CALIFORNIA - MANDATORY REPORTING GUIDE
California — Hospital Mandatory Reporting Guide
Category 1 — Adverse Events
State-defined adverse events / serious reportable events (Modified NQF list approach per OIG; confirm current state list).
Who Must Report: Licensed hospitals.
Deadline: Varies by system.
Destination: California Department of Public Health (Office of Licensing & Certification).
Citation: Source.
Attorney Notes: Mandatory reporting creates an external audit trail; non-reporting supports regulatory-noncompliance arguments.
Category 2 — Child Abuse / Neglect
Trigger: Knowledge or reasonable suspicion of abuse.
Who Must Report: Mandated reporters including hospital staff.
Deadline: Immediately by phone; written follow-up.
Destination: CPS / law enforcement.
Citation: Cal. Penal Code §§ 11166, 11165.7.
Attorney Notes: Dual oral/written duty creates audit trail.
Category 3 — Weapon Injuries
Trigger: Treatment of gunshot or assaultive injury.
Who Must Report: Health practitioners.
Deadline: Immediately by phone.
Destination: Local law enforcement.
Citation: Cal. Penal Code § 11160.
Attorney Notes: Highly litigated reporting duty.
Category 4 — Communicable Diseases
Trigger: Diagnosis, suspicion, or lab identification of a reportable disease.
Who Must Report: Healthcare providers and/or laboratories.
Deadline: Immediate/24 hours for urgent diseases; longer for others.
Destination: Local/state health department.
Citation: CDPH – Reportable Diseases and Conditions.
Attorney Notes: Reporting timestamps support outbreak-control arguments.
Category 5 — Complaints / Investigations
Timeline: Immediate jeopardy complaints must be investigated within 24 hours. Non‑IJ timelines come from CDPH guidance, not statute.
Citation: Statutory IJ requirement (24 hours); non‑IJ timing from CDPH guidance.
Attorney Notes: Attorneys may distinguish statutory vs. guidance timelines when evaluating delays.