Healthcare Inspection – Reporting of Suspected Patient Neglect, Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, Tuskegee, Alabama

OIG conducted an inspection to evaluate reporting of suspected patient neglect at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, Tuskegee, AL. We did not substantiate that a registered nurse (RN) failed to report a case of suspected neglect to Adult Protective Services or that the RN failed to triage the patient to determine the need for intervention. We found that the RN’s actions were clinically appropriate. Documentation reflected that the RN attended to the caregiver’s concerns and initiated processes to secure respite care and in-home nursing services to support both the patient and caregiver. We did not substantiate that a social work supervisor improperly restricted a social worker’s ability to report cases of abuse and neglect. Facility practice is for social workers to discuss cases of suspected abuse and neglect with their supervisors before reporting whenever possible. We made no recommendations.