Failure to Submit Final Investigation Reports for Abuse and Misappropriation Allegations
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to submit the results of investigations into allegations of abuse and misappropriation of resident property to the State Agency within five working days, as required by federal and state regulations. Specifically, for three residents who made allegations—two of physical abuse and one of misappropriation of property—initial reports were sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health, but the final investigation reports were not submitted. The Director of Nursing confirmed that no five-day final reports were sent for these cases. The previous administrator explained that in two cases, the residents recanted their allegations or clarified that no abuse occurred, and in the third case, the resident left the facility against medical advice before the investigation was completed, leading to the omission of the required final reports. Facility policy and federal regulations mandate that all allegations of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation must be promptly investigated and the results reported to the appropriate authorities within specified timeframes. Documentation reviewed showed that initial reports were made for each incident, but the process was not completed as required. The failure to submit final investigation reports occurred despite the facility's written policies outlining the obligation to report and investigate such incidents thoroughly and within the required timeframe.