105. Mass. Code Regs. 155.004. - Procedure for Reporting Suspected Cases

“Procedure for Reporting Suspected Cases”
 
Any mandatory reporting individual must immediately make an oral report of suspected patient or resident abuse, neglect, mistreatment or misappropriation of patient or resident property to his or her supervisor or employer whenever he or she has reasonable cause to believe that any patient or resident has been abused, neglected or mistreated or had property misappropriated. Upon receiving such report, said supervisor must immediately notify the Department by oral communication, electronically transmitted report or facsimile. Upon receiving a report regarding misappropriation of patient or resident property, with the exception of a controlled substance, said supervisor has 48 hours to complete an internal investigation into the matter to determine whether the item(s) in question may have been misappropriated as defined in 105 CMR 155.003. If within 48 hours there is reasonable cause to suspect misappropriation said supervisor must immediately notify the Department by oral communication, electronically transmitted report or facsimile.
Any non-mandatory reporting individual, including but not limited to volunteers, may make an oral report of suspected patient or resident abuse, neglect, mistreatment or misappropriation of patient or resident property to his or her supervisor or employer whenever he or she has reasonable cause to believe that any patient or resident has been abused, neglected, or mistreated or had property misappropriated. Upon receiving such report, said supervisor shall immediately notify the Department by oral communication, electronically transmitted report or facsimile. Any person who makes an oral report of suspected patient or resident abuse must also send a written report to Department within 48 hours after making the oral report.