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→Reporting Responsibilities
==Reporting Responsibilities==
The Residential Care Regulations set out a number of mandatory situations (referred to as “reportable incidents”) where the operator (and consequently the staff) must notify certain authorities or key people outside of the facility. In some cases these incidents are reported to the Ministry of Health (generally to Community Care Licensing), but in other instances they are also made to the resident’s representative, or contact person. ([[{{PAGENAME}}#References|3537]]) These incidents include:
Each term included in incident reporting has a very specific regulatory definition and meaning in residential care. See the Appendix for definitions.
The primary concern expressed by families is that although incident reporting is required by law, it may not occur. Alternatively, if family is called about an incident as required by law, the seriousness of the situation may be downplayed or the incident is mischaracterized (e.g. a sudden death is attributed to a heart attack, not a choking incident).([[{{PAGENAME}}#References|3638]]) As a result serious problems may remain undetected for a longer period of time.
The formal Incident Reporting process is intended to serve several purposes in residential care:
* to give Community Care Facilities Licensing staff the opportunity to review the facility’s response in a timely manner,
* to help prevent the recurrence of the incident and promote a high standard of care, safety, health and dignity of the persons in care,
* for data collection and analysis of health authority-wide. ([[{{PAGENAME}}#References|3739]])
===Reporting is mandatory===
People cannot opt out of reporting required by law, because they do not feel comfortable or the resident “didn’t want me to report”. The statements reflect a misunderstanding about discretion that does not exist in the law. As the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly has noted:
“… Mandatory reporting [in residential care] is just that – mandatory." ([[{{PAGENAME}}#References|3840]])
The operator also must also maintain a written log of:
* Minor accidents and illnesses involving persons in care, that do not require medical attention and are not reportable incidents; and
* Unexpected events involving residents.([[{{PAGENAME}}#References|3941]])
{| class="wikitable"
| width="100%" | Social workers or other health care providers at hospitals may have a concern about a resident who is temporarily in hospital for treatment. British Columbia’s law is different than some jurisdictions, in that it does not place a responsibility on “everyone” to report suspected harms to a resident.
However, if there is a suspicion that abuse or neglect is occurring, health care providers can still rely on the Part 3 of Adult Guardianship Act and report the concern to a “designated agency”. Almost every resident in a care facility who is experiencing suspected abuse or neglect would be considered a vulnerable adult falling within the scope of the Act. Part 3 of the Act (the abuse and neglect section of the Act) applies no matter where the person lives, except for a correctional facility.([[{{PAGENAME}}#References|4042]])
|}