Failure to Thoroughly Investigate Alleged Abuse Incident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to thoroughly investigate an allegation of abuse involving a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical diagnoses, including senile degeneration of the brain, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and unspecified psychosis. The incident involved a CNA allegedly taking a photo of the resident while she was topless in her room, as witnessed by a housekeeper who immediately reported the event to the Administrator. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the Administrator interviewed some witnesses and the accused CNA, who denied the allegation, but did not interview two CNAs in training who were also present at the time of the incident, as indicated in witness statements. Additionally, there was no documentation to support that any other residents on the hall were interviewed for concerns of abuse. The facility's investigation documentation did not include interviews with all potential witnesses, specifically the two CNAs in training, nor did it show that a Self-Reported Incident was completed or that the Ohio Department of Health was notified as required by facility policy and regulations. The facility policy mandates immediate reporting and thorough investigation of all alleged violations involving abuse, including interviewing the resident, the accused, and any witnesses. The failure to follow these protocols resulted in a deficient practice regarding the investigation of the abuse allegation.