Failure to Report Alleged Abuse According to Policy
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to implement the abuse reporting policy for one resident who reported concerns about the conduct of a CNA during care. The resident, who had no cognitive impairment and multiple medical diagnoses including a recent femur fracture, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, reported to a mental health provider that a CNA expressed frustration about having to change him frequently and made statements indicating reluctance to provide care. The resident denied physical abuse or injury but reported the incident as upsetting. Additionally, a family member emailed the facility's social worker stating that the resident was upset and described a CNA or nurse as being rough and slamming items while providing care after a bowel movement. Upon receiving the family member's email, the social worker and unit manager interviewed the resident, who did not claim to be abused. However, the facility did not interview other residents cared for by the CNA in question. The administrator acknowledged that, according to both the State Operations Manual and facility policy, all allegations of abuse should be reported immediately, but no later than two hours after the allegation is made. In this case, the allegation was not reported to the required agencies because staff determined that abuse had not occurred, which was not in accordance with established reporting guidelines.