Major Unusual Incidents (MUIs) are common and some, but not all, are preventable. Providers, SSAs (service and Support Administrators) and Investigative Agents (IAs) work in tandem to reduce risk and keep people safe. Unfortunately, the people writing new rules and regulations are often far removed from the frontline and have no real understanding of life in the trenches. Case in point:
IAs are now being asked to provide the "Root Cause" of MUIs. What on earth is the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) asking for? If a person falls and breaks a bone what is the "Root Cause"? Stating the person has a history of falls apparently is now enough. So what is being asked? Medical diagnosis, clumsiness, unsteady gate, the rock they stepped on? The truth is we may not ever be able to identify a Root Cause and no one in the system is trained to identify them, No one.
I ask you the reader to think back to your last fall. What was the root cause? You may be able to identify it but if a person with DD (Developmental Disability) can't speak or convey why they fell, how would an AI ever discover the Root Cause? In many cases the person falls when no staff, family or house mate is around and sees them fall. So how would an AI identify a Root Cause? AIs are not trained in the medical, psychiatric or even behavioral fields and simply cannot always get the cause, let alone the Root Cause.
DODD has a history of asking County Boards and Providers to do things that seem completely impossible. The reason? DODD is disconnected from the front lines.
Let me be clear. DODD provides great support to County Boards, Providers and everyone they support. But when they ask the impossible questions or set unrealistic expectations it shows a disconnect. I encourage the fine folks in Columbus find their way out to counties, homes and day programs to not just look around but to join in on the work and hear from the folks on the front line. Do this BEFORE setting expectations or conveying non-rule directives.
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