What’s an Incident?
What is an incident in the context of client care?
An unplanned event that can cause minor, temporary, or severe harm to a client.
What details must be included on an incident report form?
Client name, date, reporting staff, BCBA name, location, time, and witnesses.
Should every unexpected client incident be reported?
Yes — every unexpected incident must be reported.
What does FROI stand for?
First Report of Injury.
During a session, a client trips and gets a small bruise on their knee. What should you do?
Complete an incident report and document in the client’s record.
What is the main purpose of completing an incident report?
To document details of the event and actions taken to remediate it; it’s a legal internal document.
Who should complete the incident report?
The person with the most direct knowledge of the event.
Should incident reports be uploaded to ABA Connect?
No, they should never be uploaded to ABA Connect.
Within how many hours must an FROI be submitted to HR?
Within 6 hours of the injury being reported.
You see a client almost fall but catch them in time. No injury occurs. What type of incident is this?
A near miss.
What should be done if an incident occurs during client care?
Complete an incident report immediately.
What kind of details must be shared in the narrative section of the incident report?
Specific, factual details — what happened, how, who witnessed it, and actions taken.
Who can incident reports be shared with?
Only internal personnel or legal; never outside the organization.
What must be submitted if an employee refuses medical treatment?
A “Refusal of Medical Treatment or Observation” form.
You accidentally upload an incident report to ABA Connect. What should you do next?
Notify your supervisor and legal immediately; the report must be removed.
What type of event is called a “near miss”?
An event that could have caused harm but didn’t because it was identified and prevented in time.
What should you not include in the client’s medical record about the incident report?
Do not mention that a separate incident report was completed.
Should a third party write the report if they were only told about the event?
No, only the individual(s) directly involved should write it.
What happens if an employee seeks medical treatment?
HR reviews documentation and determines accommodations or restrictions before return to work.
You witness another RBT fail to report a client fall because “it was minor.” What’s the correct action?
Report the incident yourself and inform leadership — failure to report is a policy violation.
What’s the difference between a client adverse incident and a harmful event?
A client adverse incident leads to unexpected harm; a harmful event results in major loss or death.
What should be documented in the SOAP note after an incident?
Type of incident and injury, physical assessment, immediate actions, escalation, and disclosure to parent.
Why are incident reports considered confidential?
They are “client safety work product” and legally protected from outside disclosure.
True or False: Minor injuries do not need to be reported.
False — all injuries, no matter how minor, must be reported with an FROI.
A client has a severe elopement episode resulting in a 911 call. What’s required next?
Complete an incident report, document the event in SOAP notes, notify BCBA, leadership, and parent, and escalate immediately.