Failure to Timely Report Alleged Resident-to-Resident Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of resident-to-resident abuse within the required two-hour timeframe after notification. A resident with multiple diagnoses, including spinal stenosis, morbid obesity, and heart failure, alleged that another resident made contact with his arm while he was in bed. The incident was unwitnessed and reported by the resident to the Manager on Duty (MOD) shortly after 7:00 am. The MOD completed an incident report and notified the Administrator immediately by telephone. An in-house X-ray was performed due to the resident's complaint of arm pain, but no injuries or redness were found. Despite the facility's policy requiring that all abuse allegations be reported to the appropriate authorities within two hours, the incident involving the resident was reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) at 10:22 am, which was more than two hours after the initial allegation was made. Interviews with facility staff, including the DON, MOD, and Administrator, confirmed the timeline and the facility's reporting requirements. The deficiency was identified through interviews and record review, showing a delay in reporting the alleged abuse as required by policy.