Hello MUI List Serve Member:

First, the Major Unusual Incident (MUI) and Registry Unit would like to thank you for your many efforts to support people with developmental disabilities, families, providers, and one another during these uncertain times.

Our team is so grateful for you and your ability to provide resources, guidance, and assurances during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Please know we are in this together and will get through these challenging times.

Like many of you, we are in the process of transitioning our entire team to teleworking; however, the supports our unit offers will remain unchanged.

The department is still receiving calls through the Abuse/Neglect Hotline and MUI main office number and responding accordingly. Complaints that are entered through the online complaint application are also being triaged and shared with county boards of developmental disabilities and other department staff as needed. All MUI team members are responding to emails and phone calls, and performing their customary job duties, unless they have scheduled leave time. Someone is here to respond to you if you need assistance. Please don’t hesitate to contact any of us. 

We also wanted to provide some additional guidance regarding some questions we have received.

Entering Info into ITS

You only need to enter cases of COVID-19 if they are associated with an unanticipated hospitalization and/or death of a person receiving services. Please utilize the drop-downs in the Incident Tracking System (ITS), under these categories labeled "COVID-19." When entering the initial reports and immediate actions, please include the person’s living situation (as this is sometimes different than the individual tab). Also enter what precautions are being taken to protect the person and others impacted, including infection control procedures, monitoring of symptoms, and use of protective equipment, etc.

As you are made aware of the results of the testing, we ask that you update the MUI and email your regional manager. Collecting this specific information will allow us to identify any statewide patterns or trends associated with the virus. We will be able to share this information with you to ensure we are all working collectively to protect and prevent the spread of this dangerous illness.

Abuser Registry

All potential cases for Abuser Registry are still being reviewed and processed. If you receive an email requesting a MUI investigation file, please send it electronically as opposed to regular mail, if possible. By sending these files electronically, we can ensure that they are sent to the MUI team member as quickly as possible. If there are concerns with gathering the information requested, please let us know. We are flexible and will work with you on obtaining the information in a time frame that makes sense.

Reporting Timelines

Reporting timelines will remain in place, as it is important to ensure immediate actions and notifications occur timely. If a county board, council of governments (COG), or developmental center encounters an issue entering information into the Incident Tracking System by the filing timeline, and all appropriate immediate actions and notifications have been verified, a filing extension will be considered. Requests should be made to the regional manager while making a notation in the MUI.

DODD Support Info and Resources

The field is working proactively to help protect people with developmental disabilities, families, county boards, and direct support professionals. You have our commitment that we will work collaboratively with you and all our stakeholders to focus on the immediate health and welfare of the people we support. We will be flexible with regard to rule requirements that are being impacted by this pandemic. We look forward to a partnership that allows us to protect vulnerable people who need us, while making life safe for all during this unprecedented time. 

DODD has set up a dedicated web page for department communications and links to helpful resources that will advise people with disabilities, their families, service providers, direct support professionals, county boards of developmental disabilities, and the community at large. You will find additional MUI guidance on this page.

For specific questions about COVID-19 and additional information and resources, DODD urges you to use the Ohio Department of Health’s call center. Call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634), or visit coronavirus.ohio.gov.

Please remember to take care of yourself and one another.

To keep updated, please subscribe to DODD publications.

Sincerely, 

The Major Unusual Incident and Registry Unit