| Received Date | Received From (Name or Affiliation) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 04/22/2025 | Karen Mulvany | Please see attached pdf. Attached Document |
| 04/14/2025 | Samantha Carmichael, CVRC Program Manager | As an all-adult Program Manager, I want to express the concern of the immense workload the proposed new SIR categories & subcategories would create on Service Coordinators (SC), vendors & quality assurance teams. Since majority of SIR categories require being under vendored care as a qualifier for a SIR, adult individuals encounter SIRs at a much greater capacity than other age groups, thus increasing the workload for adult units. Adding these new SIR categories/subcategories will intensify the feelings of overwhelm and burn out that already plague many of our adult SCs. SIRs, on average, take months to close dependent on the incident and responsiveness of other involved agencies (Licensing, Ombudsman, APS, police, etc...). Will DDS be re-evaluating the expectation of closing/seeing outcomes of SIRs since more time will be focused on initiating so many more SIRs? I am hoping that, while trying to gauge safety and needs of our individuals, we are also considering a balance between realistic workload & goals attempting to be achieved. Will we get quality outcomes with more work being demanded/requested to keep up on? |
| 04/11/2025 | Westside Regional Center | Unplanned hospitalizations under vendor/ LTC- All unplanned hospitalizations should be reported. Rationale: Many admissions evolve into reportable type or other at risk result. All ER visits reported by Vendor/ LTC. Rationale: Many ER visits result in DDS reportable types based on diagnosis and treatments or Admissions that subsequently might be reportable. These are flagged for follow up by OIG. Falls- need clarification of falls. All and any falls or falls that might result in medical attention (fall with injury) This would be difficult to track unless falls with injury that result in medical attention beyond first aid. Pressure injury- does this need to be diagnosed by a medical professional. Should the definition of stages be in the Regulation or refer to a standard? Not Included but should be: CHOKING- that results in medical attention, intervention (Heimlich or other intervention) FMS Vendors- Should this be similar to FHA or FFA? Having in Regulation that non-vendor and vendor providers must report incidents per WIC section 54327 and section 15630. |
| 04/10/2025 | Darline Dupree | California’s regional centers are a network of 21 community-based non-profits, represented by the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA). The regional centers coordinate services for, and advocate on behalf of, approximately 450,000 Californians with developmental disabilities. ARCA welcomes the opportunity to comment on the modified text proposed by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) related to Special Incident Reporting (SIR) Requirements. ARCA acknowledges and supports the work of DDS in amending sections 54327, 54327.1, 56002, 56026, 56038, 56059, and 56093 of Title 17, California Code of Regulations (CCR). These amendments are crucial for enhancing transparency, accountability, and, most importantly, ensuring the protection, health, safety, and welfare of individuals served. See the attached for ARCA's full comments. -Darline Dupree Attached Document |
| 04/09/2025 | Sharon Washington | Anything that will enhance and support the reporting of a "Special Incident" is sorely needed especially for those who have little to no verbal skills, and because of this they are the most in need of enhanced regulation. |
| 04/08/2025 | Escuela del Rio | On page 12, section J, I am wondering if you should include electronic or digital submission instead of email. This way you can submit via a web link and/or an email. |
| 04/07/2025 | Vendor | Hello, Can employee fraud be included on this SIR form somewhere? We are getting alot of employees doing fraud, which is neglet to comsumers in services. Also parents are claiming that it isn't their signature on the forms. The police aren't doing anything when we try to make a report. It is expensive to take to court. Then if they sue us and we counter sue they are settling out of court. This then causes the fraud they they did to not be made accountable. They then work for other vendors doing the same thing. No one knows about it because they dont have a record due to settling. Can we have this added to the SIR form and submit evidence and have DDS/Regional Center help us? |
| 04/07/2025 | VistAbility | Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments for your consideration. Section a/Definitions: The definitions provided for certain terms, such as Aggravated Assault, False Imprisonment, and Simple Assault, appear to lack references to the Penal Code, despite these terms having established legal definitions. This omission may be intentional, but it could potentially lead to confusion or misinterpretation. Section d/(4)k/Bruising, etc.: I recommend adding inner thighs as a common area of injury during sexual assault to this section. Including this detail would enhance the comprehensiveness of the reporting guidelines. Section d(6) Stays in ER: The phrase "Lasting 5 days" seems likely to be a typo. A duration of five days in an emergency room is highly unreasonable and improbable, especially considering the median stay is approximately three hours. Thank you. |
| 04/07/2025 | United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay | The changes listed by DDS is provides a clearer and more concise description of the special incident reporting requirements and definitions. |
| 04/07/2025 | Lucina Galarza | This is the section, 54327 (d) (6) - (d) All vendors and long-term health care facilities shall report to the regional center the following special incidents if they occurred during the time the individual was receiving services and supports from any vendor or long-term health care facility: (6) .Any stay in a hospital emergency room lasting five days or more . Recommended change: It would be advisable to change the days in an ER as reportable as follows: Any stay in a hospital emergency room lasting two days or more . Rationale: By the second day a decision to go another ER would be needed, or the ER would need to act on whether they can provide the care or find an alternate medical / psychiatric facility that could meet the need of the person in distress. The Regional Center should be informed of this as an SIR by the second day, so as to provide assistance / advocacy. |
| 04/07/2025 | Ingrid Chamberlain | All matters have been resolved using online post for SIR done through regional center personnel in charge |
Last modified: April 7, 2025
