Section 6400.18. Reporting of unusual incidents

(a) An unusual incident is abuse or suspected abuse of an individual; injury, trauma or illness of an individual requiring inpatient hospitalizaion; suicide attempt by an individual; violation or alleged violation of an individual’s rights; an individual who is missing for more than 24 hours or who could be in jeopardy if missing at all; alleged misuse or misuse ofindividual funds or property; outbreak of a serious communicable disease as defined in 28 Pa. Code § 27.2 (relating to specific identified reportable diseases, infections and conditions); an incident requiring the services of a fire department or law enforcement agency; and any condition that results in closure of the home for more than 1 day.

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

(c) The home shall orally notify the county mental retardation program of the county in which the home is located, the funding agency and the appropriate regional office of mental retardation, 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.

(d) The home 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 to the county mental retardation program of the county in which the home is located, the funding agency and the appropriate regional office of mental retardation, within 72 hours after an unusual incident occurs.

(e) The home shall send a copy of the final unusual incident report to the county mental retardation program of the county in which the home is located, the funding agency and the appropriate regional office of mental retardation at the conclusion of the investigation.

(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 home itself, such as those requiring the services of a fire department, shall be kept.

(h) The individual’s family or guardian shall be immediately notified in the event of an unusual incident relating to the individual, if appropriate.

The provisions of this § 6400.18 amended through January 22, 1982, effective March 1, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 384; amended August 9, 1991, effective November 8, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 3595. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (133675) to (133676).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 6000.303 (relating to no license factors); 55 Pa. Code § 6400.273 (relating to exceptions); and 55 Pa Code § 6000.903 (relating to licensing applicability).