N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43E-6.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 8:43E-6.4 - Pain assessment procedures

(a) A facility shall formulate a system for assessing and monitoring patients'/residents' pain using a pain rating scale.

1. A facility serving different patient/resident populations shall utilize more than one pain scale, as appropriate.

(b) Assessment of a patient's/resident's pain shall occur, at a minimum, upon admission, on the day of a planned discharge, and when warranted by changes in a patient's/resident's condition, self-reporting of pain and/or evidence of behavioral cues indicative of the presence of pain. In the case of individuals receiving home health care services, assessment shall coincide with a visit by staff of the home health service agency and assessment on the day of discharge is not required if the individual has been admitted to an inpatient or residential health care facility and discharge from the home health service agency takes place after the admission.

(c) If pain is identified, a pain treatment plan shall be developed and implemented within the health care facility or the patient/resident shall be referred for treatment or consultation.

(d) If the patient/resident is cognitively impaired or non-verbal, the facility shall utilize pain rating scales for the cognitively impaired and non-verbal patient/resident. Additionally, the facility shall seek information from the patient's/resident's family, caregiver or other representative, if available and known to the facility. The results of the pain rating scales and the response to the additional inquiry shall be documented in the patient's/resident's medical record.

(e) Pain assessment findings shall be documented in the patient's/resident's medical record. This shall include, but not be limited to, the date, pain rating, treatment plan and patient/resident response.

(f) The facility shall establish written policies and procedures governing the management of pain that are reviewed at least every three years and revised more frequently as needed. They shall include at least the following:

1. A written procedure for systematically conducting periodic assessment of a patient's/resident's pain, as specified in (b) above. At a minimum, the procedure must specify pain assessment upon admission, upon discharge, and when warranted by changes in a patient's/resident's condition and self-reporting of pain;

2. Criteria for the assessment of pain, including, but not limited to: pain intensity or severity, pain character, pain frequency or pattern, or both; pain location, pain duration, precipitating factors, responses to treatment and the personal, cultural, spiritual, and/or ethnic beliefs that may impact an individual's perception of pain;

3. A written procedure for the monitoring of a patient's/resident's pain;

4. A written procedure to insure the consistency of pain rating scales across departments within the health care facility;

5. Requirements for documentation of a patient's/resident's pain status on the medical record;

6. A procedure for educating patients/residents and, if applicable, their families about pain management when identified as part of their treatment; and

7. A written procedure for systematically coordinating and updating the pain treatment plan of a patient/resident in response to documented pain status.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43E-6.4