Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to Authorities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that an allegation of abuse involving two residents was reported to the Department of Public Health within the required two-hour timeframe. Documentation shows that a verbal altercation occurred between the two residents, with one making verbal threats toward the other. Although staff members stated they attempted to report the incident by faxing a SOC 341 form and leaving a voicemail, there was no confirmation or evidence that these reports were successfully received by the Department. The written investigation summary and five-day follow-up report were not received by the Department until four days after the incident. Interviews with the administrator and licensed nurses confirmed that facility policy required reporting allegations of abuse to the Department within two hours. However, there was no fax confirmation or voicemail log to verify that the initial report was made as required. The administrator acknowledged that, even if a phone call had been made at the time stated by staff, it would not have met the two-hour reporting requirement. The facility's policy specifically mandated that a written SOC 341 report be sent to the Department within two hours of the incident.