Failure to Timely Report and Respond to Alleged Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its abuse policy when a staff member accused of slapping a resident was not immediately suspended, and the incident was not reported to the Administrator in a timely manner. According to the facility's policy, all employees are required to report suspected or witnessed abuse to the Administrator or Director of Nursing (DON) within two hours, and allegations of abuse should result in staff suspension and prompt investigation. In this case, the alleged incident occurred, but the Administrator was not informed until the following day, delaying both the suspension of the accused staff member and the initiation of an investigation. The incident involved a resident who alleged being slapped in the face by a nurse aide. Interviews with staff revealed that the resident was yelling and reported to a nurse that she had been slapped. The nurse assessed the resident and found no injuries, then reported the situation up the chain of command. However, the nurse aide accused of abuse was not immediately suspended and continued working. Other staff interviews indicated confusion about the reporting process and whether the DON had been adequately informed. The DON only became aware of the incident the next day and then took appropriate action, including suspension and starting an investigation. Further interviews revealed that the communication breakdown extended to the Administrator, who was also not informed until the day after the incident. The delay in reporting resulted in the facility failing to meet regulatory timeframes for reporting to state agencies and initiating an investigation. Additionally, there was inconsistency in staff understanding of the abuse policy and reporting requirements, contributing to the deficiency.