West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 64 - Health › Title 64 - LEGISLATIVE RULE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES › Series 64-59 - Patient Rights At State-Operated Mental Health facilities › Section 64-59-15 - Physical Environment

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
15.1.
				Mental Health Facilities Generally
15.1.1.
				Facilities shall provide an environment that complies with
				42 C.F.R. §
											482.41 and respects the human dignity of the
				patients. The grounds of the facilities shall have adequate space for the
				facility to carry out its stated goals. All facilities shall be accessible to
				individuals with a disability.
15.1.2. Behavioral health facilities shall
				provide facilities which afford patients privacy, dignity, comfort, safety, and
				sanitation.
15.1.3. There shall be
				appropriate and sufficient lighting in each facility, and whenever possible and
				consistent with the safety of patients, the lighting shall be controlled by
				patients.
15.1.4. Whenever
				possible, the environment shall provide views of the outdoors.
15.1.5. All rooms shall provide adequate
				ventilation and comfortable temperatures. Direct outside air ventilation shall
				be provided to each patient's room or the room shall have operable windows
				unless otherwise contraindicated. Ventilation shall be sufficient to remove all
				undesirable odors.
15.1.6. Every
				room shall be kept clean, odorless, and insect free.
15.1.7. Areas with the following
				characteristics shall be available to meet the needs of patients:
15.1.7.a. Areas that accommodate a full range
				of social activities, from two person conversations to group
				activities;
15.1.7.b. Attractively
				furnished areas with a supply of comfortable chairs adequate to meet patient
				requests and needs for seating, and areas in which a patient can be alone, when
				appropriate; and
15.1.7.c.
				Attractively furnished areas for private conversations with other patients,
				family, or friends.
15.1.8. Inpatient life shall be structured so
				that it is possible for patients to wear and use glasses, hearing aids,
				crutches, braces, rolling walkers, and similar aids in their units and
				rooms.
15.1.9. The use and location
				of noise-producing equipment and appliances, such as televisions, radios, and
				record players shall not interfere with other therapeutic activities.
15.1.10. A place and equipment shall be
				provided for table games and individual hobbies. Equipment and games shall be
				stored on shelves that are accessible to patients as appropriate. An adequate
				budget for the materials and equipment shall be maintained so that items which
				are lost, broken, or stolen can be replaced.
15.1.11. Unless contraindicated by the IPP,
				male and female patients may be housed on the same inpatient units and in a
				manner that allows interaction and as closely resembles noninstitutional living
				as possible.
15.1.12. Facilities
				that routinely serve non-ambulatory patients or medically fragile patients
				shall also comply with the following requirements:
15.1.12.a. Each patient's bed shall have a
				call signal that registers at the nursing station;
15.1.12.b. Beds shall be placed so that
				patients are not exposed to temperatures outside of normal comfort range;
				and
15.1.12.c. The facility shall
				establish a program for identifying, investigating, preventing, and controlling
				infections; monitoring the health status of employees; and providing aseptic
				procedures and isolation techniques.