NAC449.999468. Severity of deficiencies: Use of severity scale; basis for assessment; criteria for evaluation.

     1. The severity scale must be used to assess the severity of a particular deficiency pertaining to the outpatient facility. The basis for the assessment must be the actual or potential harm to patients.

     2. Deficiencies of severity level one concern requirements promulgated primarily for administrative purposes. No harm is likely to occur to a patient. No negative patient impact has occurred or is likely to occur. The ability of a patient to achieve the highest practicable physical, mental or psychosocial well-being has not been and is not likely to be compromised.

     3. Deficiencies of severity level two indirectly threaten the health, safety, rights, security, welfare or well-being of a patient. A potential for harm, as yet unrealized, exists. If continued over time, a negative impact on one or more patients or a violation of one or more patients’ rights would occur or would be likely to occur or the ability of one or more patients to achieve the highest practicable physical, mental or psychosocial well-being would be, or would likely be, compromised.

     4. Deficiencies of severity level three create a condition or incident in the operation or maintenance of an outpatient facility that directly or indirectly threatens the health, safety, rights, security, welfare or well-being of one or more patients. A negative impact on the health, safety, rights, security, welfare or well-being of one or more patients has occurred or can be predicted with substantial probability to occur, or the ability of patients to achieve the highest practicable physical, mental or psychosocial well-being has been or is about to be compromised and requires intervention and correction of the deficiency. Failure to implement a directed plan of correction is presumed to be a deficiency of this level of severity.

     5. Deficiencies of severity level four create a condition or incident that has resulted in or can be predicted with substantial probability to result in death or serious harm to a patient. As used in this subsection, “serious harm” includes serious mental harm, serious impairment of bodily functions, serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part, life-threatening harm or death.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R179-09, eff. 7-22-2010)