reportables

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

What do you all report to the DPH? I've worked for several different companies and they all seem to have different opinions on what needs to be reported. Obviously we report any reported or suspected abuse, any falls with fracture, any falls that required stitches or staples..but my new ED wants to report every fall even with a minor injury. I think it's overkill. One guy fell and has a tiny abrasion on his knee. What do all y'all think?

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I report any sort of inappropriate physical contact between residents (e.g. one who likes to touch vs. one who doesn't want to be touched) as well as between staff and residents. I've also even reported our local ER a couple of times for neglect, after they sent Medicaid residents back to us in worse shape than they were in when we sent them out! Two of them 'ping-ponged' back and forth between ER and home several times before one was finally diagnosed with a GI bleed and the other with compression fractures (the ER physician REFUSED to take X-rays twice!!!).

I have yet to find out what, if anything, is going to be done about those incidents; but it sure felt good to turn it over to Adult Protective Services and let them handle it.........

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

What do you all report to the DPH? I've worked for several different companies and they all seem to have different opinions on what needs to be reported. Obviously we report any reported or suspected abuse, any falls with fracture, any falls that required stitches or staples..but my new ED wants to report every fall even with a minor injury. I think it's overkill. One guy fell and has a tiny abrasion on his knee. What do all y'all think?

We would report all of the above and also would include any bruise over 10cm (even if we can explain injury).

We would not report a fall w/ minor injury... would potentially be reporting to the DPH several times/wk!!

[debRN0417]

Check with your state agency as to what they require. Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry. Most of the time the requirement is to report anything that requires the resident have medical treatment, as in an emergency room visit, or an injury of unknown origin (bruises, skin tears etc) that you cannot explain. Also of course are any allegations of abuse, resident to resident incidents, ..falls with minor injuries, do not constitute reporting otherwise like Nascar Nurse said, you would be reporting several times a week.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Thanks for the replies....pretty much what I always thought. Now I'll just have to convince the ED that I don't need to report every tiny abrasion.