La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-8907

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-8907 - Program and Services

A. Program Description

1. A provider shall have a written program description describing:

a. the overall philosophy of the provider;

b. the long-term and short-term goals of the provider;

c. the types of clients best served by the provider;

d. there shall be written eligibility criteria for each of the services/programs provided;

e. the services provided directly or through subcontract by the provider;

f. a schedule for any fees for services which will be charged the client.

2. A provider shall make every effort to ensure that service and program planning for each client is a comprehensive process involving appropriate provider staff, representatives of other agencies, the client, and where appropriate the legally responsible person, and any other person(s) significantly involved in the client's care on an ongoing basis.

3. A provider shall perform crisis assessments to determine, as a minimum, the mental status of the individual and their danger to self or others. Appropriate short term follow-up shall be included as part of the intervention. Documentation of this intervention shall be kept in the client's record.

4. There shall be written policies and procedures to assure the following client care safeguards:

a. crisis workers shall not participate in discipline or punishment procedures;

b. crisis workers shall not subject clients to verbal remarks which belittle or ridicule them, their families, or others;

c. seclusion, defined as the placement of a client alone in a locked room, shall not be employed;

d. passive physical restraint shall be employed only as a therapeutic intervention to protect the client from physical injury to self or others;

e. restraining devices shall not be used in crisis interventions.

5. The provider shall have written policies and procedures to assure that any suspected violations of these safeguards are internally investigated and, where abuse or neglect is suspected, that immediate reports are made to the public agency statutorily authorized to investigate such alleged incidents.

B. Transportation

1. A provider shall ensure and document that any vehicle used by provider staff to transport clients is inspected and licensed according to state laws and carries a sufficient amount of current liability insurance.

2. Any staff member or the provider using a vehicle to transport clients shall be properly licensed to operate that vehicle according to state laws.

C. External Professional Service. A provider shall have a written policy which mandates that, when necessary, clients be given assistance in obtaining any required professional services not available from staff members of the provider.

D. Organizational Communication

1. A provider shall establish procedures to assure adequate communication among staff to provide continuity of services to the client, including:

a. establishing procedures to assure periodic staff meetings with supervisory staff, professional staff, and direct line workers;

b. crisis workers doing one-to-one monitoring with a client will keep progress notes every half hour detailing the behavior of the client subsequent to the last entry. Progress notes will become part of the client's record. The client's record will be shared with the client's treating clinician, if applicable;

c. establishing a mechanism to assure the crisis worker's access to emergency services and/or an agency supervisor.

2. A provider shall establish procedures which facilitate participation and feedback from clients and families.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-8907

Promulgated by Department of Social Services, Office of the Secretary, LR 21:1263 (November 1995).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 46:51.