Advanced Search

Long-Term Care Survey Alert

Regulatory Monitoring:

Check Out CMS' Definitions Of Abuse

Published on Wed Jan 26, 2005

Definitions offer a little wiggle room for injuries of unknown origin.

Get on the same page as the federal government in defining these critical terms for reporting abuse, neglect and injuries:

  •  Mistreatment - (No definition at this time.)

  •  Neglect - Failure to provide goods and services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish or mental illness (42 C.F.R. 488.301).

  •  Abuse - The willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain or mental anguish (42 C.F.R. 488.301).

  •  Injuries of unknown source - An injury should be classified as an "injury of unknown source" when both of the following conditions are met:

     - The source of the injury was not observed by any person or the source of the injury could not be explained by the resident; and

     - The injury is suspicious because of the extent of the injury or the location of the injury (e.g., the injury is located in an area not generally vulnerable to trauma) or the number of injuries observed at one particular point in time or the incidence of injuries over time.

  •  Misappropriation of resident property - The deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful, temporary or permanent use of a resident's belongings or money without the resident's consent (42 C.F.R. 488.301).

    Source:     www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/survey-cert/sc0509.pdf

    • Other Articles in this issue of

    Long-Term Care Survey Alert

    View All