P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 6157
Any adult who resorts to an institutional provider of indirect mental healthcare services in order to start receiving outpatient services at the various levels of care and in the various modalities of treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery, shall receive, among others, the following services during the first seventy-two (72) hours:
(a) A physical examination, when clinically necessary to rule out physiological or organic conditions or as part of the outpatient clinical follow-up;
(b) a laboratory test, when clinically necessary to rule out physiological or organic conditions or as part of the outpatient clinical follow-up;
(c) a psychiatric evaluation conducted by a psychiatrist;
(d) a psychological screening conducted by a psychologist;
(e) an initial social evaluation conducted by a social worker, when clinically indicated;
(f) a psychiatric diagnosis in its five (5) axes, as per the DSM-IV-TR or the clinical manual in effect at the time;
[(g)] a substance screening conducted by an addiction counselor, when clinically indicated, to rule out or assess substance abuse and/or dependency;
[(h)] a clinical record.
The results of the tests, analyses, and evaluations shall form part of the adult’s clinical record and be used to establish the individualized treatment, recovery and rehabilitation plan at the corresponding greater-autonomy level of care. This plan shall be devised by an inter- or a multidisciplinary team not later than fifteen (15) days following the beginning of treatment and be reviewed every thirty (30) days pursuant to the standards for each level of care or when a substantial change occurs. These procedures shall be recorded as part of the regulations to be promulgated for these purposes.
The provisions of this section shall not apply in the case of private offices of mental healthcare professionals. In such cases, the mental healthcare professionals shall make sure to comply with the standards applicable to their respective professions, based on the clinical protocols and treatment guidelines recommended by the Administration.
History —Oct. 2, 2000, No. 408, § 6.01; Aug. 6, 2008, No. 183, § 32.