Failure to Timely Report Sexual Abuse Allegations
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that an incident involving sexual abuse was reported to the facility administrator and appropriate authorities within the required two-hour timeframe. On 3/29/25, a transporting driver and a CNA experienced inappropriate sexual behavior from a receptionist, including attempts to touch the driver in a sexual manner and making inappropriate noises toward the CNA. The CNA did not report these incidents to management until several days later, on 4/2/25, when questioned by the DON. The facility's policy requires immediate reporting of abuse allegations, no later than two hours after the incident. The delay in reporting was confirmed through staff interviews and review of written statements. The administrator acknowledged that a facility-reported incident was eventually filed and that sexual abuse was substantiated for four individuals. However, documentation showed that the report to the Office of Licensure and Certification was not made until 3/31/25, and the initial internal reporting by staff did not occur within the required timeframe, constituting a failure to follow established abuse reporting protocols.