§483.12(c) In response to allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment, the facility must:
§483.12(c)(2) Have evidence that all alleged violations are thoroughly investigated.
§483.12(c)(3) Prevent further potential abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment while the investigation is in progress.
§483.12(c)(4) Report the results of all investigations to the administrator or his or her designated representative and to other officials in accordance with State law, including to the State Survey Agency, within 5 working days of the incident, and if the alleged violation is verified appropriate corrective action must be taken.
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Observations:
Based on facility policy review, clinical record review, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to thoroughly investigate an injury of unknown origin for one of 14 sampled residents. (Resident 7)
Findings include:
Review of the facility policy entitled, "Abuse Reporting and Investigation," dated November 2025, revealed that injuries of unknown origin were investigated to rule out potential abuse.
Clinical record review revealed that Resident 7 had diagnoses that included anoxic brain damage (when the brain is deprived of oxygen), respiratory failure with hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the blood), and persistent vegetative state (awake but shows no signs of awareness of themselves or their environment), and contractures (a permanent tightening of the muscles, tendons, skin, and nearby tissues that causes the joints to shorten and become very stiff). The Minimum Data Set assessment dated December 6, 2025, indicated that the resident was cognitively impaired and needed staff assistance for bed mobility. On January 29, 2026, a nurse noted that the resident had an abrasion on the left knee that measured 2.3 centimeters (cm) long by 1.3 cm wide and that the origin of the wound was unknown. There was no documented evidence that the facility completed an investigation of Resident 7's injury of unknown origin to rule out potential abuse.
In an interview on March 5, 2026, at 12:53 p.m., the Regional Clinical Director confirmed that there was no documented evidence that an investigation was completed to rule out potential abuse for the injury of unknown origin.
28 Pa. Code 211.10(d) Resident care policies.
28 Pa. Code 211.12(d)(1)(5) Nursing services.
| | Plan of Correction - To be completed: 04/01/2026
1. Resident #7's medical record was reviewed immediately upon citation. A retrospective investigation of the left knee abrasion (noted 1/29/2026) was completed to rule out potential abuse. No evidence of abuse or neglect was identified. Resident #7's care plan was updated to include: Ongoing monitoring for skin integrity, Immediate reporting of any new injuries or abrasions of unknown origin. Licensed nursing staff were re-educated on identifying, reporting, and documenting injuries of unknown origin in accordance with the facility policy "Abuse Reporting and Investigation" (dated 11/2025). 2. The Director of Nursing (DON) or designee conducted a facility-wide review of all residents' recent incident reports, skin assessments, and injuries over the past 30 days. Any injury of unknown origin that had not been fully investigated was addressed immediately, and appropriate documentation was completed. 3. All licensed nursing staff and nursing assistants received mandatory in-service education on the policy "Abuse Reporting and Investigation," emphasizing: Prompt identification of injuries of unknown origin Immediate reporting to supervisory staff, Initiation of a thorough investigation within 24 hours, Complete documentation of investigation findings. The DON or designee implemented a daily review of incident reports and injuries of unknown origin to ensure investigations are completed timely and documented according to policy. 4. The DON or designee will perform weekly audits of all incident reports and injuries of unknown origin for 4 weeks, then monthly audits for 2 months. Audit results will be presented to the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Committee monthly. Any deficiencies identified will result in immediate re-education of staff and corrective action to ensure ongoing compliance.
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