Upon receipt of a complaint, the department shall make a preliminary review of the complaint. Unless the department determines that the complaint is willfully intended to harass a licensee or is without any reasonable basis, or unless the department has sufficient information that corrective action has been taken, it shall make an on-site investigation within a reasonable time after the receipt of the complaint or otherwise ensure complaints are responded to. In either event, the complainant shall be promptly informed of the department's proposed course of action. If the complainant requests the opportunity to do so, the complainant or his or her representative, or both, may be allowed to accompany the inspector to the site of the alleged violations during his or her tour of the facility, unless the inspector determines that the privacy of any patient would be violated thereby.
RCW 18.51.200
Preliminary review of complaint—On-site investigation.
Applied in 1 court decision — leading case 24 Wash. App. 192 - Valley View Convalescent Home v. Department of Social & Health Services (1979)
Most recently applied in 24 Wash. App. 192 - Valley View Convalescent Home v. Department of Social & Health Services (September 1979)
2011 c 336 s 487; 1981 1st ex.s. c 2 s 21; 1975 1st ex.s. c 99 s 5.
Official source: Washington State Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Washington statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.