The Abuse, Neglect, Misappropriation, and Exploitation Program (ANME), housed in the Bureau of Regulatory Operations conducts investigations into allegations of abuse, neglect, misappropriation, and exploitation arising at nursing homes and assisted living facilities pursuant to sections 3721.21 to 3721.26  of the Ohio Revised Code. The rules pertaining to abuse, neglect, misappropriations are set forth in Chapter 3701-64 of the Ohio Administrative Code.

 “Abuse” means knowingly causing physical harm or recklessly causing serious physical harm to a resident by physical contact with the resident or by use of physical or chemical restraint, medication or isolation as punishment, for staff convenience, excessively, as a substitute for treatment or in amounts that preclude habilitation and treatment.

“Neglect” means recklessly failing to provide a resident with any treatment, care, goods or service necessary to maintain the health or safety of the resident when the failure results in serious physical harm to the resident.

“Misappropriation” means depriving, defrauding or otherwise obtaining the real or personal property of a resident by any means prohibited by the ORC, including violations of Chapter 2911 or 2913 of the ORC.

“Exploitation” means taking advantage of a resident, regardless of whether the action was for personal gain, whether the resident knew of the action, or whether the resident was harmed.

"Physical abuse" means knowingly causing physical harm or recklessly causing serious physical harm to a resident through physical contact with the resident or the use of physical restraint, chemical restraint, medication that does not constitute a chemical restraint, or isolation, if the restraint, medication, or isolation is excessive, for punishment, for staff convenience, a substitute for treatment, or in an amount that precludes habilitation and treatment.

"Psychological abuse" means knowingly or recklessly causing psychological harm to a resident, whether verbally or by action.

"Sexual abuse" means sexual conduct or sexual contact with a resident, as those terms are defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code.

You may call 614-752-8805 to contact the ANM program or to check the status of a pending case.

To file an ANM complaint against a facility and/or an individual worker, please call 614-752-8805 or click here: File Complaint.

To determine if an ANM allegation has ever been substantiated involving a particular worker, you can review the Nurse Aide Registry, for more information on how the Nurse Aide Registry and ANM allegations are related, please click here, contact the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry at 800-582-5908, or e-mail NAR@odh.ohio.gov.

For additional information and assistance please contact:

Ohio Department of Health
Bureau of Regulatory Operations, ANM
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Telephone: (614)752-8805
Fax: (614)564-2474
E-mail: anm@odh.ohio.gov