Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to timely report an allegation of abuse involving a resident with dementia who was cognitively impaired at the time of the incident. The resident's family reported the alleged abuse to the former Director of Nursing (DON), but the DON did not notify the Administrator or initiate the required Self-Reported Incident (SRI) process until three days later. According to facility policy, allegations of abuse must be reported to the Administrator and appropriate authorities immediately, but not later than two hours after the allegation is made if abuse or serious bodily injury is involved, or within 24 hours if not. The delay in reporting was confirmed through record review, staff interviews, and examination of the facility's SRI and policy documents. The Administrator only became aware of the incident after being informed by the former DON several days after the initial report from the resident's family. This resulted in a delay in both the suspension of the alleged perpetrator and the initiation of the investigation, constituting non-compliance with the facility's abuse reporting policy.