Virginia Law

A. Providers shall collect, maintain, and report the following information concerning abuse, neglect, and exploitation:

1. The director of a facility operated by the department shall report allegations of abuse and neglect via the department's web-based reporting application in accordance with all applicable operating instructions issued by the commissioner or his designee.

2. The director of a service licensed or funded by the department shall report each allegation of abuse or neglect via the department's web-based reporting application within 24 hours of receipt of the allegation (see 12VAC35-115-175).

3. The investigating authority shall provide a written report of the results of the investigation of abuse or neglect to the director and human rights advocate via the department's web-based reporting application within 10 working days from the date the investigation began unless an extension has been granted (see 12VAC35-115-175). This report shall include:

a. Whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurred;

b. The type of abuse; and

c. Whether the act resulted in physical or psychological injury.

B. Providers shall collect, maintain, and report the following information concerning deaths and serious injuries:

1. The director of a facility operated by the department shall report to the department deaths and serious injuries in accordance with all applicable operating instructions issued by the commissioner or his designee.

2. The director of a service licensed or funded by the department shall report deaths and serious injuries in writing to the department within 24 hours of discovery and by telephone to the authorized representative within 24 hours.

3. All reports of death and serious injuries shall include:

a. Date and place of the death or serious injury;

b. Nature of the injuries and treatment required; and

c. Circumstances of the death or serious injury.

C. Providers shall collect, maintain and report the following information concerning seclusion and restraint:

1. The director of a facility operated by the department shall report each instance of seclusion or restraint or both in accordance with all applicable operating instructions issued by the commissioner or his designee.

2. The director of a service licensed or funded by the department shall submit an annual report of each instance of seclusion or restraint or both by the 15th of January each year, or more frequently if requested by the department.

3. Each instance of seclusion or restraint or both shall be compiled on a monthly basis and the report shall include:

a. Type or types, to include:

(1) Physical restraint (manual hold);

(2) Mechanical restraint;

(3) Pharmacological restraint; or

(4) Seclusion.

b. Rationale for the use of seclusion or restraint, to include:

(1) Behavioral purpose;

(2) Medical purpose; or

(3) Protective purpose.

c. Duration of the seclusion or restraint, as follows:

(1) The duration of seclusion and restraint used for behavioral purposes is defined as the actual time the individual is in seclusion or restraint from the time of initiation of seclusion or restraint until the individual is released.

(2) The duration of restraint for medical and protective purposes is defined as the length of the episode as indicated in the order.

4. Any instance of seclusion or restraint that does not comply with this chapter or approved variances, or that results in injury to an individual, shall be reported to the authorized representative, as applicable, and to the department via the department's web-based reporting application within 24 hours.

D. Providers shall report to the human rights advocate and the LHRC when requested information on each complaint of a human rights violation, including a description and its conclusions, and report on implementation of variances, in accordance with the LHRC meeting schedule.

E. Reports required under this section shall be submitted to the department on forms or in an automated format or both developed by the department.

F. The department shall compile all data reported under this section and make this data available to the public and the Office of the State Inspector General (§ 2.2-308 of the Code of Virginia) upon request.

1. The department shall provide the compiled data in writing or by electronic means.

2. The department shall remove all provider-identifying information and all information that could be used to identify a person as an individual receiving services.

G. In the reporting, compiling, and releasing of information and statistical data provided under this section, the department and all providers shall take all measures necessary to ensure that any information identifying individuals is not disclosed to the public, including encryption of data transferred by electronic means.

H. Nothing in this section is to be construed as requiring the reporting of proceedings, minutes, records, or reports of any entity that are identified as privileged pursuant to § 8.01-581.17 of the Code of Virginia.

I. Providers shall report to the Department of Health Professions, Enforcement Division, violations of this chapter that constitute reportable conditions under state law.