N.J. Admin. Code § 8:42-6.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 8:42-6.1 - Policies and procedures

(a) The agency shall establish written policies and procedures governing patient care that are reviewed at least every three years by the agency's governing authority, revised as needed, and implemented. They shall include at least the following:

1. Criteria for admission and discharge of patients.

i. Admission criteria shall be based solely upon the patient's needs and the ability of the agency to meet safely the medical, nursing, and social needs of the patient.

ii. Discharge policies shall preclude punitive discharge;

2. Criteria for physician's orders for home health services, including time frames and other requirements for written, verbal, and renewal orders.

i. Physician's orders for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy shall include the modality, frequency, and duration of treatment;

3. Protocols for initiation, implementation, review, and revision of plans of care and of the service plan;

4. Protocols for reassessment of patients, in accordance with time frames documented by each health care practitioner in the service plan;

5. Protocols for providing continuity of care by the same health care practitioner whenever possible;

6. Provision of care in accordance with the plan of care;

7. Provision of emergency care;

8. Policies and procedures for the use of restraints, including at least:

i. The need for written physicians orders;

ii. Indications and contraindications for use, including emergency use or use during medical procedures;

iii. Alternatives to physical restraints, such as environmental interventions or behavior management;

iv. The designation of staff who are authorized to use restraints according to scope of practice; and

v. Teaching the patient's family or primary caregiver the use of a progressive range of restraining procedures from the least restrictive to the most restrictive, the appropriate application and release of restraints, and observation of the patient;

9. Requirements for a discharge plan for each patient developed prior to the patient's discharge, and methods for including the patient and/or the patient's family in planning and implementing the discharge plan; and

10. A system for referral of patients to other sources of care.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:42-6.1

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 1445(a), effective 7/18/2016

Adopted by 55 N.J.R. 2546(a), effective 12/18/2023