Virginia Law

A. Each individual is entitled to be completely free from any unnecessary use of seclusion, restraint, or time out.

B. The voluntary use of mechanical supports to achieve proper body position, balance, or alignment so as to allow greater freedom of movement or to improve normal body functioning in a way that would not be possible without the use of such a mechanical support, and the voluntary use of protective equipment are not considered restraints.

C. The provider's duties.

1. Providers shall meet with the individual or the individual's authorized representative upon admission to the service to discuss and document in the individual's services record his preferred interventions in the event his behaviors or symptoms become a danger to himself or others and under what circumstances, if any, the intervention may include seclusion, restraint, or time out.

2. Providers shall document in the individual's services record all known contraindications to the use of seclusion, time out, or any form of physical or mechanical restraint, including medical contraindications and a history of trauma, and shall flag the record to alert and communicate this information to staff.

3. Seclusion may be used only in an emergency and only in facilities operated by the department; residential facilities for children that are licensed under the Regulations for Children's Residential Facilities (12VAC35-46); inpatient hospitals; and crisis receiving centers or crisis stabilization units that are licensed under Part VIII (12VAC35-105-1830 et seq.) of 12VAC35-105.

4. Providers shall not use seclusion, restraint, or time out as a punishment or reprisal or for the convenience of staff.

5. Providers shall not use seclusion or restraint solely because criminal charges are pending against the individual.

6. Providers shall not use a restraint that places the individual's body in a prone (face down) position.

7. Providers shall not use seclusion or restraint for any behavioral, medical, or protective purpose unless other less restrictive techniques have been considered and documentation is placed in the individual's safety plan, the crisis ISP, or the ISP that these less restrictive techniques did not or would not succeed in reducing or eliminating behaviors that are self-injurious or dangerous to other people or that no less restrictive measure was possible in the event of a sudden emergency.

8. Providers that use seclusion, restraint, or time out shall develop written policies and procedures that comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, accreditation and certification standards, third party payer requirements, and sound therapeutic practice. These policies and procedures shall include at least the following requirements:

a. Individuals shall be given the opportunity for motion and exercise, to eat at normal meal times and take fluids, to use the restroom, and to bathe as needed.

b. Trained, qualified staff shall monitor the individual's medical and mental condition continuously while the restriction is being used.

c. Each use of seclusion, restraint, or time out shall end immediately when criteria for removal are met.

d. Incidents of seclusion and restraint, including the rationale for and the type and duration of the restraint, shall be reported to the department as provided in 12VAC35-115-230 C.

9. Providers shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, certification and accreditation standards, and third party requirements as they relate to seclusion and restraint.

a. Whenever an inconsistency exists between this chapter and federal laws or regulations, accreditation or certification standards, or the requirements of third party payers, the provider shall comply with the higher standard.

b. Providers shall notify the department whenever a regulatory, accreditation, or certification agency or third party payer identifies problems in the provider's compliance with any applicable seclusion and restraint standard.

10. Providers shall ensure that only staff who have been trained in the proper and safe use of seclusion, restraint, and time out techniques may initiate, monitor, and discontinue their use.

11. Providers shall ensure that a qualified professional who is involved in providing services to the individual reviews every use of physical restraint as soon as possible after it is carried out and documents the results of his review in the individual's services record.

12. Providers shall ensure that review and approval by a qualified professional for the use or continuation of restraint for medical or protective purposes is documented in the individual's services record. Documentation includes:

a. Justification for any restraint;

b. Time-limited approval for the use or continuation of restraint; and

c. Any physical or psychological conditions that would place the individual at greater risk during restraint.

13. Providers may use seclusion or mechanical restraint for behavioral purposes in an emergency only if a qualified professional involved in providing services to the individual has, within one hour of the initiation of the procedure:

a. Conducted a face-to-face assessment of the individual placed in seclusion or mechanical restraint and documented that alternatives to the proposed use of seclusion or mechanical restraint have not been successful in changing the behavior or were not attempted, taking into account the individual's medical and mental condition, behavior, preferences, nursing and medication needs, and ability to function independently;

b. Determined that the proposed seclusion or mechanical restraint is necessary to protect the individual or others from harm, injury, or death;

c. Documented in the individual's services record the specific reason for the seclusion or mechanical restraint;

d. Documented in the individual's services record the behavioral criteria that the individual must meet for release from seclusion or mechanical restraint; and

e. Explained to the individual, in a way that he can understand, the reason for using mechanical restraint or seclusion, the criteria for its removal, and the individual's right to a fair review of whether the mechanical restraint or seclusion was permissible.

14. Providers shall limit each approval for restraint for behavioral purposes or seclusion to four hours for individuals age 18 and older, two hours for children and adolescents ages nine through 17, and one hour for children under age nine.

15. Providers shall not issue standing orders for the use of seclusion or restraint for behavioral purposes.

16. Providers shall ensure that no individual is in time out for more than 30 minutes per episode.

17. Providers shall monitor the use of restraint for behavioral purposes or seclusion through continuous face-to-face observation, rather than by an electronic surveillance device.

D. For purposes of this section, "safety plan," "crisis individualized services plan," or "crisis ISP" shall have the same meaning as those terms are described in 12VAC35-105-1860 and 12VAC35-105-1870.