Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 3 - Licensing and Certification
Chapter 53 - Level III Crisis Receiving Centers
Subchapter I - Physical Environment
Section I-5397 - Interior Space

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code I-5397

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. The CRC shall:

1. have a physical environment that protects the health, safety and security of the clients;

2. have routine maintenance and cleaning programs in all areas of the center;

3. be well-lit, clean, and ventilated;

4. conduct a risk assessment of each client and the physical environment of the facility in order to ensure the safety and well-being of all clients admitted to the facility;

5. maintain its physical environment, including, but not limited to, all equipment, fixtures, plumbing, electrical, and furnishings, in good order and safe condition in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations;

6. maintain heating, ventilation and cooling systems in good order and safe condition to ensure a comfortable environment;

7. ensure that electric receptacles in client care areas are tamper-resistant or equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters; and

8. maintain separate wings or units for voluntary and involuntary individuals to include areas for admissions, sleeping, shower and toilet areas, and sally ports or other entry areas. Further, the CRC shall provide separate areas (which may be accomplished by providing areas to voluntary individuals at different times than to involuntary individuals) for dining, recreational, educational, vocational, health care, and passageways, for voluntary and involuntary individuals.

B. Common Area. The CRC shall have designated space:

1. to be used for group meetings, dining, visitation, leisure and recreational activities;

2. that is at least 25 square feet per client and no less than 150 square feet exclusive of sleeping areas, bathrooms, areas restricted to staff and office areas; and

3. that contains tables for eating meals.

C. Bathrooms

1. Each bathroom to be used by clients shall contain:
a. a lavatory with:
i. paper towels or an automatic dryer;

ii. a soap dispenser with soap for individual use; and

iii. a wash basin with hot and cold running water;

b. tubs and/or showers that:
i. have hot and cold water;

ii. have slip proof surfaces; and

iii. allow for individual privacy;

c. toilets:
i. an adequate supply of toilet paper;

ii. with seats; and

iii. that allow for individual privacy;

d. a sink, tub or shower and toilet for the number of clients and in accordance with the Louisiana Sanitary Code;

e. shatterproof mirrors secured to the walls at convenient heights;

f. plumbing, piping, ductwork, and that are recessed or enclosed in order to be inaccessible to clients; and

g. other furnishings necessary to meet the clients' basic hygienic needs.

2. A CRC shall have at least one separate toilet and lavatory facility for the staff.

D. Sleeping Areas and Bedroom(s)

1. A CRC that utilizes a sleeping area for multiple clients shall:
a. ensure that the sleeping area has at least 60 square feet per bed of clear floor area and does not contain or utilize bunk beds; and

b. shall maintain at least one separate bedroom.

2. Bedrooms. A CRC that utilizes individual bedrooms shall ensure that each bedroom:
a. accommodates no more than one client; and

b. has at least 80 square feet of clear floor area.

3. The CRC shall ensure that each client:
a. has sufficient separate storage space for clothing, toilet articles and other personal belongings of clients;

b. has sheets, pillow, bedspread, towels, washcloths and blankets that are:
i. intact and in good repair;

ii. systematically removed from use when no longer usable;

iii. clean;

iv. provided as needed or when requested unless the request is unreasonable;

c. is given a bed for individual use that:
i. is no less than 30 inches wide;

ii. is of solid construction;

iii. has a clean, comfortable, impermeable, nontoxic and fire retardant mattress; and

iv. is appropriate to the size and age of the client.

E. Administrative and Staff Areas

1. The CRC shall maintain a space that is distinct from the client common areas that serves as an office for administrative functions.

2. The CRC shall have a designated space for nurses and other staff to complete tasks, be accessible to clients and to observe and monitor client activity within the unit.

F. Counseling and Treatment Area

1. The CRC shall have a designated space to allow for private physical examination that is exclusive of sleeping areas and common spaces.

2. The CRC shall have a designated space to allow for private and small group discussions and counseling sessions between individual clients and staff that is exclusive of sleeping areas and common space.

3. The CRC may utilize the same space for the counseling area and examination area.

G. Seclusion Room

1. The CRC shall have at least one seclusion room that:
a. is for no more than one client; and

b. allows for continual visual observation and monitoring of the client either:
i. directly; or

ii. by a combination of video and audio;

c. has a monolithic ceiling;

d. is a minimum of 80 square feet; and

e. contains a stationary restraint bed that is secure to the floor;

f. flat walls that are free of any protrusions with angles;

g. does not contain electrical receptacles.

H. Kitchen

1. If a CRC prepares meals on-site, the CRC shall have a full service kitchen that:
a. includes a cooktop, oven, refrigerator, freezer, hand washing station, storage and space for meal preparation;

b. complies with OPH regulations;

c. has the equipment necessary for the preparation, serving, storage and clean-up of all meals regularly served to all of the clients and staff;

d. contains trash containers covered and made of metal or United Laboratories-approved plastic; and

e. maintains the sanitation of dishes.

2. A CRC that does not provide a full service kitchen accessible to staff 24 hours per day shall have a nourishment station or a kitchenette, restricted to staff only, in which staff may prepare nourishments for clients, that includes:
a. a kitchen sink;

b. a work counter;

c. a refrigerator;

d. storage cabinets;

e. equipment for preparing hot and cold nourishments between scheduled meals; and

f. space for trays and dishes used for non-scheduled meal service.

3. A CRC may utilize ice making equipment if the ice maker:
a. is self-dispensing; or

b. is in an area restricted to staff only.

I. Laundry

1. The CRC shall have an automatic washer and dryer for use by staff when laundering clients' clothing.

2. The CRC shall have:
a. provisions to clean and launder soiled linen, other than client clothing, either on-site or off-site by written agreement;

b. a separate area for holding soiled linen until it is laundered; and

c. a clean linen storage area.

J. Storage:

1. the CRC shall have separate and secure storage areas that are inaccessible to clients for the following:
a. client possessions that may not be accessed during their stay;

b. hazardous, flammable and/or combustible materials; and

2. records and other confidential information.

K. Furnishings

1. The CRC shall ensure that its furnishings are:
a. designed to suit the size, age and functional status of the clients;

b. in good repair;

c. clean;

d. promptly repaired or replaced if defective, rundown or broken.

L. Hardware, Fixtures and other Protrusions

1. If grab bars are used, the CRC shall ensure that the space between the bar and the wall shall be filled to prevent a cord from being tied around it.

2. All hardware as well as sprinkler heads, lighting fixtures and other protrusions shall be:
a. recessed or of a design to prohibit client access; and

b.tamper-resistant.

3. Towel bars, shower curtain rods, clothing rods and hooks are prohibited.

M. Ceilings

1. The CRC shall ensure that the ceiling is:
a. no less than 7.5 feet high and secured from access; or

b. at least 9 feet in height; and

c. all overhead plumbing, piping, duct work or other potentially hazardous elements shall be concealed above the ceiling.

N. Doors and Windows

1. All windows shall be fabricated with laminated safety glass or protected by polycarbonate, laminate or safety screens.

2. Door hinges shall be designed to minimize points for hanging.

3. Except for specifically designed anti-ligature hardware, door handles shall point downward in the latched or unlatched position.

4. All hardware shall have tamper-resistant fasteners.

5. The center shall ensure that outside doors, windows and other features of the structure necessary for safety and comfort of individuals:
a. are secured for safety;

b. prohibit clients from gaining unauthorized egress;

c. prohibit an outside from gaining unauthorized ingress;

d. if in disrepair, not accessible to clients until repaired; and

e. repaired as soon as possible.

6. The facility shall ensure that all closets, bedrooms and bathrooms for clients that are equipped with doors do not have locks and can be readily opened from both sides.

O. Observation Area(s)

1. The CRC shall have one or more spaces for the placement of chair/recliners in an observation area. This space may be of a permanent configuration or may be rearranged based on the needs of the clients in the CRC. There shall be at least three feet between each chair and at least six feet at the foot of each chair/recliner. The head of the chair/recliner may be positioned at a wall.

P. Smoking

1. The CRC shall prohibit smoking in the interior of the center.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and R.S. 40:2180.14.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana 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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