Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to Authorities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report allegations of resident-to-resident sexual and physical abuse to the appropriate authorities in a timely manner, as required by its own Abuse, Prevention, and Prohibition Policy. In one incident, a Licensed Practical Nurse observed a resident groping another resident, exposing her breasts and abdomen. The initial report of this sexual abuse was sent to the State Agency five days after the incident, and the final report was sent eleven days after the allegation was made. There was no documentation that local law enforcement was notified of the alleged sexual abuse, despite policy requirements. The Administrator confirmed the delay in reporting and the lack of notification to law enforcement. In a separate incident, a resident was hit on the shoulder by another resident during incontinence care, resulting in a complaint of shoulder pain rated as 3/10, though no visible injury was noted. The incident was not reported to the State Agency within the required two-hour window; instead, it was reported the following day. The Administrator acknowledged the delay and stated unawareness of the two-hour reporting requirement. These failures affected four residents reviewed for abuse in the sample of 38.