Failure to Investigate and Report Alleged Abuse and Neglect
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to promptly conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of potential abuse and neglect involving a resident. According to the report, a resident with diagnoses including kidney disease, Crohn's disease, and diabetes, who was cognitively intact and required moderate assistance with mobility, reported that her call bell was not answered in a timely manner when she needed help to go to the bathroom. The nurse aide responded dismissively, and additional staff statements described the same aide as having a negative attitude, swearing, and being unhelpful to residents, including leaving call bells unanswered and making inappropriate comments to residents. Despite these grievances and staff statements indicating possible abuse and neglect, the Director of Nursing confirmed that she did not identify these as potential abuse or neglect incidents and did not conduct a thorough investigation or implement corrective actions. Furthermore, the facility did not submit the results of a completed investigation to the State Survey Agency within the required five working days, as mandated by facility policy and federal requirements.