F0609

D

Failure to Report Alleged Abuse to Law Enforcement

Snow Hill, Maryland Survey Completed on 02-04-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Facility staff failed to immediately report an allegation of suspected resident abuse to local law enforcement as required. On 08/31/25, a nursing staff member (LPN #1) allegedly told a resident’s nursing staff not to provide care and stated that pain medication would not be administered to the resident. The resident later informed his/her responsible party that nursing staff had not medicated him/her with pain medication. The responsible party reported this concern, and the facility initiated an investigation. The resident’s Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score was documented as 13/15 on 06/10/25, indicating the resident had the capacity to report concerns.

The Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) received a facility-reported incident on 09/05/25 regarding these allegations. A 5-day follow-up investigation report dated 02/03/26 documented the allegation and the facility’s conclusion that the allegation was unsubstantiated, stating that the resident had received care and pain medication as ordered on 08/31/25. Review of the facility’s abuse policy showed that all alleged or suspected abuse, including verbal and mental abuse and neglect, must be reported to the State Agency and all other required agencies, including law enforcement, in a timely manner. Further review of the facility’s follow-up investigation revealed that the allegation was not reported to law enforcement or any other state agencies beyond OHCQ. During an interview on 02/04/26, the administrator confirmed that law enforcement had not been notified of the abuse allegation involving this resident.