Failure to Report Alleged Abuse as Required by Policy and Regulations
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow its abuse reporting policy and regulatory requirements by not reporting an allegation of abuse involving one resident. The resident, who was dependent on staff for mobility, toileting, and nutrition, and had diagnoses including morbid obesity and generalized anxiety disorder, reported that a CNA entered the room without knocking or identifying themselves, turned on the lights without warning, and then verbally abused the resident using profanities and derogatory language. The resident also alleged that the CNA snatched the bed remote from their hands, threw it at them, and threatened further harm before leaving the room. The incident was reported to the charge nurse and the administrator by staff on the same day. Despite the facility's policy requiring immediate reporting of all alleged violations involving abuse to the administrator and state authorities, the administrator did not report the allegation to the regulatory authority. The administrator stated that since an internal investigation determined that abuse did not occur, they believed reporting was unnecessary. This failure to report the allegation as required constitutes a deficiency in following both facility policy and state/federal regulations.