MARYLAND - HOSPITAL MANDATORY REPORTING GUIDE
Maryland — 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: Maryland Department of Health.
Citation: Source.
Attorney Notes: Mandatory reporting creates an external audit trail.
Category 2 — Child Abuse / Neglect
Trigger: Reason to believe a child has been abused or neglected.
Who Must Report: Health practitioners, hospital staff.
Deadline: Immediately.
Destination: Local DSS or law enforcement.
Citation: Md. Code, Fam. Law § 5‑704.
Attorney Notes: Immediate duty supports negligence‑per‑se theories.
Category 3 — Weapon Injuries
Trigger: Treatment of gunshot wound.
Who Must Report: Physicians, hospitals.
Deadline: Immediately.
Destination: Law enforcement.
Citation: Md. Code, Health‑Gen. § 4‑101.
Attorney Notes: Creates law‑enforcement notice trail.
Category 4 — Communicable Diseases
Trigger: Diagnosis or suspicion of a reportable disease.
Who Must Report: Providers and laboratories.
Deadline: Condition‑specific; many require immediate or 24‑hour reporting.
Destination: Maryland Department of Health.
Citation: Maryland Notifiable Diseases List.
Attorney Notes: Supports outbreak‑control analysis.
Category 5 — Complaints / Investigations
Timeline: No statutory requirement for when MDH must initiate a hospital complaint investigation.
Citation: Complaint authority exists; no explicit timeline.
Attorney Notes: Delays may be relevant in oversight challenges.