The Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility shall have the following staff, either by employment or on a contractual as needed basis:
1. Occupational therapy is the provision of services that addresses the developmental or functional needs of a child related to the performance of self-help adaptive skills, adaptive behaviors, and sensory, motor and postural development. Occupational therapy includes the evaluation and treatment to prevent or correct physical and emotional deficits, minimize the disabling effects of these deficits, maintain a level of function, acquire a skill set or A child life specialist who shall be responsible for at least the following: a. Evaluation of child following physician referral to include neuromuscular status, developmental level, perceptual motor functioning, need for adaptive equipment or appliances, self-care and play; b. Designing and implementing therapeutic programs to meet the needs of the individual child; c. Maintaining records documenting the therapy program and progress for each child as approved by the attending physician; and d. Participating as part of the child's IDT team if occupational therapies are a part of the child's plan and serving as a resource for Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility staff and the parents being served. 2. Physical therapy services include the evaluation and treatment of range of motion, muscle strength, functional abilities and the use of adaptive and therapeutic equipment. The Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility shall assure the availability of, either by employment of contract, a physical therapist who is responsible for at least the following: a. Evaluation of each child upon physician referral to include neuromuscular status, developmental level, gait, posture and adaptive equipment; b. Designing and implementing therapeutic programs to meet the needs of each individual child; c. Maintaining records documenting the therapy program and progress for each child as approved by the attending physician; and d. Serving as a resource for Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility staff and parents of children served. e. If physical therapy is an active component in the treatment of the child, the physical therapist shall participate as part of the child's IDT. 3. Respiratory care services include evaluation and treatment related to pulmonary dysfunction. Examples are ventilator support, therapeutic and diagnostic use of medical gases, respiratory rehabilitation, management of life support systems and bronchopulmonary drainage, breathing exercises and chest physiotherapy. The Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility shall assure the availability of a licensed respiratory therapist when appropriate, to: a. Evaluation of the respiratory function and needs of the child, make recommendations based upon that assessed need; b. Provide therapies, as appropriate, per physician orders, c. Maintain documentation of provided therapies, in accordance with physician's orders and the child's IDT plan, and the progress of the child and/or educational progress of the parents; and d. Serve as a resource to train staff and parents of the child on the physiology of the child's disease processor respiratory dysfunction and on the modalities necessary for care and treatment of the child. 4. Speech language involves the evaluation and treatment of speech-language disorders, to include but not be limited to, the evaluation and treatments of verbal and written language, articulation, voice, fluency, phonology, mastication, deglutition, cognition, and communications. The Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility shall assure that a speech-language pathologist is available, either by employment or through a contractual basis on an as needed basis, for the: a. Evaluation of children to include: ability to swallow and feeding, respirations, language, speech, communication and play using formal and informal test and observations; b. Designing and implementing individualized therapeutic programs for each child, including recommendations for communication devices; c. Speech-language encounters must be face-to-face, and the speech-language pathologist must maintain, in the child's record, documentation of each evaluation, documentation of therapies and progress; and d. Serving as a resource for the Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility staff and parents of children being served. e. Speech-language visits must be face-to-face encounters. 5. A social worker who is responsible for at least the following: a. Conducting family psychosocial assessments as requested by the medical or nursing director; b. Counseling, including emotional support and grief resolution as requested by the nursing and medical director, or family; c. Family advocacy and coordination with community resources; d. Maintaining records and documenting social work interventions; e. Conducting home visits and home evaluations as requested by the medical director or nursing director; and f. Serving as a resource for the Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility staff and parents of children served. 6. A dietician, who is licensed in the State of Mississippi and currently registered with the American Dietetic Association, will be available, at a minimum on a consultant basis. The dietician shall: a. Conduct a thorough evaluation of each child's nutritional status, preferences, likes and dislikes, upon admission and as needed throughout the child's stay; b. Develop and approve menus appropriate to the nutritional needs of the children. Assure that specialty feedings are prepared in accordance with physician's orders, meet the nutritional needs of the child and make recommendations, as appropriate; c. Document in the clinical record, at least quarterly, an update of the child's nutritional status to include, but not be limited to, weight, alteration in the diet, eating modalities, etc.; and d. Assure that dietary staff are trained and competent in the preparation and service delivery of meals/feedings related to each child's diet. 15 Miss. Code. R. 16-1-3.10.4
Mississippi Code Annotated § 43-13-117