Arizona Administrative Code
Title 9 - HEALTH SERVICES
Chapter 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES - HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS: LICENSING
Article 4 - NURSING CARE INSTITUTIONS
Section R9-10-427 - Quality Rating

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 9-10-427

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024

A. As required in A.R.S. § 36-425.02(A), the Department shall issue a quality rating to each licensed nursing care institution based on the results of a compliance inspection.

B. The following quality ratings are established:

1. A quality rating of "A" for excellent is issued if the nursing care institution achieves a score of 90 to 100 points,

2. A quality rating of "B" is issued if the nursing care institution achieves a score of 80 to 89 points,

3. A quality rating of "C" is issued if the nursing care institution achieves a score of 70 to 79 points, and

4. A quality rating of "D" is issued if the nursing care institution achieves a score of 69 or fewer points.

C. The quality rating is determined by the total number of points awarded based on the following criteria:

1. Nursing Services:
a. 15 points: The nursing care institution is implementing a system that ensures residents are provided nursing services to maintain the resident's highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being according to the resident's comprehensive assessment and care plan.

b. 5 points: The nursing care institution ensures that each resident is free from medication errors that resulted in actual harm.

c. 5 points: The nursing care institution ensures the resident's representative is notified and the resident's attending physician is consulted if a resident has a significant change in condition or if the resident is in an incident that requires medical services.

2. Resident Rights:
a. 10 points: The nursing care institution is implementing a system that ensures a resident's privacy needs are met.

b. 10 points: The nursing care institution ensures that a resident is free from physical and chemical restraints for purposes other than to treat the resident's medical condition.

c. 5 points: The nursing care institution ensures that a resident or the resident's representative is allowed to participate in the planning of, or decisions concerning treatment including the right to refuse treatment and to formulate a health care directive.

3. Administration:
a. 10 points: The nursing care institution has no repeat deficiencies that resulted in actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents that were cited during the last compliance inspection or a complaint investigation conducted between the last compliance inspection and the current compliance inspection.

b. 5 points: The nursing care institution is implementing a system to prevent abuse of a resident and misappropriation of resident property, investigate each allegation of abuse of a resident and misappropriation of resident's property, and report each allegation of abuse of a resident and misappropriation of resident's property to the Department and as required by A.R.S. § 46-454.

c. 5 points: The nursing care institution is implementing a quality management program that addresses nursing care institution services provided to residents, resident complaints, and resident concerns, and documents actions taken for response, resolution, or correction of issues about nursing care institution services provided to residents, resident complaints, and resident concerns.

d. 1 point: The nursing care institution is implementing a system to provide social services and a program of ongoing recreational activities to meet the resident's needs based on the resident's comprehensive assessment.

e. 1 point: The nursing care institution is implementing a system to ensure that records documenting freedom from infectious pulmonary tuberculosis are maintained for each personnel member, volunteer, and resident.

f. 2 points: The nursing care institution is implementing a system to ensure that a resident is free from unnecessary drugs.

g. 1 point: The nursing care institution is implementing a system to ensure a personnel member attends in-service education according to policies and procedures.

4. Environment and Infection Control:
a. 5 points: The nursing care institution environment is free from a condition or situation within the nursing care institution's control that may cause a resident injury.

b. 1 point: The nursing care institution establishes and maintains a pest control program that complies with A.A.C. R3-8-201(C)(4).

c. 1 point: The nursing care institution develops a written disaster plan that includes procedures for protecting the health and safety of residents.

d. 1 point: The nursing care institution ensures orientation to the disaster plan for each personnel member is completed within the first scheduled week of employment.

e. 1 point: The nursing care institution maintains a clean and sanitary environment.

f. 5 points: The nursing care institution is implementing a system to prevent and control infection.

g. 1 point: An employee cleans the employee's hands after each direct resident contact or when hand cleaning is indicated to prevent the spread of infection.

5. Food Services:
a. 1 point: The nursing care institution complies with 9 A.A.C. 8, Article 1, for food preparation, storage and handling as evidenced by a current food establishment license.

b. 3 points: The nursing care institution provides each resident with food that meets the resident's needs as specified in the resident's comprehensive assessment and care plan.

c. 2 points: The nursing care institution obtains input from each resident or the resident's representative and implements recommendations for meal planning and food choices consistent with the resident's dietary needs.

d. 2 points: The nursing care institution provides assistance to a resident who needs help in eating so that the resident's nutritional, physical, and social needs are met.

e. 1 point: The nursing care institution prepares menus at least one week in advance, conspicuously posts each menu, and adheres to each planned menu unless an uncontrollable situation such as food spoilage or non-delivery of a specified food requires substitution.

f. 1 point: The nursing care institution provides food substitution of similar nutritive value for residents who refuse the food served or who request a substitution.

D. A nursing care institution's quality rating remains in effect until a subsequent compliance inspection or complaint investigation is conducted by the Department except as provided in subsection (E).

E. If the Department issues a provisional license, the current quality rating is terminated. A provisional licensee may submit an application for a substantial compliance inspection. If the Department determines that, as a result of a substantial compliance inspection, the nursing care institution is in substantial compliance, the Department shall issue a new quality rating according to subsection (C).

F. The issuance of a quality rating does not preclude the Department from seeking a civil penalty as provided in A.R.S. § 36-431.01, or suspension or revocation of a license as provided in A.R.S. § 36-427.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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