Rule 290-2-6-.15 - Respite Care Services and Weekend Camps(1) Respite Care General Requirements. A center may provide a comprehensive program of respite care services to medically fragile children, whose known health care or medical support needs can be met by the center in accordance with its program purpose and program description.(a) Respite care services are limited to short term stays of no more than 14 consecutive days and no more than four weeks total (28 days), within any six month period.(b) The maximum number of children for whom a center may provide respite care along with other allowable care shall not exceed the center's capacity requirements set forth in Rule .05(7).(c) The center shall develop, implement and comply with written policies and procedures that describe the range of respite care services and the manner in which such services will be provided by the center.(2)Admission for Respite Services. Licensed children's transition care centers may receive medically fragile children for respite care services from their caregiver, parents, guardians, custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis. (a) Eachchild admitted for respite care services shall either arrive at the center with a health services plan or have a health services plan developed upon admission as detailed in Rule .12(1).(b) The child's health services plan shall be updated by the RN whenever the child experiences a significant change in condition.(3)Respite Care Health Services. The center shall provide for a comprehensive program of services to meet the health care needs and medical support needs of children admitted for respite care. Children admitted for respite care shall be provided services in accordance with all the requirements in rules 290-2-6-.01 through 290-2-6-.10, 290-2-6-.15 and Rules 290-2-6-.18 through 290-2-6-.27, respectively. (a) Children admitted for respite care shall receive timely, qualified health services as needed or in the same manner normally received when living in their usual environment or place of residence.(b) A general physical examination of the child shall be provided by a medical doctor, physician's assistant, or public health department within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) of admission for respite care services, unless such an examination has been completed within one year prior to admission and the center has documentation of the examination.(c) The general physical examination shall include the basic diagnostic laboratory work indicated in Rule .12(1)(b)2.(d) The center shall document written orders for the skilled nursing services, medications and other treatments provided to children during respite care services.(4)Case Record. Each child admitted for respite care shall have a case record that includes, at a minimum, the following information:(a) Identifying information for the child such as name, sex, and birth date or age;(b) Local emergency contact information for the primary caregiver, parent(s), guardian(s), custodians(s), or person(s) serving in loco parentis such as name, address and phone number(s);(c) Name, address and phone number of the primary physician involved in the child's care;(d) Current medical history with sufficient information to document the child's medical diagnosis and to establish a basis upon which treatment is provided;(e) Records of behavior management, emergency safety interventions and written grievances as outlined in Rule .18 and .19.; and(5) During a child's residency at a center for respite services, the center shall make arrangements to ensure that the child's educational needs are met.(6)Discharge from Respite Care. At the time of admission, a child's HSP shall develop preliminary discharge plans for the child, which identifies the child's anticipated date of discharge. (a) Emergency discharges are authorized when the health and safety of the child or other children at the center might be endangered by the child's further placement in the center.(b) Prior notice of an emergency discharge from respite care shall be provided to the primary caregiver, parents, guardians, custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis. If such notice is not possible, the reasons shall be documented in the child's case record. The child's case record shall include: 1. The name, address, telephone number and relationship of the person or entity to whom the child was discharged;2. A summary of all the services provided for the child to meet assessed needs during respite care;3. A summary of any problems encountered by the child and the family during respite care; and4. A summary of assessed needs which were not met during respite care, and a summary of the reasons why they were not met.(7)Weekend Camps. Medically fragile children may be admitted to the center for the purpose of attending a weekend camp. Admission, service, and discharge requirements for weekend camps shall be the same as those required for respite services and described in Rules .15(1)through(6).Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-6-.15
O.C.G.A. Secs. 49-5-3, 49-5-8, 49-5-12.
Original Rule entitled "Respite Care Services and Weekend Camps" adopted. F. Jan. 27, 2009; eff. Feb. 16, 2009.