Failure to Timely Report Allegation of Verbal Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of verbal abuse between two residents within the required two-hour timeframe. Documentation showed that a verbal altercation occurred between the residents, and the incident was witnessed by nursing staff and certified nurse assistants. The event was documented in the facility's SBAR Communication Forms and discussed by the Interdisciplinary Team the following day. However, the written report of suspected dependent adult/elder abuse was not submitted to the California Department of Public Health until the day after the incident occurred. Interviews with the Administrator, DON, and ADON confirmed that the report was not sent within the mandated timeframe, as required by the facility's Abuse Prevention and Management policy. The policy specifies that all allegations of abuse must be reported to CDPH Licensing and Certification within two hours. The delay in reporting was acknowledged by facility leadership during interviews.