410 IAC 15-1.3-4 Complaint investigation

Sec. 4. (a) The division shall investigate all complaints that come under the department's jurisdiction, regardless of the method of communication. (b) The complaints will be assigned a priority based on the seriousness of the complaint, according to division policy, and the priority will dictate the immediacy of the investigation. (c) The complaint investigations will be unannounced and may: (1) occur at the time of the annual licensure inspection; and (2) evolve into a full survey. (d) The results of the investigation will be given in writing to the hospital. (e) The hospital will have a reasonable period of time to respond in writing with an acceptable plan of correction for noncompliance with state rules noted as a result of the investigation before this information is made available to the public. (f) The results will be reviewed and upon recommendation of the division forwarded to the commissioner for action under section 3 of this rule. (g) The completed complaint and survey results will become part of the hospital's public file.