who do report patient abuse to in a florida hospital

Suspected abuse or neglect should be reported to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA). You can file a formal complaint over the phone by calling 1-888-419-3456 or through the internet via the official Licensed Health Care Facility Complaint Form. State regulators can help to launch an investigation of the matter.

Full Answer

What should a doctor do before reporting suspected violence or abuse?

Before reporting suspected violence or abuse, the Code says physicians should: Inform patients about requirements to report. Obtain the patient’s informed consent when reporting is not required by law.

Are patients in your exam room being abused?

Patients in your exam room may be experiencing one of a number of forms of abuse—domestic violence, human trafficking or other violence—and identifying those being abused can sometimes be tough.

How do I report an adverse incident in Florida?

How do I report an adverse incident? Section 458.351, Florida Statutes, requires any adverse incident that occurs on or after January 1, 2000, in any office maintained by a physician for the practice of medicine which is not licensed under chapter 395 be reported to the department.

How do I report a hospital infection?

Clinicians are often legally required to report specific diseases, including some hospital infections, to their local (city) Department of Public Health which will accept the report, conduct an investigation, possibly complete laboratory testing and make recommendations to control an outbreak or improve patient safety.

How do I file a complaint against a Florida hospital?

File a ComplaintMQA.ConsumerServices@flhealth.gov.850-488-0796.Mailing Address. Department of Health. 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C75. Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3260.

Who regulates hospitals in Florida?

Health Care Facility Regulation Hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, clinics, assisted living facilities and other health care facilities and organizations are primarily regulated in Florida by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

How do I contact AHCA Florida?

Contact Us To file a health care facility complaint, call (888) 419-3456, or complete the Health Care Facility Complaint Form. Search our FloridaHealthFinder.gov site to see if the facility you have concerns about is one that is regulated by our Agency.

What is AHCA in Florida?

The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) in Florida was created by Chapter 20 of the Florida Statutes and serves as the primary health policy and planning institution for all of Florida. Florida's Medicaid program is worth $25.2 billion.

What does the Florida Department of Health do?

The Florida Department of Health is responsible for protecting the public health and safety of the residents and visitors of the state of Florida. It is a cabinet-level agency of the state government, headed by a state surgeon general who reports to the governor. The department has its headquarters in Tallahassee.

What administrative agency oversees the licensing and discipline of Florida physicians?

The Florida Board of Medicine, through efficient and dedicated organization, will license, monitor, discipline, educate, and when appropriate, rehabilitate physicians and other practitioners to ensure their fitness and competence in the service of the people of Florida.

What does Acha stand for in Florida?

Agency for Healthcare Administration (Florida) ACHA.

Who regulates rehab centers in Florida?

3. How do I file a complaint against a Florida residential treatment center? Is there an online form I can use? If your question refers to Florida residential treatment facilities, these facilities are regulated by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

How do I file a complaint against a DCF worker in Florida?

Florida law requires anyone with information to report abuse directly to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 or by using our online reporting tool .

What is the difference between ACA and AHCA?

The American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the House of Representatives on May 4 and the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) reflect starkly divergent views of the role of government and the rights and obligations of Americans. These differences make compromise on health policy nearly impossible.

Which stakeholder is responsible for licensing health care professionals and developing regulations to protect the health of the public?

Although the responsibility to regulate and authorize health care professionals is usually attributed to the National Council in many countries, other authorities such as the Ministry of Health or other professional associations can take this role, or in some countries, the MOH staff concurrently belong to the Council ...

How many HCA hospitals are in Florida?

47 hospitalsHCA Healthcare currently has 47 hospitals in the state, where its comprehensive network of care, which includes more than 400 affiliated sites, is known as HCA Florida Healthcare.

Central Florida

Central Florida Campuses include: AdventHealth Altamonte, AdventHealth Apopka, AdventHealth Celebration, AdventHealth East Orlando, AdventHealth He...

North Florida

AdventHealth Daytona Beach 386-231-3185 AdventHealth Deland 386-943-4840 AdventHealth Fish Memorial 386-917-5254 AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach 386-...

West Florida

West Florida AdventHealth Carrollwood 813-558-8001 AdventHealth Dade City Call813-783-6119 x1614 AdventHealth Lake Placid 863-402-3421 OR 863-402-5...

What is the right of a patient to report abuse?

A patient has the right to have his or her allegations, observations, and suspected cases of neglect, exploitation, and abuse reported to appropriate authorities based on the hospital’s evaluation of the suspected events or as required by law.

What is the right of a patient to know what services are available?

A patient has the right to know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if he or she does not speak English.

What is grievance procedure in Florida?

A patient has the right to express grievances regarding any violation of his or her rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of the health care provider or health care facility which served him or her and to the appropriate state licensing agency.

What is the right of a patient to visit a health care facility?

A patient has the right to bring any person or receive visitors of his or her choosing to the patient-accessible areas of the health care facility or provider’s office to accompany the patient while the patient is receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment or is consulting with his or her health care provider, unless doing so would risk the safety, rights, or health of the patient, other patients, or staff of the facility or office or cannot be reasonably accommodated by the facility or provider, as well as the right to withdraw or deny this consent to access at any time.

What is the law that requires a health care provider to recognize your rights?

Federal and state law requires that your health care provider or health care facility recognize your rights while you are receiving medical care and that you respect the health care provider’s or health care facility’s right to expect certain behavior on the part of patients. You may request a copy of the full text of your law from your health care ...

What is the right of a patient to refuse treatment?

A patient has the right to request or refuse any treatment, including life-prolonging procedures, except as otherwise provided by law. A patient has the right to refuse treatment and life-prolonging procedures.

What is the right of a patient to communicate?

A patient has a right to effective communication in a manner tailored to his or her age, language, and ability to understand, taking into account any vision, speech, hearing, or cognitive impairments.

When do you report an adverse incident in Florida?

Adverse incidents must be reported within 15 days after the occurrence of the adverse incident.

How long does it take to report an adverse incident?

Adverse incidents must be reported within 15 days after the occurrence of the adverse incident. Click here to print an Adverse Incident Form. Mail the completed Adverse Incident Form by certified mail to: Department of Health. Consumer Services Unit.

How to file a complaint with Medicare?

People can also file insurance plan-specific complaints by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE.

How to file a complaint with the Joint Commission?

Patients can submit a complaint to The Joint Commission by e-mail at complaint@jointcommission.org. Your e-mail should include the name and address of the hospital, and a thorough explanation of your complaint.

What are some examples of quality of care complaints?

Some common examples of quality of care complaints include: Receiving the wrong medication in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF) Receiving unnecessary surgery/diagnostic testing. Receiving an overdose of medication. Experiencing a delay in service. Receiving inadequate care or treatment by a Medicare hospital or doctor.

What is the hospital licensing division?

Many state health departments have a hospital licensing division that is responsible for ensuring health care facilities comply with state laws and regulations. Patients can register complaints with the hospital licensing division and trained personnel will conduct an investigation and issue a report. Patients should check with their state health departments for information on how to file complaints with the hospital licensing division.

What is the role of the state health department?

State Health Departments. Each state has a Department of Public Health that works to ensure the health and safety of its residents. Clinicians are often legally required to report specific diseases, including some hospital infections, to their local (city) Department of Public Health which will accept the report, conduct an investigation, ...

Does Medicare have a complaint right?

Every Medicare beneficiary has the right to file a complaint, or to register a concern about their health care or health care provider. Patients and their advocates should realize that they have this right and know how to reach the entity that can take action on their complaints.

You May Be Entitled To Compensation

If your medical provider was guilty of malpractice and you suffered a serious injury as a result, you also have rights under our civil justice system. Our attorneys offer a free initial consultation to evaluate your case. If your doctor committed medical malpractice, you can seek compensation for losses such as:

Need To Learn More About Patient Rights? Call Today

For a free initial consultation, call 305-744-5888 or complete our contact form. Our lawyers handle cases of medical malpractice throughout the Miami area, South Florida and across the United States from our offices in Coral Gables.

How to file an appeal with Medicare?

For questions about a specific service you got, look at your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or log into your secure Medicare account . You can file an appeal if you disagree with a coverage or payment decision made by one of these: 1 Medicare 2 Your Medicare health plan 3 Your Medicare drug plan

What is improper care?

Improper care or unsafe conditions. You may have a complaint about improper care (like claims of abuse to a nursing home resident) or unsafe conditions (like water damage or fire safety concerns). To file a complaint about improper care or unsafe conditions in a hospital, home health agency, hospice, or nursing home, ...