Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL › Part I - General Administration › Subpart 3 - Licensing and Certification › Chapter 55 - Day Developmental Training Centers › Section I-5549 - Staff Composition and Organization

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. The psychiatric facility shall be
				  responsible for evaluating and ensuring that the fundamental needs of the
				  persons in care are provided for. To meet this responsibility, the facility
				  shall have available the services of a sufficient number of appropriately
				  qualified mental health professionals. These shall include but are not limited
				  to qualified psychiatrists, qualified psychologists, and qualified social
				  workers. When these qualified professionals are not available on a full-time
				  basis, arrangements shall be made to obtain their services on at least a
				  continuing consulting basis. Their authority and participation shall be such
				  that they are able to assume professional responsibility for supervising and
				  reviewing the needs of the individuals and the services being
				  provided.
B. In addition, there
				  shall be a sufficient number of other qualified mental health professionals and
				  paraprofessionals as necessary to carry out the particular clinical programs
				  provided by the facility and to provide quality clinical services. They include
				  but are not limited to other physicians; child psychiatric nurses; child care
				  workers; educators; speech, hearing, and language specialists; activity
				  therapists, recreational therapists; and vocational counselors. There shall be
				  an adequate number of administrative personnel to provide the necessary support
				  for the administrative and clinical programs.
C. The composition of the staff shall be
				  determined by the facility, based on an assessment of the needs of the persons
				  being served, the facility's goals, the programs provided, and all applicable
				  federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Factors to be considered in
				  determining appropriate staff composition include (1) number of persons in
				  care, (2) type and severity of handicap, (3) amount of time the persons are in
				  the care of the facility, and (4) the type of program offered by the facility.
				  Many identical or similar services or functions may be rendered competently by
				  individuals of various professionals.
D. The facility shall develop a staffing
				  pattern which shall provide for adequate staff coverage at all times. Special
				  attention shall be paid to the time of day when additional attention or
				  supervision is required, e.g., upon awakening in the morning, during meals,
				  late afternoon play, transitions between activities and bedtime. Staffing on
				  nights, weekends, and holidays shall be adequate to maintain continuity of
				  programs and care. The ratio of direct-care staff shall not, however, be less
				  than that set out in the general standards.
E. There shall be at least one direct care
				  staff person on duty in any area of the facility where persons are present or
				  are expected to be present.
F. The
				  qualified professional staff shall have the responsibility for determining
				  which staff members shall be assigned specific treatment responsibilities.
				  Those individuals, whether professional or paraprofessional, who are assigned
				  specific treatment responsibilities shall have training or experience and
				  demonstrated competence, or they shall be supervised by a professional who is
				  qualified by experience to supervise such specific treatment. Before any member
				  of the staff is assigned responsibility for carrying out any individual or
				  group treatment services, the qualified professional responsible for the
				  person(s) shall develop and implement policies which will ensure adequate
				  supervision where indicated.
G. The
				  residential psychiatric facility shall have coverage by qualified child
				  psychiatrists, psychiatrists or other physicians on a 24 hour basis each day of
				  the week that the facility is in operation. The on-call physician(s) shall be
				  readily available by phone or page. Medical care shall be available to any
				  resident within 30 minutes. Each physician providing coverage shall have had
				  training or experience in caring for those with mental or emotional disorders
				  and shall be familiar with the programs of the facility and the persons
				  residing there.
H. The facility's
				  written staff organization plan shall delineate all clinical staff members who
				  are assigned responsibility, on any shift, for supervision of other staff
				  involved in direct care.
I. The
				  facility shall have an organizational chart which specifies the relationships
				  among the governing body, the director, the administrative staff, the clinical
				  staff, and supporting services; their respective areas of responsibility; the
				  lines of authority involved; and the types of formal liaison between the
				  administrative and clinical staff. The organizational chart shall also reflect
				  medical responsibility for the care of all individuals.
J. The administrative and clinical staff
				  shall be organized to carry out effectively the policies and programs of the
				  facility.
K. The organizational
				  chart shall reflect relationships with affiliate agencies which provide
				  services by these standards.
L. The
				  organizational plan shall be reviewed at least annually.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
					 Promulgated in accordance with
					 R.S. 46:1971
					 through 1980.