La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-9501

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

Section I-9501 - Staffing

A. The hospital or unit shall provide qualified professional, technical and consultative personnel to evaluate patients, formulate written individualized comprehensive treatment plans, provide active treatment measures and engage in discharge planning.

B. The hospital or unit shall employ a clinical director, who meets the training and experience requirements for examination by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry. The clinical director shall monitor and evaluate the quality and appropriateness of services and treatment provided by the medical staff.

C. In a psychiatric hospital, the director of nursing (DON) services, shall be provided by a full-time RN.

1. A DON hired or promoted prior to May 31, 2026, shall meet the following criteria for education and experience:

a. a master's degree in psychiatric or mental health nursing or its equivalent, from a school of nursing accredited by the National League for Nursing;

b. a master's degree in a related field such as psychology or nursing education, and five years nursing experience. Three years of this experience shall be in providing nursing care to the mentally ill; or

c. a bachelor's, associate degree or diploma in nursing with documented evidence of educational programs focused on treating psychiatric patients, which has occurred at intervals sufficient enough to keep the nurse current on psychiatric nursing techniques. In addition, the nurse shall have at least five years of nursing experience, three years of which were providing nursing care to the mentally ill, or receive regular, documented supervision/consultation from a master's prepared psychiatric nurse.

2. A DON hired or promoted on or after June 1, 2026, shall meet the following criteria for education and experience:

a. a master's degree in psychiatric or mental health nursing or its equivalent, from a school of nursing accredited by the National League for Nursing; or

b. at least three years clinical RN experience in providing psychiatric nursing care, and on-going training in psychiatric nursing. Documentation from a RN with a master's degree in psychiatric nursing constitutes on-going training. Such documentation shall be maintained in the personnel file for the DON.

D. A psychiatric unit within a general hospital shall have an RN as a manager of the psychiatric unit. The RN shall meet the same requirements as that of the DON in a psychiatric hospital.

E. The DON of a psychiatric hospital or the psychiatric unit RN manager shall demonstrate competence to participate in interdisciplinary formulation of individual treatment plans, to give skilled nursing care and therapy if needed, and to direct, monitor, and evaluate the nursing care furnished.

F. In addition to the director of psychiatric nursing service, the hospital or unit shall provide 24-hour RN coverage with an adequate number of licensed nurses and mental health workers to provide the nursing care necessary under each patient's active treatment program.

G. Psychological services shall be provided by or supervised by a psychologist licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

1. - 6.c. Repealed.

NOTE: Repealed.

H. Social services shall be provided by a director who is a licensed clinical social worker and who is experienced in the social service needs of the mentally ill.

I. Therapeutic recreational services shall be provided by qualified recreational therapists, support personnel, and consultants adequate in number to provide comprehensive therapeutic recreational services consistent with each patient's care plan.

1. An individual who clinically supervises therapeutic recreational services shall meet the following qualifications:

a. have a degree in therapeutic recreational services from an accredited post-secondary institution; or

b. have a degree in another field of study and has also attained certification in accordance with the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification requirements.

2. An individual who provides therapeutic recreational services shall have the following qualification:

a. a degree in therapeutic recreational services from an accredited post-secondary institution; or

b. a degree in another field of study and has also attained certification in accordance with the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification requirements; or

c. a minimum of 10 years' experience providing therapeutic recreational services; or

d. be currently employed as a therapeutic recreational services specialist 2 per Louisiana Civil Service requirements.

3. Therapeutic recreational services shall be designed to:

a. restore, remediate, and rehabilitate a person's level of functioning and independence in life activities;

b. promote health and wellness; and

c. reduce or eliminate the activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life situations caused by an illness or disabling condition.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-9501

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of the Secretary, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 29:2426 (November 2003), Amended by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing LR 411489 (8/1/2015), Amended by the Department of Health, Health Standards Section, LR 501492 (10/1/2024).

Examples of intervention modalities include, but are not limited to, creative arts (e.g., crafts, music, dance, drama, among others), sports, adventure programming, dance/movement, and leisure education.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S.36:254 and R.S. 40:2100-2115.