DSL INFO MEMO 2000-15

December 7, 2000

STATE OF WISCONSIN
Department of Health and Family Services
Division of Supportive Living

To:
Area Administrators/Assistant Area Administrators
Bureau Directors/Section Chiefs
County Departments of Community Programs Directors
County Departments of Human Services Directors
County Departments of Social Services Directors
County Departments of Developmental Disability Services Directors
State Mental Health Institutes
Tribal Chairpersons/Human Services Facilitators

From: Sinikka McCabe, Administrator
Division of Supportive Living

Re: Revised Death Reporting Procedures and Form

Attached is the Bureau of Quality Assurance Numbered Memo DSL-BQA-00-074, the revised reportable death procedures and the form for reporting to the Department deaths that may have been related to the use of a physical restraint or seclusion, a psychotropic medication, or the death is a suspected suicide. The BQA Numbered Memo and attachments have been sent to all licensed and certified facilities and programs that are required under ss. 48.60 (5) (a), 50.035 (5), and 51.64, Wis. Stats., to report these deaths to the Department. These revised procedures and form are to be used to report deaths under the above-identified circumstances to the Department beginning January 1, 2001.

Please see the DSL Reportable Death Reporting Table 2, attached to the revised Death Determination reporting form DSL 2470, for the list of programs and facilities required to report these deaths to the Department. This list has been expanded to include the programs required to report deaths to the Department under Administrative Codes HFS 40, Mental Health Day Treatment Services for Children, and HFS 75, Community Substance Abuse Service Standards. Also included in Table 2 are Comprehensive Community Services for Persons with Mental Illness under proposed HFS 36, as it is anticipated that that administrative code will become effective in the spring or early summer of 2001. Table 2 also identifies the BQA supervisory position to which the completed DSL-2470 reporting form should be faxed.

Please review the reportable death procedures and the "Instructions" and "Client/Patient Death Determination Guidelines" in the DSL-2470 form. These guidelines have been included in that form to assist programs and facilities determine the circumstances under which a death should be reported to the Department.

REGIONAL OFFICE CONTACT:
BQA Regional Office

CENTRAL OFFICE CONTACT:
Michael A. Peters
Coordinator of Special Investigations
Division of Supportive Living
1 West Wilson Street
P.O. Box 7851
Madison, WI 53707-7851
(608) 266-6989
E-mail: PeterMA@wisconsin.gov

cc:
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coordinators
Consumer Organizations
Developmental Disabilities Coordinators
Mental Health Coordinators
NAMI of Wisconsin and Local Affiliates
Reportable Death Review Committee
State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities
Wisconsin Council on Mental Health

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