Mandatory Reporting

PEARSON (pages 169-171)

 Mandatory reporting refers to a legal requirement to report an act, event, or situation that is designated by state or local law as a reportable event
 all states mandate the reporting of certain vital statistics such as births and deaths
 many states require reporting of abortions and neonatal deaths
 federal and states laws mandate the reporting of communicable disease, including venereal diseases
 http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_023186.hcsp?dDocName=bok1_023186

 Abuse or neglect of minors and older adults
 abuse or suspected abuse of vulnerable individuals is mandated to be reported in most states
 nurse reports the required information through the administrative chain of the institution, beginning with the nurses immediate supervisor and the PCP
 all reported information is documented in the client record
 most states only require a good faith suspicion, based on information disclosed by the client and/ or physical symptoms manifested by the client, that a use has occurred
 the nurse is not required to conduct any type of investigation or otherwise confirm that abuse or neglect has, in fact occurred

 Good Faith Immunity
 in all states, health care workers are protected when they report suspected child abuse in good faith, even if the subsequent investigation does not make a determination of abuse

 Guidelines Regarding Disclosure of Health Information
 know federal and state laws concerning duty to report
 report the required information to the appropriate governmental agency promptly
 comply with reporting laws in good faith
 follow agency policy carefully when making a report
 avoid a breach of confidentially, and report only the information mandated. Good faith immunity only applies to required information reported to the appropriate agency or office

 Mandatory Reporting of Nurses in Violation of the NPA
 NC General Statutes mandate that any