Failure to Timely Report Alleged Physical Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to immediately report an allegation of physical abuse involving a resident with moderate cognitive impairment and multiple medical diagnoses, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The resident disclosed to an LVN that an unknown individual had pulled her hair in the hallway a few days prior, but the LVN did not report the allegation to the RN supervisor or the Administrator as required by facility policy. The RN working alongside the LVN was not informed of the incident, and the Administrator confirmed that the facility's abuse policy mandates immediate reporting to supervisors and notification to the State Agency within two hours of awareness. The failure to report the allegation promptly resulted in a delay in initiating an investigation and notifying the appropriate authorities, including the State Survey Agency and law enforcement. The facility's policy and procedure, as well as statements from the RN and Administrator, emphasized the importance of immediate reporting to ensure resident safety and compliance with regulatory requirements. The incident was not reported in accordance with these protocols, constituting a deficiency in the facility's handling of abuse allegations.