R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.8-3.1: Physician’s, certified registered nurse practitioner’s, and physician assistant’s report of examination — Duty of facility.

Whenever a facility shall receive a report by a person other than a physician or a certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant that a patient or resident of the facility has been harmed as a result of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment, the facility shall have the patient examined by a licensed physician or a certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant. It shall be mandatory for the physician or certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant to make a preliminary report of their findings to the department of health for a healthcare facility, or to the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals for a community residence for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities and to the facility within forty-eight (48) hours after the examination, and a written report within five (5) days after the examination.