Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to Authorities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure timely reporting of suspected abuse allegations involving two residents and a certified nurse aide (CNA) to the Department of Public Health (DPH) within the required two-hour timeframe. According to facility policy, any report of suspected or alleged abuse must be reported to the appropriate authorities not later than two hours after the allegation is made. On 08/17/25, the Director of Nursing (DON) was notified at 5:50 A.M. of an allegation by one resident that a CNA was rough during incontinence care, causing pain and yelling at the resident. The facility submitted the report to DPH at 10:08 A.M., exceeding the two-hour reporting requirement. A second allegation involving the same CNA and another resident, who reported being subjected to profanity during care, was also not reported within the required timeframe, with the report submitted the following day at 6:54 P.M. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that the DON was made aware of both allegations in the early morning hours, but the reports were not submitted to DPH as required by policy. The administrator stated that staff are expected to report abuse allegations immediately to administration, and that administration must then report to DPH within two hours. The investigation summaries and reporting system records corroborate that the facility did not meet the mandated reporting timelines for both incidents.