12VAC5-391-250. Complaints.
A. The hospice program shall establish and maintain complaint handling procedures that specify the:
1. System for logging receipt, investigation and resolution of complaints;
2. Format of the written record;
3. Method in which the adult protective services unit of the local social services department is to be informed and for what complaints; and
4. Description of the appeal rights if a complainant is not satisfied with the resolution.
B. The hospice program shall designate staff responsible for complaint resolution, including:
1. Complaint intake, including acknowledgment of complaints;
2. Investigation of the complaint;
3. Review of the investigation of findings and resolution of the complaint; and
4. Written notification to the complainant of the proposed resolution within 30 days from the date of receipt of the complaint.
C. The patient or his designee shall be given a copy of the hospice program's procedures for filing a complaint at the time of admission to service. The hospice program shall provide each patient or his designee with the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the:
1. Hospice program contact person;
2. State Ombudsman; and
3. Complaint Unit of the OLC.
D. The hospice program shall maintain documentation of all complaints received and the status of each complaint from date of receipt through its final resolution. Records shall be maintained from the date of the last licensure inspection and for no less than three years.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-162.5 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. November 1, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2008.