reportables

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!!

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.

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.