§ 6500.20. Incident report and investigation.
(a) The agency and the home shall report the following incidents, alleged incidents and suspected incidents through the Department’s information management system or on a form specified by the Department within 24 hours of discovery by a staff person:
(1) Death.
(2) A physical act by an individual in an attempt to complete suicide.
(3) Inpatient admission to a hospital.
(4) Abuse, including abuse to an individual by another individual.
(5) Neglect.
(6) Exploitation.
(7) An individual who is missing for more than 24 hours or who could be in jeopardy if missing for any period of time.
(8) Law enforcement activity that occurs during the provision of a service or for which the individual is the subject of a law enforcement investigation that may lead to criminal charges against the individual.
(9) Injury requiring treatment beyond first aid.
(10) Fire requiring the services of the fire department. This provision does not include false alarms.
(11) Emergency closure.
(12) Theft or misuse of individual funds.
(13) A violation of individual rights.
(b) The agency and the home shall report the following incidents, alleged incidents and suspected incidents through the Department’s information management system or on a form specified by the department within 72 hours of discovery by a staff person:
(1) Use of a restraint.
(2) A medication error as specified in § 6500.137 (relating to medication errors), if the medication was ordered by a health care practitioner.
(c) The individual and persons designated by the individual shall be notified within 24 hours of discovery of an incident relating to the individual.
(d) Documentation of the notification in subsection (c) shall be kept.
(e) The incident report, or a summary of the incident, the findings and the actions taken, redacted to exclude information about another individual and the reporter, unless the reporter is the individual who receives the report, shall be available to the individual and persons designated by the individual, upon request.
(f) Immediate action shall be taken to protect the health, safety and well-being of the individual following the initial knowledge or notice of an incident, alleged incident or suspected incident.
(g) An investigation of an incident, alleged incident or suspected incident shall be initiated within 24 hours of discovery by a staff person.
(h) A Department-certified incident investigator shall conduct the investigation of the following incidents:
(1) Death that occurs during the provision of service.
(2) Inpatient admission to a hospital as a result of an accidental or unexplained injury or an injury caused by a staff person, another individual or during the use of a restraint.
(3) Abuse, including abuse to an individual by another individual.
(4) Neglect.
(5) Exploitation.
(6) Injury requiring treatment beyond first aid as a result of an accidental or unexplained injury or an injury caused by a staff person, another individual or during the use of a restraint.
(7) Theft or misuse of individual funds.
(8) A violation of individual rights.
(i) The incident report shall be finalized through the Department’s information management system or on a form specified by the Department within 30 days of discovery of the incident by a staff person unless the agency or home notifies the Department in writing that an extension is necessary and the reason for the extension.
(j) The following information shall be provided to the Department as part of the final incident report:
(1) Additional detail about the incident.
(2) The results of the incident investigation.
(3) Action taken to protect the health, safety and well-being of the individual.
(4) A description of the corrective action taken in response to an incident and to prevent recurrence of the incident.
(5) The person responsible for implementing the corrective action.
(6) The date the corrective action was implemented or is to be implemented.
Authority The provisions of this § 6500.20 amended under sections 201(2), 403(b), 403.1(a) and (b), Articles IX and X of the Human Services Code (62 P.S. § § 201(2), 403(b), 403.1(a) and (b), 901—922 and 1001—1088); and section 201(2) of the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Act of 1966 (50 P.S. § 4201(2)).
Source The provisions of this § 6500.20 amended June 17, 2016, effective June 18, 2016, 46 Pa.B. 3177; amended October 4, 2019, effective in 120 days, 49 Pa.B. 5777. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (382012) to (382013).
Cross References This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 6000.903 (relating to licensing applicability); and 55 Pa. Code § 6500.137 (relating to medication errors).
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