ARM 37.34.1502. INCIDENT REPORTING AND HANDLING, POLICY

(1) A contractor must have a policy of incident reporting and handling. (2) An incident handling and reporting policy must assure that incident handling and reporting: (a) is conducted as provided for in this rule; (b) provides for the confidentiality of individual identity and information; (c) meets any standards, if applicable, for group home licensing at ARM 11.18.199, et seq.; (d) meets any applicable program standards provided at ARM 37.34.1801, et seq.; and (e) meets any applicable aversive procedure standards provided at ARM 37.34.1401, et seq. (3) An incident reporting and handling policy must provide: (a) for emergency procedures for contacting provider staff and others responsible for making any necessary decisions; (b) guidance as to appropriate emergency procedures to be utilized; (c) for the preservation of information or items that may be needed in reporting or investigating an incident; and (d) for a system of tracking and discovering patterns of incidents. (4) The policy must provide staff training and orientation on a continuing and consistent basis regarding: (a) the statutory obligations at 41-3-201 and 52-3-811 , MCA to report suspected or alleged abuse and neglect to the protective services programs of the department; (b) the rules on incident reporting at ARM 37.34.1501, et seq.; (c) the rules on aversive procedures at ARM 37.34.1401, et seq; (d) the contractor's policy on client abuse and rights violations; (e) measures necessary to protect the rights and interests of individuals who are considered to be "at risk"; and (f) the department procedures for investigating suspected abuse and neglect in services funded by the program.