The ADSD, under Developmental Services (DS), has a multi-level review system for incidents and serious occurrences.
Each regional center receives reports through Harmony from contract providers, or regional center service coordinators,
regarding serious occurrences listed in Section G.1.a. within 24 hours of discovery and within two (2) business days for
all other incidents. In addition, any incident of death or alleged abuse, neglect, isolation, or mistreatment must be
verbally reported by the contract provider to the regional center service coordinator or supervisor within one (1) business
hour. The service coordinator or supervisor must then report the death or allegation of abuse, neglect, isolation, or
mistreatment to their supervisor or the Regional Center Manager, or designee, within one (1) business hour of learning of
the event. All reports to the regional center are reviewed and evaluated by service coordinators and supervisors. Service
coordinators or supervisors determine whether the report falls under reportable ”Serious Occurrence” guidelines, as
established under DS policy, and needs to be forwarded to QA staff, the Regional Center Manager and DS Administrator,
or designee. Serious Occurrence Reports are generated by the assigned service coordinator within the Harmony incident
record and submitted electronically through Harmony to QA staff and the Regional Center Manager for review within 24
hours of notice. Serious occurrences related to death, allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation or
mistreatment, or other critical incidents involving State liability issues are also reviewed by the Division Administrator,
or designee. QA staff, the Regional Center Manager and/or the DS Administrator, or designee, reviews Serious
Occurrence Reports to determine the need for further follow-up or clarification prior to closure. Any incidents involving
abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation, or mistreatment or other critical incidents that may involve State liability issues,
are forwarded by the DS Administrator to the assigned DS Deputy Attorney General for further review and possible
investigation.
Incident review and response considers the severity of the event and frequency of similar reports for the recipient and/or
provider of services. Once the evaluation is completed, one or more of the following may be done:
• The service coordinator completes follow up with the provider and assures that the recipient and others are in a safe
environment.
• Allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation or mistreatment require an investigation by either law enforcement,
the Division, the Regional Center or the contract provider. Until an investigation is completed, any accused staff
members are immediately re-assigned from having direct contact with any service recipients pending the outcome of the
investigation, DS approval and law enforcement report closure, as applicable.
• The regional center ensures that the appropriate law enforcement agencies are notified of a suspicion or allegation of
abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation, or mistreatment per reporting requirements set forth under the Nevada Revised
Statutes (NRS), Chapter 200. If a report is made to law enforcement, per NRS 200, the contract provider or regional
center conduct investigations based on the recommendation of law enforcement. Occasionally, DS and law enforcement
investigations are completed concurrently; however, the majority of DS investigations are initiated after the completion
of a law enforcement investigation in order to avoid disrupting the law enforcement investigative process. Allegations in
which the accused is not a provider, or regional center employee, are investigated solely by the appropriate law
enforcement agency. The Nevada Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance is notified of allegations involving
licensed entities, as appropriate.
• Contract provider agencies follow their DS-approved internal policies and procedures for documentation and
investigation of an incident. Contract providers utilize employees with investigation techniques and report writing
training provided by DS Administration. A written report using the DS-approved investigation report template and
guidelines is submitted by the contract provider to the regional center QA department within 10 days of discovery, unless
approval for an extension has been granted by the regional center QA Department. The regional center QA team
thoroughly reviews all investigation reports to ensure that required information listed in the investigation guidelines is
included, findings and conclusions are sound and reflective of the information in the summary of investigative activities,
and that plans for remediation, systems improvement, and timelines for completion are included, as applicable to the
findings. QA staff follows-up with the contract provider to obtain any missing information. Accused staff are not
approved to resume direct contact with service recipients until the investigation report is accepted. Under certain
circumstances, the regional center or Division conducts an investigation in lieu of the contract provider based on the
assessment of the severity, scope, or potential for perceived or actual conflict of interest. All unexpected, or suspicious in
nature, deaths are investigated by the regional center.
• The Regional Center Manager, designee, or DS Division Administrator, may initiate a formal investigation conducted
by Division-trained investigators based on the review of the initial report.