Sec. 242.403. STANDARDS FOR QUALITY OF LIFE AND QUALITY OF CARE

(a) The department shall adopt standards to implement Sections 242.401 and 242.402. Those standards must, at a minimum, address:

(1) admission of residents;

(2) care of residents younger than 18 years of age;

(3) an initial assessment and comprehensive plan of care for residents;

(4) transfer or discharge of residents;

(5) clinical records;

(6) infection control at the institution;

(7) rehabilitative services;

(8) food services;

(9) nutrition services provided by a director of food services who is licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians or, if not so licensed, who is in scheduled consultation with a person who is so licensed as frequently and for such time as the department shall determine necessary to assure each resident a diet that meets the daily nutritional and special dietary needs of each resident;

(10) social services and activities;

(11) prevention of pressure sores;

(12) bladder and bowel retraining programs for residents;

(13) prevention of complications from nasogastric or gastrotomy tube feedings;

(14) relocation of residents within an institution;

(15) postmortem procedures; and

(16) appropriate use of chemical and physical restraints.

(b) The department may require an institution to submit information to the department, including Minimum Data Set Resident Assessments, necessary to ensure the quality of care in institutions. Information submitted to the department that identifies a resident of an institution is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

(c) The department may adopt standards in addition to those required by Subsection (a) to implement Sections 242.401 and 242.402.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1159, Sec. 1.30, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 667 , Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.