S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-77.600.601

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

Section 61-77.600.601 - Incidents

A. The Home Health Agency shall document every Incident, and include an Incident review, investigation, and evaluation as well as corrective action taken, if any. The Home Health Agency shall retain all documented Incidents reported pursuant to this Section for six (6) years after the Patient involved is last Discharged. The Home Health Agency shall ensure the records are readily available and stored for the first year following Patient Discharge.

B. The Home Health Agency shall report the following types of Incidents to the Patient's Representative or emergency contact for each affected individual at the earliest practicable hour, not exceeding twenty-four (24) hours of the Incident. The Home Health Agency shall notify the Department immediately, not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours, via the Department's electronic reporting system or as otherwise determined by the Department. Incidents requiring reporting include, but are not limited to:

1. Confirmed or suspected crimes against a Patient by Agency Staff;

2. Confirmed or suspected Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation of a Patient by Agency Staff;

3. Medication errors with adverse impact by Agency Staff;

4. Hospital admission or death resulting from an Incident while in the care of Agency Staff; and

5. Bone or joint fracture while in the care of Agency Staff.

C. The Home Health Agency shall submit a separate written investigation report within five (5) calendar days of every Incident required to be reported to the Department pursuant to Section 601.A via the Department's electronic reporting system or as otherwise determined by the Department. The Home Health Agency shall ensure reports submitted to the Department contain: the Home Health Agency name, License number, type of Incident, the date the Incident occurred, a Patient medical record identification number, Patient age and sex, number of Staff directly injured or affected, witness(es)' name(s), identified cause of the Incident, internal investigation results if cause unknown, a brief description of the Incident including location where occurred, and treatment of injuries.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-77.600.601

Added by State Register Volume 46, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/27/2022.