La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-6273

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-6273 - Food and Diet

A. The TGH shall ensure that all dietary services are provided in consultation with a Louisiana licensed registered dietician. The registered dietician shall be available regarding the nutritional needs, the special diets of individual clients and to assist in the development of policies and procedures for the handling, serving and storage of food.

B. The provider shall have written policies and procedures that ensure that a client is, on a daily basis, provided with food of such quality and in such quantity as to meet the recommended daily dietary allowances adjusted for age, gender and activity of the Food Nutrition Board of the National Research Council and doesn't deny any rights of the client.

C. Meals, whether prepared by the provider or contracted from an outside source, shall meet the following conditions:

1. menus shall be written in advance, shall provide for a variety of nutritional foods and shall be reviewed and approved by a licensed registered dietician;

2. records of menus, as served, shall be filed and maintained for at least 30 days;

3. modified diets shall be prescribed by a physician;

4. food preparation areas and utensils shall be maintained in accordance with state and local sanitation and safe food handling standards. Pets are not allowed in food preparation and serving areas; and

5. the clinical director or house manager shall designate one staff member who shall be responsible for meal preparation/serving if meals are prepared in the facility.

D. Drinking water shall be readily available.

E. Dining areas shall be adequately equipped with tables, chairs, eating utensils and dishes designed to meet the functional needs of clients.

F. All food shall be procured, stored, prepared, distributed, and served under sanitary conditions to prevent food borne illness. This includes keeping all readily perishable food and drink according to State Sanitary Code . Refrigerator temperatures shall be maintained according to State Sanitary Code . Hot foods shall leave the kitchen or steam table according to State Sanitary Code.

G. The provider shall ensure that any prescribed modified diet for a client shall be implemented and planned, prepared and served by persons who have received instruction from the registered dietician who has approved the menu for the modified diet.

H. The provider shall ensure that a client is provided at least three meals or their equivalent daily at regular times with not more than 14 hours between the evening meal and breakfast on the following day. Specific times for serving meals shall be established and posted.

I. Bedtime nourishments shall be offered nightly to all clients, unless contraindicated by the client's medical practitioner, as documented in the client's comprehensive treatment plan.

J. The provider shall ensure that the food provided to a client in care of the provider is in accordance with his/her religious beliefs.

K. No client shall be denied food or force-fed for any reason except as medically required pursuant to a physician's written order. A copy of the order shall be maintained in the client's file.

L. When meals are provided to staff, the provider shall ensure that staff members eat the same food served to clients in care, unless special dietary requirements dictate differences in diet.

M. The provider shall ensure that food served to a client that is not consumed is discarded.

N. Written reports of inspections by the Office of Public Health shall be posted in the facility.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-6273

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 38:420 (February 2012), Amended by the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 44780 (4/1/2018).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and R.S. 40:2009.