Failure to Timely Report Alleged Misappropriation of Resident Funds
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that an alleged misappropriation of a resident's money was reported immediately to the State Survey Agency as required. The incident involved a resident whose daughter reported missing envelopes of cash on two separate occasions. The first report involved two envelopes containing $23 each, noticed missing several days after being left in the resident's room. The second report involved four envelopes totaling $86 missing from a zipper pocket in the resident's purse. In both cases, the Social Service Director notified the facility administrator, but there was a delay in reporting the allegations to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). According to interviews and record review, the Director of Nursing was not informed of the missing money until several days after the initial report, during a leadership meeting. The facility's policy requires that all alleged violations involving misappropriation of property be reported to the administrator and state agency immediately, or within specified timeframes depending on the severity. The delay in reporting the allegations to IDPH did not meet these requirements, resulting in a deficiency.