Community Care Licensing
Residential Care
It has been a while since the last newsletter from the Residential
Licensing Program. We have had a few staff changes and you can
find our current staffing on the last page of this newsletter.
CANADIAN FALLS
PREVENTION CURRICULUM:
December 2013
AN E-LEARNING COURSE
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Learn to apply an evidence-based approach to the prevention of falls
and fall-related injuries through the University of Victoria Continuing
Studies 5 week online course. Learn how to design, implement and
evaluate a falls prevention program.

The next course offering is Feb 7—March 14, 2014.

Textbook: Fall Prevention Programming by Dr. Vicky Scott.

For more information and to register online, visit:
http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/Course/Canadian-Falls-PreventionCurriculumC-An-E-Learning-Course/HPCF215/
Less Risk ~ Better Health
Falls E-Learning ........ 1
Incident Reporting ..... 2
New IR Form ............. 3
Flu Season is here .... 4
Immunization............. 5
Staff........................... 6
INCIDENT REPORTING
CHANGES EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2013
Section 77 (2) outlines
that the license must
immediately notify the
following , if a person in
care is involved in a
reportable incident:
a) The parent ,
representative or
contact person of the
person in care
b) The medical or nurse
practitioner
responsible for the
person in care
c) The medical health
officer – Licensing
d) The funding program,
if applicable
1. A new reportable incident category entitled “aggression between
persons in care” has been created that will require facilities to
report aggression perpetrated by one person in care toward
another person in care if the aggression results in an injury that
requires first aid, emergency medical care, or transfer to hospital.

Any behavior that results in an injury to another person in
care will now be reportable, whether or not it has been
previously assessed in the residents’ plan of care.

In addition, the existing definition of “aggressive or unusual
behavior” has been modified to set apart incidents of resident to resident aggression, so that these are not double
counted along with the newly developed category of
“aggression between persons in care.”
2. The definition of “choking” has been amended to require facilities
to report incidents of choking where first aid practices were
administered (such as the Heimlich maneuver).

Previously the threshold for reporting was lower and was
limited to an incident of choking that required emergency
care by a medical or nurse practitioner, or transfer to hospital.
Why are these amendments being made?
2
2

The new reportable incident “aggression between persons in care”
is based on recognition of the increasing complexity of persons
being cared for in residential care facilities. Appropriate reporting
of these incidents will better enable care providers to develop
care plans and strategies to prevent their occurrence.

The definition of “choking” has been amended in response to
recent coroner’s recommendations. After a choking occurrence,
there may be an increased risk of respiratory difficulty. Fluid or air
may have entered the lungs or the Heimlich maneuver (if administered) may have caused ribs to break or harmed internal organs
that can cause bleeding or infection.
Less Risk ~ Better Health
A NEW LOOK FOR THE INCIDENT REPORT FORM
On Dec 1st, 2013 the Residential Licensing Program will launch a new
incident reporting form. This form has been redesigned to:

Capture the new incident reporting category of resident to resident
aggression.
Incident Report
Completion
Common areas that are
not completed on incident
reports and require a
follow-up call to the
licensee include the
following:

Streamline the form to collect only the information we need.
 The birthdate of the
resident involved.

Focus on identifying risks and protective factors in falls, which is the
most common cause of injury and the 6th leading cause of death
for seniors www.healthlinkbc.ca
 Notification of the
family, funder and
physician.

Encourage a climate of critical insight into factors that contributed to
the fall and to promote using evidence based best practices to
enhance prevention of further falls.
ELECTRONIC INCIDENT REPORTING
Electronic submission of Incident Reports is strongly encouraged!
Find the new Incident Report form at:
http://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/
ResidentialCareFacilities/IncidentReporting/Pages/default.aspx
Less Risk ~ Better Health
3
3
PREPARING FOR INFLUENZA SEASON
Influenza immunization is an important measure in protecting
vulnerable residents.
Facilities licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living
Act are expected to comply with the health authority’s policy that
requires all health authority staff (unionized and excluded),
volunteers, students, contractors, and physicians, who have contact
with patients, residents and clients whether in hospital, community,
or home care settings to:
 Receive a flu shot or wear a mask during flu season,
 Wash their hands regularly, and stay home when ill.
Starting Dec 2, if an employee is not immunized
they must wear a mask for the duration of the flu season
(Dec 2, 2013 through to the end of Mar 2014)
or until they get the influenza vaccine.
In addition, visitors are being added to the policy to further protect
our vulnerable residents.
 Employees are not expected to monitor visitors.
 Facilities should provide a poster at entrances alerting visitors
to this requirement and provide masks at entrances for those
not immunized.
Less Risk ~ Better Health
Visit http://
www.interiorhealth.ca/
sites/Partners/
ImmunizationResourcesTools/Pages/
default.aspx
to find posters,
Frequently Asked
Questions and many
other resources.
4
4
IMMUNIZATIONS FOR STAFF AND RESIDENTS
The Residential Care Regulation 39(1) outlines that a licensee
must not continue to employ a person who does not provide
evidence of continued compliance with the Province’s
immunization and tuberculosis control programs.
Residential Care
Licensing Officers
inspect employee and
resident records for
compliance with
 A sample form to assist with documentation for new
employees is found here:
http://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/
ChildCareFacilities/Documents/820236-Immunization%20of%
20Staff.pdf
sections 39 and 49.
Section 49(1) states that a licensee must require all persons
admitted to comply with the Province’s immunization and
tuberculosis control programs.
 For recommended vaccines for adults, seniors and individuals
at high risk visit:
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/toolsvideos/immunization/#adult
POSTING SUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS FOR
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
New program initiatives over the last year include posting substantiated
complaints in long-term care facilities on the Interior Health external
website.
Visit http://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/
ResidentialCareFacilities/Pages/default.aspx to search for reports,
complaints and other resources and forms.
5
5
Less Risk ~ Better Health
YOUR INTERIOR HEALTH
RESIDENTIAL LICENSING TEAM
Hours: 8:30 am—4:30 pm Pacific Time
Monday—Friday
Phone us: 1-877-980-5118
Email us: [email protected]
Fax us: 1-250-868-7760
Mail or visit us: 1340 Ellis Street, Kelowna, B.C, V1Y 9N1
On the web: www.interiorhealth.ca
Medical Health Officer
Director,
Manager,
Dr. Robert Parker
Health Protection
Health Protection
Roger Parsonage
Gretchen Rondestvedt
Vernon Health
Team Leader
Nelson Health
Center
Pamela de Bruin
Center
Kathy Beck
Jennifer Zibin
Kelowna Health
Kamloops Health
Cranbrook Health
Center
Center
Center
Susan Arnott
Mike Bullock
Joanne Geddes
Celeste Fabris
Less Risk ~ Better Health
6
6