Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 481 - Inspections and Appeals Department
Inspections Division
Chapter 51 - Hospitals
Rule 481-51.36 - Psychiatric Services

a. Be a hospital or unit primarily engaged in providing, by or under the supervision of a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, psychiatric services for the diagnosis and treatment of persons with psychiatric illnesses/disorders;

b. Meet the general and specialized rules of this chapter pertaining to general hospitals. If medical and surgical diagnostic and treatment services are not available within the institution, the institution shall have an agreement with an outside source of these services to ensure they are immediately available;

c. Have policies and procedures for informing patients of their rights and responsibilities and for ensuring the availability of a patient advocate; and

d. Have sufficient numbers of qualified professionals and support staff to evaluate patients, formulate written individualized comprehensive treatment plans, provide active treatment measures, and engage in discharge planning.

a. Director of inpatient psychiatric services. The director of inpatient psychiatric services shall be a doctor of medicine or osteopathy qualified to meet the training and experience requirements for examination by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry. The number and qualifications of doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy or advanced registered nurse practitioners certified in psychiatric or mental health nursing on staff must be adequate to provide essential psychiatric and medical services.

b. Director of psychiatric nursing services. The director of psychiatric nursing services shall:

c. Psychological services. Psychological services shall be provided or available which are in compliance with Iowa Code chapter 154B.

d. Social services. Social services shall provide, or have available by contract, at least one staff member who has:

e. Therapeutic services. Therapeutic activities shall be provided by qualified therapists. The activities shall be appropriate to the needs and interests of the patients.

a. Be based on a diagnostic and psychiatric evaluation that includes examination of the medical, psychological, social, behavioral, and developmental aspects of the patient. The initial diagnostic and psychiatric evaluation shall be completed within 60 hours of admission;

b. Be developed by an interdisciplinary team in consultation with the patient, the patient's legal guardian, and others who are currently providing services or who will provide care upon discharge;

c. State treatment objectives through measurable and obtainable outcomes;

d. Prescribe an integrated program of therapies, activities, and experiences designed to meet those objectives;

e. Include an appropriate postdischarge plan with coordination of services to provide continuity of care following discharge; and

f. Be reviewed as needed by the interdisciplinary team for the continued appropriateness of the plan and for a determination of needed changes.