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Administrative Code

Virginia Administrative Code
11/21/2024

Article 2. Policies and Procedures

12VAC5-410-1160. General statement.

Article 2
Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures may vary depending on scope and type of service, personnel, equipment and location of the facility. It is recognized that no two facilities will be identical because of variations in the scope and objective of the outpatient service. Even though each facility may be different, certain standards and procedures shall be applicable to all in assuring the delivery of a high quality of care.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-127 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR355-33-500 § 4.2, eff. July 28, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 8, eff. April 1, 1995.

12VAC5-410-1170. Policy and procedures manual.

A. Each outpatient surgical hospital shall develop a policy and procedures manual that shall include provisions covering the following items:

1. The types of emergency and elective procedures that may be performed in the facility.

2. Types of anesthesia that may be used.

3. Admissions and discharges, including:

a. Criteria for evaluating the patient before admission and before discharge; and

b. Protocols to ensure that any patient scheduled to receive an elective surgical procedure for which the patient can reasonably be expected to require outpatient physical therapy as a follow-up treatment after discharge is informed that the patient:

(1) Is expected to require outpatient physical therapy as a follow-up treatment; and

(2) Will be required to select a physical therapy provider prior to being discharged from the hospital.

4. Written informed consent of patient prior to the initiation of any procedures.

5. Procedures for housekeeping and infection control and prevention.

6. Disaster preparedness.

7. Facility security.

B. A copy of approved policies and procedures and revisions thereto shall be made available to the OLC upon request.

C. Each outpatient surgical hospital shall establish a protocol relating to the rights and responsibilities of patients based on Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' Standards for Ambulatory Care (2000 Hospital Accreditation Standards, January 2000). The protocol shall include a process reasonably designed to inform patients of their rights and responsibilities. Patients shall be given a copy of their rights and responsibilities upon admission.

D. If the Governor has declared a public health emergency related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), each outpatient surgical hospital shall allow a person with a disability who requires assistance as a result of such disability to be accompanied by a designated support person at any time during which health care services are provided.

1. A designated support person shall not be subject to any restrictions on visitation adopted by such outpatient surgical hospital. However, such designated support person may be required to comply with all reasonable requirements of the outpatient surgical hospital adopted to protect the health and safety of patients and staff of the outpatient surgical hospital.

2. Every outpatient surgical hospital shall establish policies applicable to designated support persons and shall:

a. Make such policies available to the public on a website maintained by the outpatient surgical hospital; and

b. Provide such policies, in writing, to the patient at such time as health care services are provided.

E. Each outpatient surgical hospital shall obtain a criminal history record check pursuant to § 32.1-126.02 of the Code of Virginia on any compensated employee not licensed by the Board of Pharmacy whose job duties provide access to controlled substances within the outpatient surgical hospital pharmacy.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-127 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR355-33-500 § 4.3, eff. July 28, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 8, eff. April 1, 1995; Volume 19, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2002; Volume 23, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2007; Volume 28, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2011; Volume 36, Issue 23, eff. August 6, 2020; Volume 37, Issue 14, eff. March 31, 2021.

12VAC5-410-1175. Discharge planning.

A. Every hospital shall provide each patient admitted as an inpatient or his legal guardian the opportunity to designate an individual who will care for or assist the patient in his residence following discharge from the hospital and to whom the hospital shall provide information regarding the patient's discharge plan and any follow-up care, treatment, and services that the patient may require.

B. Every hospital upon admission shall record in the patient's medical record:

1. The name of the individual designated by the patient;

2. The relationship between the patient and the person; and

3. The person's telephone number and address.

C. If the patient fails or refuses to designate an individual to receive information regarding his discharge plan and any follow-up care, treatment, and services, the hospital shall record the patient's failure or refusal in the patient's medical record.

D. A patient may change the designated individual at any time prior to the patient's release, and the hospital shall record the changes, including the information referenced in subsection B of this section, in the patient's medical record within 24 hours of such a change.

E. Prior to discharging a patient who has designated an individual pursuant to subsection A or D of this section, the hospital shall (i) notify the designated individual of the patient's discharge, (ii) provide the designated individual with a copy of the patient's discharge plan and instructions and information regarding any follow-up care, treatment, or services that the designated individual will provide, and (iii) consult with the designated individual regarding the designated individual's ability to provide the care, treatment, or services. Such discharge plan shall include:

1. The name and contact information of the designated individual;

2. A description of follow-up care, treatment, and services that the patient requires; and

3. Information, including contact information, about any health care, long-term care, or other community-based services and supports necessary for the implementation of the patient's discharge plan.

A copy of the discharge plan and any instructions or information provided to the designated individual shall be included in the patient's medical record.

F. The hospital shall provide each individual designated pursuant to subsection A or D of this section the opportunity for a demonstration of specific follow-up care tasks that the designated individual will provide to the patient in accordance with the patient's discharge plan prior to the patient's discharge, including opportunity for the designated individual to ask questions regarding the performance of follow-up care tasks. Such opportunity shall be provided in a culturally competent manner and in the designated individual's native language.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-127 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 14, eff. April 8, 2016.

Website addresses provided in the Virginia Administrative Code to documents incorporated by reference are for the reader's convenience only, may not necessarily be active or current, and should not be relied upon. To ensure the information incorporated by reference is accurate, the reader is encouraged to use the source document described in the regulation.

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