Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to report an allegation of staff-to-resident verbal and physical abuse within the required two-hour timeframe to the State Survey Agency and other appropriate authorities. According to the facility's policy, all alleged violations involving abuse must be reported immediately, but no later than two hours after the allegation is made. In this case, an incident involving a resident and a staff member was reported to the facility Administrator via email, but the report to the State Agency was not made until several days later, well beyond the required timeframe. The Administrator acknowledged awareness of the allegation but did not submit the report as required, citing forgetfulness. The incident involved a resident with intact cognition who alleged that a staff member entered their room, made threatening statements, and made physical contact with the resident's injured ankle. The resident called emergency services, and law enforcement responded to the facility. The facility's investigation concluded that verbal abuse had occurred. Despite these findings and the facility's established policy, the delay in reporting the allegation constituted a failure to comply with regulatory requirements for timely reporting of abuse.