Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to State Authorities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of abuse to the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) within the required two-hour timeframe for one resident. The incident involved a resident with Alzheimer's Disease, aphasia, and cognitive communication deficit, who was not able to be assessed with the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) due to being rarely or never understood. During a supper meal, a CNA was observed by another CNA to have forcefully fed the resident, hitting the resident's tooth with a spoon and shaking the resident while urging her to eat. The observing CNA reported the incident to the DON, and the staff member involved was sent home immediately. Despite the facility's policy requiring all allegations of abuse to be reported to the state within two hours, the self-report to DIAL was not submitted until nearly two days after the incident. Interviews with staff and review of facility records confirmed the delay in reporting. The administrator stated he believed the DON had submitted the report to the state office, but documentation showed otherwise.