§ 2380.17. Reporting of unusual incidents.

 (a)  An unusual incident is:

   (1)  Abuse or suspected abuse of an individual.

   (2)  Injury, trauma or illness requiring inpatient hospitalization, that occurs while the individual is at the facility or under the supervision of the facility.

   (3)  A suicide attempt by an individual.

   (4)  A violation or alleged violation of an individual’s rights.

   (5)  An individual whose absence is unaccounted for, and is therefore presumed to be at risk.

   (6)  The misuse or alleged misuse of an individual’s funds or property.

   (7)  An outbreak of a serious communicable disease, as defined in 28 Pa. Code §  27.2 (relating to specific identified reportable diseases, infections and conditions) to the extent that confidentiality laws permit reporting.

   (8)  An incident requiring the services of a fire department or law enforcement agency.

   (9)  A condition, except for snow or ice conditions, that results in closure of the facility for more than 1 scheduled day of operation.

 (b)  Written policies and procedures on the prevention, reporting, investigation and management of unusual incidents shall be developed and kept at the facility.

 (c)  The facility shall orally notify, within 24 hours after abuse or suspected abuse of an individual or an incident requiring the services of a fire department or law enforcement agency occurs:

   (1)  The county mental health and mental retardation program of the county in which the facility is located if the individual involved in the unusual incident has mental illness or mental retardation.

   (2)  The funding agency.

   (3)  The appropriate regional office of mental retardation.

 (d)  The facility shall initiate an investigation of the unusual incident and complete and send copies of an unusual incident report on a form specified by the Department, within 72 hours after an unusual incident occurs, to:

   (1)  The county mental health and mental retardation program of the county in which the facility is located if the individual involved in the unusual incident has mental illness or mental retardation.

   (2)  The funding agency.

   (3)  The appropriate regional office of mental retardation.

 (e)  At the conclusion of the investigation the facility shall send a copy of the final unusual incident report to:

   (1)  The county mental health and mental retardation program of the county in which the facility is located if the individual involved in the unusual incident has mental illness or mental retardation.

   (2)  The funding agency.

   (3)  The appropriate regional office of mental retardation.

 (f)  A copy of unusual incident reports relating to an individual shall be kept in the individual’s record.

 (g)  A copy of unusual incident reports relating to the facility itself, such as those requiring the services of a fire department, shall be kept.

 (h)  The individual’s family, if appropriate, and the residential services provider, if applicable, shall be immediately notified in the event of an unusual incident relating to the individual.

   The provisions of this §  2380.17 adopted December 29, 1978, effective December 30, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 3820; amended January 15, 1993, effective January 16, 1993, 23 Pa.B. 343. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (88775).

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  6000.903 (relating to licensing applicability).