Critical Incident Reporting Requirements

BHA critical incident reporting requirements are directed by WAC 246-341-0420.

Each BHA licensed by the Department of Health (department) must have policies and procedures for reporting critical incidents related to an individual seeking or receiving services. Licensed BHAs must report to the department any serious or undesirable outcome that occurs in an agency within 48 hours of the incident. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to, the following, by way of example:

Deaths, including death by suicide

BHA (non-OTP) patient deaths that occur on the premises of a licensed agency:

OTP patient deaths that occur ON the premises of the licensed agency:

Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) patient deaths that DO NOT occur on the premises of the licensed agency:

Injuries resulting in admission to a hospital as an inpatient
Alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an individual receiving services
Outbreak of communicable disease
Other Critical Incidents – serious or undesirable outcome