Health inspection·September 13, 2024

The following reflects the findings of the California Department of Public Health during a standard abbreviated survey regarding investigation of a complaint CA00905130. Event ID: 3LJR11 Exit date: 8/7/24. State Citation B was issued. F609 §483.12(b) The facility must develop and implement written policies and procedures that: §483.12(b)(5) Ensure reporting of crimes occurring in federally funded long-term care facilities in accordance with section 1150B of the Act. The policies and procedures must include but are not limited to the following elements. (A) Each covered individual shall report to the State Agency and one or more law enforcement entities for the political subdivision in which the facility is located any reasonable suspicion of a crime against any individual who is a resident of, or is receiving care from, the facility. (B} Each covered individual shall report immediately, but not later than 2 hours after forming the suspicion, if the events that cause the suspicion result in serious bodily injury, or not later than 24 hours if the events that cause the suspicion do not result in serious bodily injury §483.12(c) In response to allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment, the facility must: §483.12(c)(1) Ensure that all alleged violations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation or mistreatment, including injuries of unknown source and misappropriation of resident property, are reported immediately, but not later than 2 hours after the allegation is made, if the events that cause the allegation involve abuse or result in serious bodily injury, or not later than 24 hours if the events that cause the allegation do not involve abuse and do not result in serious bodily injury, to the administrator of the facility and to other officials (including to the State Survey Agency and adult protective services where state law provides for jurisdiction in long-term care facilities) in accordance with State law through established procedures. On 6/18/24, an unannounced visit was conducted at the facility and investigated a complaint regarding a Resident-to-Resident Abuse. The facility failed to report an allegation of abuse involving two of two sampled residents (1 and 2) to the appropriate agencies, including the State Survey Agency. This failure to report potentially compromised residents' safety in the facility and violated mandated reporting requirements. Review of the intake information dated 6/17/24, indicated Resident 1's roommate (Resident 2) allegedly threw a fan onto Resident 1's chest. During a telephone interview with Resident 1's family member (FM) on 6/17/24 at 4:30 p.m., the FM stated Resident 2 had thrown a fan at Resident 1 on the night of 6/16/24. The FM further stated the incident was reported to the charge nurse on duty. Review of Resident 1's admission record dated 6/19/24, indicated Resident 1 was admitted on 6/13/24 with a primary diagnosis of infection and inflammatory reaction due to other cardiac and vascular devices (infection after a person has received medical devices or implants in their heart or blood vessels. These devices include, pacemakers, heart valves, or stents). Review of Resident 1's minimum data set (MDS, an assessment tool) dated 6/17/24, indicated Resident 1 had a brief interview for mental status (BIMS) score of 7, indicating severe impaired cognition. Review of Resident 2's admission record dated 6/19/24, indicated Resident 2 was admitted on 5/23/24, with the diagnoses of acute transverse myelitis in demyelinating disease of central nervous system (a condition where the spinal cord becomes inflamed, causing weakness, numbness, or paralysis), post-traumatic stress disorder (mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences a traumatic event), unspecified mood disorder (a mental health condition characterized by changes in mood). Review of Resident 2's MDS, dated 6/17/24, indicated Resident 2 had a BIMS score of 14, indicating cognition was intact. Review of Resident 1's Nursing Progress Notes, dated 6/17/24, indicated, "2345 Routine care safety rounds made and resident observed sitting at side of bed; seemed anxious as this resident look on a small battery operated electric fan that is on the floor by the side of bed; offered if this writer could pick up the fan device for storage but refused...asked if the fan device is her own but shook own head, suggesting that it's not hers; this resident pointed her own fingers towards the roommate. Per outgoing nursing staff, resident may have called own family who are now on their way to check on resident. 0030 Resident's 3 daughters now at bedside and asked this writer to transfer resident to another room for resident still have difficulty getting along with the roommate. Inquired to roommate re ownership of the fan device that's on the floor, roommate acknowledged that the fan is hers; that own fan device place at the bedside table suddenly fell down the floor." During an interview with the social services director (SSD) on 6/18/24, at 12:49 p.m., the SSD stated he knew about the alleged incident from facility's staff on the morning of 6/17/24. He stated the staff informed him about a commotion during the night shift in the room shared by Residents 1 and 2. The SSD stated the FM also informed both him and the DON the morning after the alleged incident that Resident 2 had thrown a fan at Resident 1. However, the SSD stated the incident was not reportable because Resident 2 denied the action, claiming that the clip-on fan, attached to her bed rail, tends to fall when bumped. The SSD stated it was a disagreement between the two residents. During an interview with Resident 2 on 6/18/24, at 1:15 p.m., Resident 2 stated that she did not throw the fan at Resident 1. She stated that the fan was attached to her bed's side rails and likely fell on the floor. Resident 2 stated she was not physically capable of throwing objects and was asleep at that time of the incident. During a phone interview with registered nurse A (RN A) on 8/6/24, at 2:46 p.m., RN A, who was the night shift charge nurse for Residents 1 and 2 on 6/16/24, stated that Resident 1 called her family to report that Resident 2 had thrown a fan at her. RN A stated that Resident 1's FM informed him that Resident 1 believed the fan was intentionally thrown by Resident 2. RN A immediately reported the incident to the DON. During an interview with the DON on 8/7/24, at 2 p.m., the DON stated RN A called her on the night of 6/16/24 and reported that Resident 1 had complained about a fan that had rolled onto the floor. The DON stated that it was not reported to her that Resident 2 had intentionally thrown the fan at Resident 1. The DON stated if the act had been intentional, it should have been reported to the State agency. The DON stated the Administrator (ADM) initiated an internal investigation, which included interviews with staff and both residents. According to their investigation, Resident 2 stated she was asleep at the time and did not have the capacity to throw the fan at Resident 1, which led to the decision not to report the incident to the State agency. During an interview with the ADM on 8/8/24, at 4:06 p.m., the ADM, who also serves as the abuse coordinator, stated that that on 6/17/24, he received a report from the nurses that Resident 2 allegedly threw a fan at Resident 1. The ADM stated that they investigated and found that Resident 2 was asleep at that time, and the fan was not broken. The administrator stated that they only report to the State agency if an actual abuse situation occurs. In this case, since no harm resulted from the incident, they decided not to report it. Review of the facility's undated policy, titled, Abuse and Neglect - Clinical Protocol, indicated, "Treatment/Management...The management and staff, with physician support, will address situations of suspected or identified abuse and reported them in a timely manner to appropriate agencies, consistent with applicable laws and regulations..." Review of AFL (All Facilities Letter) 21-26, titled "Mandated Reporting Requirements of Potential Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, or Mistreatment of Elders or Dependent Adults," dated 7/26/21 indicated, "Reporting of elder or dependent adult mistreatment is vital in protecting the health and welfare of one of California's most vulnerable populations. Pursuant to Title 42 CFR section 483.12(c)(1) and WIC section 15630 (b)(1)(A)(i & ii), facilities must report any instance of suspected or alleged abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or mistreatment of elders or dependent adults to their local law enforcement agency, LTC ombudsman, and DO. Any person who has assumed full or part time care or custody of an elder or dependent adult is considered a mandated reporter, as defined in WIC section 15630(a). Pursuant to WIC section 15630(b)(1), a mandated reporter must file a report if they have observed, obtained knowledge of, or suspect abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or mistreatment of any elder or dependent adult under their care." The facility failed to report an allegation of abuse involving two of two sampled residents (1 and 2) to the appropriate agencies, including the State Survey Agency. This failure to report potentially compromised residents' safety in the facility and violated mandated reporting requirements. The above violation had a direct or immediate relationship to the health, safety, or security of patients.