Failure to Promptly Resolve and Document Resident Grievance Regarding Missing Property
Penalty
Summary
A resident with a history of schizophrenia, tremor, stimulant abuse, COPD, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension reported that his wallet containing identification and Medicaid card was missing. The resident informed the Resident Advocate (RA) and was told assistance would be provided to obtain new identification, but the resident stated that the RA never followed up. Review of the resident's personal inventory confirmed the wallet was previously documented, but the contents were not listed. Progress notes indicated the wallet was reported stolen, and the RA acknowledged the need to replace the wallet and obtain a new ID, but there was no documentation that this was completed. Further review of the facility's grievance binder revealed no record of a grievance or investigation related to the missing wallet and identification cards for this resident. The facility's grievance policy requires prompt efforts to resolve grievances and mandates documentation of the investigation and resolution, but no such evidence was maintained. The RA confirmed that a grievance investigation should have been initiated and documented, but none was found for this incident.