439.835 - Mandatory reporting of sentinel events. - Nevada Statutes

439.835  Mandatory reporting of sentinel events.

      1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2:

      (a) A person who is employed by a medical facility shall, within 24 hours after becoming aware of a sentinel event that occurred at the medical facility, notify the patient safety officer of the facility of the sentinel event; and

      (b) The patient safety officer shall, within 13 days after receiving notification pursuant to paragraph (a), report the date, the time and a brief description of the sentinel event to:

             (1) The Health Division; and

             (2) The representative designated pursuant to NRS 439.855, if that person is different from the patient safety officer.

      2.  If the patient safety officer of a medical facility personally discovers or becomes aware, in the absence of notification by another employee, of a sentinel event that occurred at the medical facility, the patient safety officer shall, within 14 days after discovering or becoming aware of the sentinel event, report the date, time and brief description of the sentinel event to:

      (a) The Health Division; and

      (b) The representative designated pursuant to NRS 439.855, if that person is different from the patient safety officer.

      3.  The State Board of Health shall prescribe the manner in which reports of sentinel events must be made pursuant to this section.

      (Added to NRS by 2002 Special Session, 13; A 2009, 553)