Illinois long-term care facilities can report fewer “serious incidents and accidents” under an amended state regulation that should become effective in 2009. Fewer reports to the Illinois Department of Public Health will result in fewer surveys of your facilities. All long-term care administrators, directors of nursing, and employees should become familiar with the amended regulation to help decrease the frequency of federal and state surveys.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) has amended Section 300.690 of the Skilled and Intermediate Care Facilities Code, 77 Ill. Admin. Code §300.690, commonly known as the “Minimum Standards,” which governs when facilities must report “serious incidents and accidents” to IDPH.

Currently, Section 300.690 requires that facilities report to IDPH any incident or accident “which has, or is likely to have,” a significant effect on the health, safety, or welfare of a resident or residents. The amendment to Section 300.690, however, only requires that facilities report incidents or accidents “that had” a significant effect on resident health, safety, or welfare. Unless an incident or accident actually had a serious effect on resident health, safety, or welfare, facilities need not report such incidents or accidents to IDPH under the amended regulation.

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