Failure to Timely Report Allegations of Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report allegations of abuse to the state agency within the required two-hour timeframe after the allegations were made. One resident, who had a history of behavioral disturbances, paranoia, delusions, and making previous allegations against staff, reported multiple incidents of being struck on the head and being touched inappropriately during the night. Documentation in the resident's care plan indicated that staff were to implement a buddy care system for all care tasks and report any further concerns to the campus administrator, following the facility's vulnerable adult policy. Despite these documented allegations, interviews with staff revealed inconsistent practices regarding the reporting of abuse. Some staff members stated they would notify the nurse or administrator immediately upon hearing an allegation, while others indicated that the resident's history of making frequent allegations influenced whether or not the incidents were reported to the state agency. The household coordinator specifically stated that not all of the resident's allegations were reported to the state agency due to their frequency. The administrator and clinical leadership described a process of vetting allegations based on the resident's care plan and history, sometimes choosing not to report if the care plan was followed or if the resident had a known history of making such claims. Facility policy required that allegations of abuse be reported within two hours, but the actual practice did not consistently meet this standard, resulting in a failure to comply with federal and state reporting requirements.