N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:52-8.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 3A:52-8.1 - Requirements for all centers serving sick children

(a) The provisions of this subchapter shall apply to any center that chooses to serve the following:

1. Only children who have illnesses, symptoms of illness or diseases, as specified in 3A:52-7.1(c) and (d); or

2. Some children who have illnesses, symptoms of illness or diseases, as specified in 3A:52-7.1(c) and (d), as part of a sick child care component of a center primarily serving well children.

(b) A center as set forth in (a) above shall also comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter.

(c) The center shall maintain on file written policies and procedures governing its operation, including:

1. Those categories of illness for which the center will provide care;

2. The ages of children who will be served;

3. The center's infection control procedures;

4. The center's admission criteria, which shall include provisions for conducting either:

i. A medical evaluation of arriving children by a New Jersey licensed physician; or

ii. A physical assessment, known as a triage, of arriving children by a registered nurse;

(1) The triage shall include, as appropriate to the demonstrated symptoms, an assessment of the child's temperature, pulse, respiration, skin, eyes, nose, throat, mouth, chest, abdomen, and extremities;

5. A provision encouraging the parents, before bringing the child to the center, to call the center each day to:

i. Describe the child's illnesses, symptoms of illness or diseases; and

ii. Determine if the center has an opening for the child;

6. For centers using a registered nurse as the admitting staff member, the physical assessment criteria that are used to determine:

i. Appropriateness of a child's attendance at the center on that day; or

ii. A child's need to be examined by a licensed physician, prior to being admitted to the center on that day;

7. The criteria and procedures for caring for or releasing children whose illnesses, symptoms of illness or diseases have worsened;

8. Methods and frequency of identifying and recording symptomatic changes throughout the day;

9. The preparation, frequency, and serving of meals that are appropriate for the child's illnesses, symptoms of illness, or diseases; and

10. The center's policy on communicating with parents concerning the child's illnesses, symptoms of illness, or diseases.

(d) The center shall arrange for a New Jersey licensed physician to serve as its consulting physician, providing medical advice and assistance on an on-call basis.

(e) The center shall have a governing board or an advisory board, which shall oversee the development of and approve in writing its policies and procedures, as specified in (c) above. The governing or advisory board shall include at least two of the following licensed health professionals:

1. A physician licensed by the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners;

2. A registered nurse licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing; or

3. A local health official.

(f) The consulting physician shall approve in writing the policies and procedures specified in (c) above.

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:52-8.1

Administrative Change, 49 N.J.R. 98a.

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 413(a), effective 3/6/2017