognitively impaired with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Following the accusation, the resident accused was placed on fifteen-minute checks, and the administrator conducted an investigation. During an interview, the administrator acknowledged that physician notification should have occurred but was missed during the process.