N.J. Admin. Code § 10:161B-6.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 10:161B-6.1 - Client care policies

(a) Every outpatient substance use disorder treatment facility shall develop, establish and ensure the implementation and maintenance of client care policies and procedures consistent with the requirements of this chapter. At a minimum, the administrator, director of substance abuse counseling, director of nursing services, and medical director or physician shall provide direct input and review of all client care policies.

1. A facility may also choose to establish a client care policy committee which shall, at a minimum, be composed of the administrator, director of substance abuse counseling, director of nursing services, the medical director or the facility's physician, and a client.

i. The facility shall provide written documentation to the governing authority of the mechanisms by which client care policies will be developed, managed and maintained by the facility.

ii. All client care policies related to medical services shall be reviewed and approved by the medical director, and shared with the facility's physician, pharmacist and director of nursing services.

2. Under the direction of the administrator and director of substance abuse counseling, the facility shall ensure that all client care polices and procedures are reviewed at least annually.

3. The facility shall review facility outcome data, available through NJSAMS and/or other means, and consider this data in its review of client care policies.

4. Client care policies shall include specific clinical and administrative guidance addressing incidents occurring or deficiencies found in the facility that impact the adequacy of policies and procedures affecting the health and safety of clients and/or staff. Any incidents or deficiencies shall prompt an immediate policy review, and any resulting policy revisions shall be shared with the facility's governing authority.

(b) The facility shall establish clear mechanisms that verify through written documentation that all client care policies were reviewed by the appropriate parties, including the date the policies were reviewed and the signature of each reviewer.

(c) Should a client care policy committee be established, the facility shall ensure that the committee's meetings, items discussed and actions taken are documented, dated and disseminated.

(d) When developing and reviewing policies and procedures regarding a specific service, the facility shall actively solicit input from facility staff representing that service.

(e) The facility shall ensure that policies and procedures are developed and implemented for the care of the general client population, and address the needs of any special populations that the facility may serve including, but not limited, to pregnant women, women with dependent children, juveniles, homeless and/or indigent, deaf or hard of hearing, blind, or otherwise disabled, those with communication limitations, those who can not speak, read or write the English language, or persons with co-occurring mental health disorders.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:161B-6.1

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 2791(a), effective 12/19/2016