Resident Care - Elopement Standards

How AHCA classifies it

Florida classifies each deficiency under section 429.19, Florida Statutes: Class I (imminent danger), Class II (direct threat), Class III (indirect or potential threat) and Class IV (minor, paperwork-level). Class III is by far the most common.

Where it is cited

What the requirement says

AHCA’s requirement text as it appears on the inspection report, verbatim.

59A-36.007 (7) ELOPEMENT STANDARDS. (a) Residents Assessed at Risk for Elopement. All residents assessed at risk for elopement or with any history of elopement must be identified so staff can be alerted to their needs for support and supervision. All residents must be assessed for risk of elopement by a health care provider or a mental health care provider within 30 calendar days of being admitted to a facility. If the resident has had a health assessment performed prior to admission pursuant to paragraph 59A-36.006(2)(a), F.A.C., this requirement is satisfied. A resident placed in a facility on a temporary emergency basis by the Department of Children and Families pursuant to Section 415.105 or 415.1051, F.S., is exempt from this requirement for up to 30 days. 1. As part of its resident elopement response policies and procedures, the facility must make, at a minimum, a daily effort to determine that at risk residents have identification on their persons that includes their name and the facility's name, address, and telephone number. Staff trained pursuant to paragraph 59A-36.011(10)(a) or (c), F.A.C., must be generally aware of the location of all residents assessed at high risk for elopement at all times. 2. The facility must have a photo identification of at risk residents on file that is accessible to all facility staff and law enforcement as necessary. The facility's file must contain the resident's photo identification upon admission or upon being assessed at risk for elopement subsequent to admission. The photo identification may be provided by the facility, the resident, or the resident's representative. (b) Facility Resident Elopement Response Policies and Procedures. The facility must develop detailed written policies and procedures for responding to a resident elopement. At a minimum, the policies and procedures must provide for: 1. An immediate search of the facility and premises, 2. The identification of staff responsible for implementing each part of the elopement response policies and procedures, including specific duties and responsibilities, 3. The identification of staff responsible for contacting law enforcement, the resident's family, guardian, health care surrogate, and case manager if the resident is not located pursuant to subparagraph (8)(b)1.; and, 4. The continued care of all residents within the facility in the event of an elopement. (c) Facility Resident Elopement Drills. The facility must conduct and document resident elopement drills pursuant to Section 429.41(1)(k), F.S.