Failure to Timely Report Alleged Verbal Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to comply with required reporting procedures for suspected abuse, specifically in the case of a resident who was subjected to verbal abuse by a CNA. According to the facility's policy, allegations of abuse must be reported to the state survey agency and other authorities within two hours of the allegation being made. In this incident, the resident's sister provided video evidence of the CNA using derogatory and profane language toward the resident. The incident was brought to the attention of the facility's former administrator and DON, who acknowledged the unprofessional conduct and initiated an investigation, including suspending the CNA. Despite being made aware of the allegation on the same day it was reported by the resident's sister, the facility did not enter the required report into the Self-Reported Incident Management System (SIMS) until several days later, well beyond the mandated two-hour timeframe. The DON confirmed that the report should have been submitted promptly on the day the allegation was made, but it was not entered until a week later. This delay constituted a failure to meet state law and facility policy requirements for timely reporting of abuse allegations.