Texas Administrative Code › Title 25 - HEALTH SERVICES › Part 1 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES › Chapter 415 - PROVIDER CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES-MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES › Subchapter A - PRESCRIBING OF PSYCHOACTIVE MEDICATION › Section 415.3 - Definitions

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have
													 the following meanings:
(1) Accepted guidelines--The Texas
											  Implementation of Medication Algorithms (TIMA) or an alternative guideline formally approved in writing by
											  the TDMHMR medical director. In cases in which none are formally approved, current professionally recognized
											  clinical guidelines or accepted standards of care are considered the accepted guidelines.
(2) Child psychiatrist--A physician who is certified by the American Board
											  of Psychiatry and Neurology and holds a subspecialty certificate in child and adolescent psychiatry, or who
											  is board eligible, i.e., has an active approved application on file in the board office, or who is currently
											  in training in an approved residency and is supervised by a board eligible or board-certified child and
											  adolescent psychiatrist.
(3) DSM--The current edition of The
											  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Press.
(4) Legally authorized representative (LAR)--A person authorized by law to
											  act on behalf of an individual with regard to a matter described in this subchapter, who may be a parent,
											  guardian, or managing conservator of a minor, or the guardian of an adult.
(5) Local authority (LA)--The entity designated by TDMHMR to plan,
											  facilitate, coordinate, and ensure the provision of services to individuals with mental illness or mental
											  retardation.
(6) Medication error--Any preventable event that may
											  cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the
											  health care professional.
(7) Physician--A doctor of medicine or
											  osteopathy who holds a current license or institutional permit to practice medicine in Texas.
(8) Plan of care--The written document specifying how comprehensive care of
											  the person with mental illness or mental retardation is to be carried out (sometimes called the
											  "multidisciplinary treatment plan" or "interdisciplinary plan of care").
(9) Polypharmacy--Concurrent use of more than one psychoactive medication
											  having identical or very similar mechanisms of action.
(10)
											  Prescribing professional--A physician or other health care professional who, as authorized by statute, may
											  prescribe under the supervision of a physician.
(11) PRN--As
											  needed (pro re nata).
(12) Psychiatric emergency--A situation in
											  which, in the opinion of the physician, it is immediately necessary to administer medication to a patient to
											  ameliorate the signs and symptoms of that patient's mental illness and to prevent:
(A) imminent probable death or substantial bodily harm to the patient
											  because the patient:
(i) overtly or continually is threatening or
											  attempting to commit suicide or serious bodily harm; or
(ii) is
											  behaving in a manner that indicates that the patient is unable to satisfy the patient's need for nourishment,
											  essential medical care, or self-protection; or