2016 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 23 - Health and Safety
Chapter 23-17.8 - Abuse in Health Care Facilities
Section 23-17.8-2 - Duty to report.

§ 23-17.8-2 Duty to report.

(a) Any physician, medical intern, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nurse's aide, orderly, certified nursing assistant, medical examiner, dentist, optometrist, optician, chiropractor, podiatrist, coroner, police officer, emergency medical technician, fire-fighter, speech pathologist, audiologist, social worker, pharmacist, physical or occupational therapist, or health officer, or any person, within the scope of their employment at a facility or in their professional capacity, who has knowledge of or reasonable cause to believe that a patient or resident in a facility has been abused, mistreated, or neglected shall make, within twenty-four (24) hours or by the end of the next business day, a telephone report to the director of the department of health or his or her designee for those incidents involving health care facilities, and in addition to the office of the state long-term care ombudsperson for those incidents involving nursing facilities, assisted living residences, home-care and home nursing-care providers, veterans' homes and long-term care units in Eleanor Slater Hospital, or to the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals or his or her designee for those incidents involving community residences for people who are mentally retarded or persons with developmental disabilities. The report shall contain:

(1) The name, address, telephone number, occupation, and employer's address and the phone number of the person reporting;

(2) The name and address of the patient or resident who is believed to be the victim of the abuse, mistreatment, or neglect;

(3) The details, observations, and beliefs concerning the incident(s);

(4) Any statements regarding the incident made by the patient or resident and to whom they were made;

(5) The date, time, and place of the incident;

(6) The name of any individual(s) believed to have knowledge of the incident;

(7) The name of any individual(s) believed to have been responsible for the incident.

(b) In addition to those persons required to report pursuant to this section, any other person may make a report if that person has reasonable cause to believe that a patient or resident of a facility has been abused, mistreated, or neglected.

(c) Any person required to make a report pursuant to this section shall be deemed to have complied with these requirements if a report is made to a high managerial agent of the facility in which the alleged incident occurred. Once notified, the high managerial agent shall be required to meet all reporting requirements of this section within the time frames specified by this chapter.

(d) Telephone reports made pursuant to subsection (a) shall be followed-up within three (3) business days with a written report.

History of Section.
(P.L. 1987, ch. 409, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 504, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 235, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 318, § 2; P.L. 1992, ch. 423, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 386, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 317, § 2; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 51; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 51; P.L. 2006, ch. 361, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 501, § 2; P.L. 2012, ch. 254, § 2; P.L. 2012, ch. 264, § 2.)