S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-103.600.601

Current through Register Vol. 48, 12, December 27, 2024

Section 61-103.600.601 - Accidents and/or Incidents

A. A facility shall maintain a record of each accident and/or incident, including usage of mechanical and/or physical restraints, involving residents, staff members, or visitors, occurring in the facility or on the facility grounds. A facility's record of each accident and/or incident shall be documented, reviewed, investigated, and if necessary, evaluated in accordance with facility policies and procedures, and retained by the facility for six (6) years after the resident stops receiving services.

B. The licensee shall report each accident and/or incident resulting in unexpected death or serious injury to the next of kin or party responsible for each affected individual at the earliest practicable hour, not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours. The licensee shall notify the Department immediately, not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours, via telephone, email, or facsimile. The licensee shall submit a report of the licensee's investigation of the accident and/or incident to the Department within five (5) days. Accidents and/or incidents requiring reporting include, but are not limited to:

1. Crime(s) against resident;

2. Confirmed or suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation;

3. Medication error with adverse reaction;

4. Hospitalization as a result of the accident and/or incident;

5. Severe hematoma, laceration, or burn requiring medical attention or hospitalization;

6. Fracture of bone or joint;

7. Severe injury involving the use of restraints;

8. Attempted suicide;

9. Fire; and

10. Resident left without notification or elopement.

C. A facility shall immediately report every serious accident and/or incident to the attending physician, next of kin or responsible party, and local law enforcement when applicable, for example, abuse and suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of resident, crime against resident, or elopement. The Department shall be notified via telephone, email, or facsimile within twenty-four (24) hours of the serious accident and/or incident.

D. A facility shall submit a written report of its investigation of every serious accident and/or incident to the Department within five (5) calendar days of the serious accident and/or incident. A facility's written report to the Department shall provide at a minimum:

1. Facility name;

2. License number;

3. Type of accident and/or incident;

4. Date accident and/or incident occurred;

5. Number of residents directly injured or affected;

6. Resident record number or last four (4) digits of Social Security Number;

7. Resident age and sex;

8. Number of staff directly injured or affected;

9. Number of visitors directly injured or affected;

10. Name(s) of witness(es);

11. Identified cause of accident and/or incident;

12. Internal investigation results if cause unknown; and

13. Brief description of the accident and/or incident including the location of occurrence and treatment of injuries.

E. A facility shall retain a report of every serious accident and/or incident with all of the information provided to the Department and the names, injuries, and treatments associated with each resident, staff, and/or visitor involved.

F. The administrator or his or her designee shall report abuse and suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of residents to the appropriate agency and/or law enforcement, such as the Department of Social Services and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-103.600.601

Replaced and amended by State Register Volume 40, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/24/2016.