MUI

FAMILIES PLAY A VITAL ROLE in the lives of their loved ones. That is why it is important for families to understand why the major unusual incident (MUI) and unusual incident (UI) reporting system exists and how you may be involved from time to time. Incidents impacting health and welfare are reported in order to provide immediate actions to protect people with developmental disabilities. This handbook is intended to help families understand MUIs and the various activities and responsibilities that happen when an MUI is reported.

 

What is a Major Unusual Incident (MUI)?

 

Major Unusual Incident means the alleged, suspected, or actual occurrence of an incident, when there is reason to believe the incident has occurred, that is defined as a Category A, Category B or Category C incident in the MUI Rule.

 

 

What is an Unusual Incident (UI)?

 

Unusual incident (UI) means an event or occurrence involving an individual that is not consistent with routine operations, policies and procedures, or the individual service plan, but is not a major unusual incident. "Unusual incident" includes, but is not limited to: Dental injury that does not require treatment by a dentist, Fall, an injury that is not a significant injury, Medication error without a likely risk to health and welfare, Overnight relocation of an individual due to a fire, natural disaster, or mechanical failure, An incident involving two individuals served that is not a peer-to-peer act major unusual incident but does involve: (a) A physical altercation; or (b) The use of actions, words, gestures, or other communicative means to purposefully threaten, coerce, or intimidate when there is the opportunity and ability to carry out the threat, Rights code violation or unapproved behavioral support without a likely risk to health and welfare, (8) Emergency room or urgent care treatment center visit, An unplanned hospital admission or hospital stay that is not a major unusual incident as defined in paragraph (C)(16)(c)(ii) of this rule, A situation where an individual's whereabouts are unknown for longer than the period of time specified in the individual service plan that does not result in imminent risk of harm to the individual or others and is not a major unusual incident as defined in paragraph (C)(16)(b)(iv) or (C)(16)(c)(i) of this rule, or Program implementation incident.

 

Why are MUIs reported?

 

The MUI rule establishes the system for addressing major unusual incidents and unusual incidents and implements a continuous quality improvement process to prevent or reduce the risk of harm to individuals. The system is intended to create a culture that fosters trust through open communication, universal accountability, learning, and fair treatment of all persons involved. What is the role of the County Board ? The County Board is responsible for safeguarding the health and welfare of at-risk individuals. This includes, as appropriate, ensuring prompt and ongoing medical care, removing any employee from direct contact with individuals when accused of physical or sexual abuse, and implementing any other necessary actions to protect at-risk individuals.

 

Why are family members called for information?

 

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has implemented a reporting system to help protect the health and welfare of individuals served by the County Board. Incident reporting provides valuable insight into current conditions and supports ongoing improvements in the services we provide.

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​What kind of notices will be received by the person, guardian or designated family member?

 

You may be contacted by a County Board staff member who supports your family member. Once the investigation is complete and recommended for closure, you will receive a written summary of the administrative investigation for each Category A or Category B MUI. This summary will include the allegations, relevant facts and findings, whether the case was substantiated or unsubstantiated (as applicable), and the preventive measures taken in response to the MUI

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To whom are MUIs reported?

The County Board’s MUI contact person is Bri Vieweg. She receives reports of possible MUIs during business hours.

Bri Vieweg

MUI/Provider Support Coordinator

740-695-7433 ext. 365 MUI@bcbdd.org

An After-Hours Reporting System that operates 24/7/365 is also in place.

MUI/ On-Call, After Hours Reporting:

740-310-2255

The Ohio Department of DD also has a hotline

if you have concerns or difficulties in reporting to the County Board.

DODD Hotline 866-313-6733

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Major Unusual Incident (MUI) Categories

 

Category A
 

1. Unexplained or unanticipated death means the death of an individual resulting from an accident or that was otherwise unexpected.
    

2. Exploitation means the unlawful or improper act of using an individual or an individual’s resources for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain.
    

3. Failure to report means that a developmental disabilities employee does not immediately report the alleged, suspected, or actual occurrence of an individual suffering or facing a substantial risk of suffering any wound, injury, disability, or condition of such a nature as to reasonably indicate emotional abuse, exploitation, misappropriation, neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse to the agency provider, county board, or department.
    

4. Misappropriation is when someone deprives, defrauds, or otherwise obtains real or personal property of an individual by any means prohibited by the Revised Code or the Administrative Code.
    

5. Neglect means when there is a duty to do so, failing to provide an individual with medical care, personal care, or other support that consequently results in death or serious injury or places an individual or another person at risk of serious injury. Serious injury means an injury that results in treatment by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.
    

6. Physical abuse means the use of physical force that can reasonably be expected to result in physical harm to an individual. Such physical force may include, but is not limited to, hitting, slapping, pushing, or throwing objects at an individual.
    

7. Prohibited sexual relations is a developmental disabilities employee engaging in consensual sexual conduct or having consensual sexual contact with an individual who is not the employee's spouse, and for whom the developmental disabilities employee was employed or under contract to provide care or supervise the provision of care at the time of the incident.
    

8. Rights code violation means any violation of the rights enumerated in section 5123.62 of the Revised Code that creates a likely risk of harm to the health or welfare of an Individual.
    

9. Sexual abuse means "unlawful sexual conduct" or "sexual contact" as those terms are defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code and the commission of any act prohibited by Chapter 2907. of the Revised Code (e.g., public indecency, importuning, and voyeurism) when the sexual conduct, sexual contact, or act involves an individual.
    

10. Emotional abuse means the use of actions, words, gestures, or other communicative means to purposefully threaten, coerce, intimidate, harass, or humiliate an individual or a pattern of behavior that creates a hostile environment.
    
    Category B
     

11. Attempted Suicide means a physical attempt by an individual that results in emergency room treatment, in- patient observation, or hospital admission.
     

12. Death other than unexplained or unanticipated death means the death of an individual by natural cause.
     

13. Medical emergency means an incident where emergency medical intervention by a developmental disabilities employee is required to save an individual's life (e.g., choking relief techniques, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of an automated external defibrillator, or administration of overdose reversal medication such as "Narcan"). 
     

14. Missing individual means law enforcement has been contacted because an individual's whereabouts are un known and the individual is believed to be at or pose an imminent risk of harm to self or others.
     

15. Peer-to-peer act means one of the following incidents involving two individuals served: Exploitation, Theft, Physi cal Act, or Sexual Act.
     

16. Significant Injury means an injury of known or unknown cause that results in a dental injury that requires treat ment by a dentist, concussion, broken bone, dislocation, second or third degree burns or that requires immobiliza tion, casting, or five or more sutures.
    
    Category C
     

17. Law enforcement means any incident that results in an individual being tased, charged, incarcerated or arrested. 
     

18. Unanticipated hospitalization means a hospital admission lasting forty-eight hours or longer that is not associ ated with planned evaluations, scheduled procedures, or routine diagnostic tests that are part of ongoing medical care, including the diagnosis of conditions; and is due to one or more of the following diagnoses: Aspiration pneumo nia; Bowel obstruction; Dehydration; Medication error; Seizure; or Sepsis.
    
    A hospital re-admission lasting forty-eight hours or longer that is not associated with planned evaluations, scheduled procedures, or routine diagnostic tests that are part of ongoing medical care, including the diagnosis of conditions; and is due to any diagnosis that is the same diagnosis as a prior hospital admission lasting forty-eight hours or longer within the past thirty calendar days.
     

19. Unapproved behavioral support means the use by a developmental disabilities employee of a prohibited meas ure as defined in rule 5123:2-2-06 of the Administrative Code or the use of a restrictive measure implemented without approval of the human rights committee or without informed consent of the individual or the individual's guard ian in accordance with rule 5123:2-2-06 of the Administrative Code, when use of the prohibited measure or restric tive measure results in risk to the individual's health or welfare.

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