135H.12 - INSPECTIONS UPON COMPLAINTS. - Iowa Statutes

135H.12 INSPECTIONS UPON COMPLAINTS. 1. Upon receipt of a complaint made in accordance with section 135H.11, the department shall make a preliminary review of the complaint. Unless the department concludes that the complaint is intended to harass a psychiatric institution or a licensee or is without reasonable basis, it shall within twenty working days of receipt of the complaint make or cause to be made an on-site inspection of the psychiatric institution which is the subject of the complaint. The department of inspections and appeals may refer to the department of human services any complaint received by the department if the complaint applies to rules adopted by the department of human services. The complainant shall also be notified of the name, address, and telephone number of the designated protection and advocacy agency if the alleged violation involves a facility with one or more residents with developmental disabilities or mental illness. In any case, the complainant shall be promptly informed of the result of any action taken by the department in the matter. 2. An inspection made pursuant to a complaint filed under section 135H.11 need not be limited to the matter or matters referred to in the complaint; however, the inspection shall not be a general inspection unless the complaint inspection coincides with a scheduled general inspection. Upon arrival at the psychiatric institution to be inspected, the inspector shall show identification to the person in charge of the psychiatric institution and state that an inspection is to be made, before beginning the inspection. Upon request of either the complainant or the department, the complainant or the complainant's representative or both may be allowed the privilege of accompanying the inspector during any on-site inspection made pursuant to this section. The inspector may cancel the privilege at any time if the inspector determines that the privacy of a resident of the psychiatric institution to be inspected would be violated. The dignity of the resident shall be given first priority by the inspector and others.          Section History: Recent Form 89 Acts, ch 283, § 13