DOH investigation

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How long after a complaint is filed before the DOH starts an investigation of an ltc center? My company recently got told the DOH is doing an investigation of my facility due to a complaint, I have no idea with regards to what though. No recent complaints or incidents in the last couple months. I haven't even had an incident report filed in 60 days, it was a nice summer for us. I can't imagine what they are coming to investigate. In the past the DOH call within a week of an incident and asks for charts and report copies I'm a little confused what the complaint was all about. Could someone have filed a report months ago and the DOH is just getting around to the investigation. And why are they not asking for a specific chart?

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This week I got notice the doh was coming to investigate an incident. The only thing is there have been no recent incidents. No patient complaints, no major incident reports, nothing in 75 days. It was very chill summer so far. Is the doh following up on an old complaint? How back logged do they get? I usually know if/when a complaint is coming like after an incident and the doh is usually requesting chart copies soon after. Any insight on this? If a complaint is lodged is it possible they're waiting months/years to follow up? I don't usually see that. I can't imagine what they want.... And experience with this ladies and gents?

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Maybe 70 days ... Not 100% sure

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Here they come unannounced within a couple of days. Historically it's been an "anonymous" complaint by a family member and when the DOH arrives they'll pull a handful of charts and we usually can figure out who made the complaint before the dust settles.In all the years I've been with my employer they have never ONCE determined there was foundation for the complaint. We don't always have the best annual surveys, we are not perfect, but this type of complaint seems to be down to a disgruntled family member.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Here they come unannounced within a couple of days. Historically it's been an "anonymous" complaint by a family member and when the DOH arrives they'll pull a handful of charts and we usually can figure out who made the complaint before the dust settles.In all the years I've been with my employer they have never ONCE determined there was foundation for the complaint. We don't always have the best annual surveys we are not perfect, but this type of complaint seems to be down to a disgruntled family member.[/quote']

^Usually it does come down to a dissatisfied member, or patient if there are short term units. Sometimes it's not related to care or nursing; sometimes it's another department, like billing, or dietary.

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Ever heard of them coming months after the discharge of an angry patient..? In my experience they come right away.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

The DPH in Massachusetts is behind schedule. They are only just coming out on things I reported in June. We haven't had any family complaints since I started there, but when they come in, they have to tell you why they are there and who complained about us.

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Ooooo I hope we are not getting old complaints coming out to haunt us... Smh. Any ideas if nys is backed up?

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Things you reported..? Falls, med errors? How can they be months behind on "immediate issues?"

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In Alabama, it's the law that they have to come to the facility to investigate within 72 hours of any complaint.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

threads merged as per the TOS

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Its really Odd they are so far behind in Massachusetts, if they're was a problem it seems incomprehensible to let it ride for three months. For most med errors or falls with injury they don't even come do inspections here. I fill

Out a report after staff interviews and a chart review and they seem happy as long as they're not obvious issues. They don't seem to be all that eager to come. It's been 3 years since I have scene any on site activity. I even had a broken hip after someone slipped out of wheelchair to the floor and they still didn't come out, again no obvious wrong doing. So I'm surprised to see them coming over...... Nothing (that I can think of).

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