Incident Definition

Incident Definition A. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have defined a critical incident to include, at a minimum: verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional abuse; neglect; exploitation including financial exploitation; misuse or unauthorized use of restrictive interventions or seclusion; a medication error resulting in a telephone call to or a consultation with a poison control center, an emergency department visit, an urgent care visit, a hospitalization, or death; or an unexplained or unanticipated death, including, but not limited to, a death caused by abuse or neglect. B. If there is suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a person receiving services, then the agency provider must identify the proper person/entity responsible for investigating the incident. Documentation should include, but is not limited to, the date of notification, who notified the person/entity, and the method of notification. The agency provider should also outline any internal investigations which were completed and any corrective actions that may follow.