When determining what actions to take against a facility licensee, DHS considers which element?

The action taken against a facility licensee by the Department of Health Services (DHS) is heavily influenced by the types of violations that have occurred. Different types of violations carry varying levels of risk to resident health and safety, and understanding the nature of these violations is essential for determining the appropriate response.

For instance, violations that compromise patient care, such as neglect or abuse, would generally demand a more severe level of action compared to administrative infractions, like failing to submit paperwork on time. The types of violations help to assess the seriousness of the noncompliance and the potential harm to residents, which directly informs the DHS’s decision-making process regarding penalties, monitoring requirements, or even the suspension or revocation of a license.

While factors like the duration of the license, facility location, and number of employees may provide context about a facility's operations or history, they do not directly dictate the action taken against a licensee in the same fundamental way that the types of violations do. Therefore, focusing on the specific nature of violations is paramount in the evaluation of compliance and the enforcement of regulations in healthcare facilities.