NAC652.325. Violations: Severity levels.

     1. The severity scale set forth in this section must be used to assess the severity of a particular violation pertaining to the laboratory. The basis for the assessment must be the actual or potential harm to patients.

     2. Violations 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.

     3. Violations 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.

     4. Violations of severity level three create a condition or incident in the operation or maintenance of a laboratory 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.

     5. Violations 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” means 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 R104-13, eff. 3-28-2014)