Ala. Admin. Code r. 560-X-10-.17

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024

Section 560-X-10-.17 - Medical Director

(1) The nursing facility shall retain, pursuant to a written agreement, a physician licensed under state law to practice medicine or osteopathy, to serve as medical director on a part-time or full-time basis as is appropriate for the needs of the residents and the facility.

(a) If the facility has an organized medical staff, the medical director shall be designated by the medical staff with approval of the governing body.

(b) A medical director may be designated for a single facility or multiple facilities through arrangements with a group of physicians, a local medical society, a hospital medical staff, or through another similar arrangement.

(2) The medical director is responsible for the overall coordination of the medical care in the facility to ensure the adequacy and appropriateness of the medical services provided to residents and to maintain surveillance of the health status of employees.

(a) The medical director is responsible for the development of written bylaws, rules, and regulations which are approved by the governing body and include delineation of the responsibilities of attending physicians.

(b) Coordination of medical care includes liaison with attending physicians to ensure their writing orders promptly upon admission of a patient, and periodic evaluation of the adequacy and appropriateness of health professional and

(c) The medical director is also responsible for surveillance of the health status of the facility's employees, and reviews incidents and accidents that occur on the premises to identify hazards to health and safety. The administrator is given appropriate information, by the medical director, to help ensure a safe and sanitary environment for residents and personnel.

(d) The medical director is responsible for the execution of resident care policies.

Author: Dittra S. Graham, Administrator, LTC Program Management Unit

Ala. Admin. Code r. 560-X-10-.17

Rule effective October 1, 1982. Amended: Effective February 8, 1984; October 13, 1987. Emergency rule: Effective October 1, 1990. Amended: Effective February 13, 1991. Amended: Filed August 11, 2003; effective September 15, 2003.

Rule 560-X-10-.15, Medical Director, was renumbered to Rule 560-X-10-.17, as per certification filed August 11, 2003; effective September 15, 2003.

Statutory Authority: State Plan; Title XIX, Social Security Act; 42 C.F.R. §§401, et seq., 405.1122, 405.307, et seq.