F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
D

Failure to Timely Report Injury of Unknown Origin and Resident Altercation

Sapphire Rehabilitation And Care CenterColumbus, Ohio Survey Completed on 09-22-2025

Summary

The facility failed to ensure Resident #107’s injury of unknown origin was reported to the State Agency in a timely manner. Resident #107 had a history that included dysphagia, cognitive communication deficit, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cerebral infarction, vascular dementia, epilepsy, contracture of the left foot and hand, and flaccid hemiplegia affecting the left nondominant side. He also had left upper extremity paralysis with contractures. On 05/29/25, staff noted several liquid-filled blister-like areas on the back of his hand, including areas that were seeping and open, with yellowish drainage, mild odor, and pitting edema. The physician was notified and the resident was sent to the hospital. The facility investigation documented that five blisters were present, including two connected on the index finger, and the resident denied noticing them or doing anything to cause an injury. The facility noted no predisposing environmental or situational factors and listed diabetes and hyperglycemia as physiological factors. There was no further investigation or witness statements related to the injury. Hospital records described bullae and yellow crusting of the left hand with strong suspicion of bullous impetigo, along with shallow ulceration and swelling of unknown start date. The daughter expressed care concerns and stated it seemed as though the resident’s hand had been pressed against his Hoyer pad. The facility’s self-reported incidents showed the injury had not been reported, and the DON stated it had not been treated as an injury of unknown origin even though the cause could not be determined. The facility also failed to timely report an altercation involving Resident #5 and a CNA. Resident #5 had diagnoses including chronic pain, anxiety disorder, history of TBI, paraplegia, and later mood disorder; hospital records also described intellectual disability, depression, anxiety, poor frustration tolerance, maladaptive coping, and a history of self-injurious behavior. During incontinence care, Resident #5 became agitated after staff interaction, threw items at the CNA, and then brandished a switchblade-style knife while threatening her. Police were called, the knife was removed, and additional contraband was searched for in the room. Multiple staff statements and the police report described the resident throwing food, feces, and other items, causing minor injury to the CNA’s arm and hand, and moving into the hallway with the knife while other residents and staff were present. Although the facility later filed a self-reported incident, it was filed as emotional/verbal abuse by staff toward Resident #5 after the police report was obtained, rather than being reported on the day of the incident. The DON stated the facility did not file the report on the day the event occurred because of the wording in the police report describing a verbal altercation. The facility policy required allegations of abuse and injuries of unknown source to be reported immediately, with abuse allegations reported no later than two hours after the allegation was made.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0609 citations
Failure to Report Alleged Misappropriation
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to report an alleged misappropriation of resident funds. A resident with COPD, anxiety, and PTSD reported $1,600 missing and believed another resident took it, but the SSD reportedly said it was too long ago to investigate. The CNO recalled hearing about missing funds from a family member but did not pursue it, and the CEO stated the allegation should have been reported to the State Agency.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Report Alleged Sexual Abuse Within Required Timeframe
J
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to report alleged sexual abuse within required timeframe. A resident with intact cognition and significant ADL dependence alleged that a CNA raped them during incontinence care; the resident later described possible penetration and burning, while the CNA said they only provided brief care and applied ointment. The family member contacted law enforcement and requested hospital transfer, but facility leadership did not report the allegation to DOH within 2 hours, stating they believed the allegation had changed to rough handling and did not meet the reporting threshold.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Immediately Report Abuse Allegations and Injury of Unknown Origin
E
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to Immediately Report Abuse Allegations and Injury of Unknown Origin: Staff did not immediately report two resident-to-resident sexual abuse incidents involving one resident touching two others, and staff also did not immediately report bruising of unknown origin on another resident. A CNA redirected the resident during the abuse incidents but did not notify the charge nurse, DON, or Administrator, and an RN and LPN did not escalate the bruising after assessing it and hearing it described as handprint-like. The delayed reporting prevented timely initiation of the abuse investigation process and resident assessment.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Report Alleged Physical Abuse
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to Report Alleged Physical Abuse: A resident alleged that two CNAs were rough while repositioning them in bed and that the resident’s head was bumped into the headboard, causing pain. One CNA confirmed the head bump occurred during care, and the administrator stated the abuse allegation and failure to report were substantiated because the staff did not report the incident immediately.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Timely Report Allegation of Abuse
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to Timely Report Allegation of Abuse: A nurse witnessed one resident touch another resident inappropriately, but the incident was not reported within the required timeframe. The LPN separated the residents and addressed boundaries with the resident involved, but did not report the event because she believed the RN would notify the DON. The DON and Administrator later stated the incident had not been reported immediately as required.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Immediately Report Verbal Abuse Allegation
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to Immediately Report Verbal Abuse Allegation: A CNA was heard using foul and disrespectful language toward a cognitively impaired resident during care, but the allegation was not reported immediately to the DON/Administrator. The witness delayed reporting for several hours, and the DON, ADON, and Administrator confirmed the report was not made until later that morning. The resident had severe cognitive impairment, was dependent on staff for care, and received nutrition via GT.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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