22VAC40-73-930. Provisions for signaling and call systems.
A. All assisted living facilities shall have a signaling device that is easily accessible to the resident in his bedroom or in a connecting bathroom that alerts the direct care staff that the resident needs assistance.
B. In buildings licensed to care for 20 or more residents under one roof, there shall be a signaling device that terminates at a central location that is continuously staffed and permits staff to determine the origin of the signal or is audible and visible in a manner that permits staff to determine the origin of the signal.
C. In buildings licensed to care for 19 or fewer residents under one roof, if the signaling device does not permit staff to determine the origin of the signal as specified in subsection B of this section, direct care staff shall make rounds at least once each hour to monitor for emergencies or other unanticipated resident needs. These rounds shall begin when the majority of the residents have gone to bed each evening and shall terminate when the majority of the residents have arisen each morning, and shall be documented as follows:
1. A written log shall be maintained showing the date and time rounds were made and the signature of the direct care staff member who made rounds.
2. Logs for the past two years shall be retained.
Exception: Rounds may be made on a different frequency if requested by the resident and agreed to by the facility. Any agreement for a different frequency must be in writing, specify the frequency, be signed and dated by the resident and the facility, and be retained in the resident's record. The written log required in subdivision 1 of the subsection shall indicate the name of such resident. If there is a change in the resident's condition or care needs, the agreement shall be reviewed and if necessary, the frequency of rounds shall be adjusted. If an adjustment is made, the former agreement shall be replaced with a new agreement or with compliance with the frequency specified in this subsection.
D. For each resident with an inability to use the signaling device, in addition to any other services, the following shall be met:
1. This inability shall be included in the resident's individualized service plan.
2. The plan shall specify a minimal frequency of daily rounds to be made by direct care staff to monitor for emergencies or other unanticipated resident needs.
3. Unless subsection C of this section is applicable, once the resident has gone to bed each evening until the resident has arisen each morning, at a minimum, direct care staff shall make rounds no less often than every two hours, except that rounds may be made on a different frequency if requested by the resident and agreed to by the facility. Any agreement for a different frequency must be in writing, specify the frequency, be signed and dated by the resident and the facility, and be retained in the resident's record. If there is a change in the resident's condition or care needs, the agreement shall be reviewed and if necessary, the frequency of rounds shall be adjusted. If an adjustment is made, the former agreement shall be replaced with a new agreement or with compliance with the frequency specified in this subdivision.
4. The facility shall document the rounds that were made, which shall include the name of the resident, the date and time of the rounds, and the staff member who made the rounds. The documentation shall be retained for two years.
Statutory Authority
§§ 63.2-217, 63.2-1732, 63.2-1802, 63.2-1805, and 63.2-1808 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 6, eff. February 1, 2018.