Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 3 - Licensing and Certification
Chapter 82 - Minimum Standards for Licensure of Hospice Agencies
Subchapter E - Hospice Inpatient Facility
Section I-8247 - Requirements for Licensure of Inpatient Hospice

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code I-8247

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 12, December 20, 2024

A. Hospice inpatient services may be provided directly by the hospice or through arrangements made by the hospice. An agency is prohibited from providing hospice inpatient services only A hospice that elects to provide hospice inpatient services directly is required to be licensed as a hospice agency and sublicensed as a hospice inpatient facility Separate applications and fees are required. The application process to establish a hospice inpatient facility may be completed simultaneously with an application to provide hospice services.

B. An application packet shall be obtained from LDH.

1. A completed application packet for a hospice inpatient facility shall be submitted to and approved by LDH prior to an agency providing hospice services.

2. The application submitted shall include the current licensing fee plus any bed fees. All fees shall be in the form of a company check, certified check or money order made payable to LDH. All fees submitted are non-refundable. All state-owned hospice facilities are exempt from fees.

3. The license shall be conspicuously displayed in the hospice inpatient facility.

4. Each initial applicant or an existing hospice inpatient facility requesting a change of address shall have approval from the following offices prior to an on-site survey by this department.

a. Office of Public Health-Local Health Unit. All hospice inpatient facilities shall comply with the rules, LAC Title 51, Public Health-Sanitary Code and enforcement policies as promulgated by OPH. It shall be the primary responsibility of OPH to determine if applicants are complying with those requirements. No initial license shall be issued without the applicant furnishing a certificate from OPH that such an applicant is complying with their provisions. A provisional license may be issued to the applicant if OPH issues the applicant a conditional certificate.

b. Office of the State Fire Marshal. All hospice inpatient facilities shall comply with the rules, established fire protection standards and enforcement policies as promulgated by OSFM. It shall be the primary responsibility of OSFM to determine if applicants are complying with those requirements. No license shall be issued or renewed without the applicant furnishing a certificate from OSFM that such applicant is complying with their provisions. A provisional license may be issued to the applicant if OSFM issues the applicant a conditional certificate.

C. New constructions shall be reviewed by OSFM for compliance with the applicable hospice licensing rules.

1. All new construction, other than minor alterations for a hospice inpatient facility, shall be done in accordance with the specific requirements of OSFM and OPH regulations covering new construction, including submission of preliminary plans and the final work drawings and specifications shall also be submitted prior to any change in facility type.

2. No new hospice inpatient facility shall be constructed, nor shall major alterations be made to existing hospice inpatient facilities, or change in facility type be made without the prior written approval of, and unless in accordance with plans and specifications approved in advance by the Department of Health and the Office of State Fire Marshal. The review and approval of plans and specifications shall be made in accordance with the requirements of OSFM to include:

a. copies of the approval letters of the architectural and the licensing facility plans from OSFM and any other office/entity designated by the department to review and approve the facilitys architectural and licensing plan review;

b. a copy of the on-site inspection report with approval for occupancy by OSFM, if applicable; and

c. a copy of the on-site health inspection report with approval for occupancy from OPH. Before any new hospice inpatient facility is licensed or before any alteration or expansion of a licensed hospice inpatient facility can be approved, the applicant shall furnish one complete set of plans and specifications to OSFM, with fees and other information as required. Plans and specifications for new construction other than minor alterations shall be prepared by or under the direction of a licensed architect and/or a qualified licensed engineer.

3. Notice of satisfactory review from OPH and OSFM for Life Safety Code (LSC) approval and licensing plan review constitutes compliance with this requirement if construction begins within 180 days of the date of such notice. This approval shall in no way permit and/or authorize any omission or deviation from the requirements of any restrictions, laws, regulations, ordinances, codes, or rules of any responsible agency.

4. Repealed.

D. An agency seeking to renew its license shall:

1. request a renewal application packet from LDH if one is not received at least 45 days prior to the license expiration date;

2. submit a renewal application packet annually accompanied by the current licensing fee plus any applicable bed fees.

E. An inpatient hospice facility shall maintain proof of compliance with all applicable local codes and ordinances governing health, fire, safety, and zoning regulations.

F. An agency shall notify LDH, in writing, prior to a change in name of the agency, address change, or a change in the number of beds.

1. A fee shall be submitted for a replacement license when a change occurs such as name change, address change, or a bed change.

2. The new facility location shall meet the same licensing requirements as those required for an initial survey including approval of building plans by OSFM and OPH.

G. A hospice that provides inpatient hospice services directly is required to provide or make arrangements for all hospice services on both an outpatient and an inpatient level including routine home care, continuous home care, respite care, and general inpatient care.

H. Hospice inpatient facilities and any facility that provides hospice services shall be maintained in a manner which provides for maintaining personal hygiene of the patients and implementation of infection control procedures.

I. Equipment and furnishings in an inpatient facility shall provide for the health care needs of the patient while providing a home-like atmosphere.

J. Services provided in the inpatient facility are consistent with the plan of care prepared for that patient and areconsistent with services provided by the hospice program in other settings.

K. The hospice provider shall ensure that each patient residing in an inpatient facility has an identified hospice staff member who will serve as that patient's principle advocate and contact person.

L. The hospice inpatient facility shall ensure the following:

1. the facility meets appropriate licensing, regulatory, and certification requirements;

2. the facility has an acceptable, written all hazards risk assessment and emergency preparedness plan. The plan shall include:

a. the frequency/schedule for periodically rehearsing the plan with the staff;

b. the assignment of personnel for specific responsibilities;

c. the procedures for prompt identification and transfer of patients and records to an appropriate facility;

i. in the event of an evacuation, the facility shall have a method to release patient information consistent with the HIPAA Privacy Rule;

d. fire and/or other emergency drills, in accordance with the LSC;

e. procedures covering persons in the facility and in the community in cases of all hazards (i.e., hurricanes, tornadoes, floods); and

f. arrangements with community resources in the event of a disaster;

3. the facility shall design and equip areas for the comfort and privacy of each patient and family members. The facility shall have the following:

a. physical space for private patient/family visiting;

b. accommodations for family members to remain with the patient throughout the night;

c. accommodations for family privacy after a patient's death;

d. decor which is homelike in design and function; and

e. patients shall be permitted to receive visitors at any hour, including small children;

4. patient rooms are designed and equipped for adequate nursing care and the comfort and privacy of patients. Each patients room shall:

a. be equipped with toilet and bathing facilities;

b. be equipped with a lavatory in each patient's toilet room or in each bedroom;

c. be at or above grade level;

d. contain room decor that is homelike and non-institutional in design and function. Room furnishings for each patient shall include a bed with side rails, a bedside stand, an over-the-bed table, an individual reading light easily accessible to each patient and a comfortable chair. The patient shall be permitted to bring personal items of furniture or furnishings into their rooms unless medically inappropriate;

e. have closet space that provides security and privacy for clothing and personal belongings;

f. contain no more than 4 beds;

g. measure at least 100 square feet for a single patient room or 80 square feet for each patient for a multi patient room; and

h. be equipped with a device for calling the staff member on duty. A call bell or other communication mechanism shall be placed within easy reach of the patient and shall be functioning properly. A call bell shall be provided in each patient toilet, bath, and shower room;

5. the hospice inpatient facility shall:

a. provide an adequate supply of hot water at all times for patient use;

b. have plumbing fixtures with control valves that automatically regulate the temperature of the hot water used by patients; and

c. designate a staff member responsible for monitoring and logging water temperatures at least monthly. This person is responsible for reporting any problems to the administrator;

6. the hospice inpatient facility shall have available at all times a quantity of linen essential for proper care and comfort of patients. Linens are handled, stored, processed, and transported in such a manner as to prevent the spread of infection. The facility shall have a clean linen storage area;

a. the linen supply shall be adequate to accommodate the number of beds and the number of incontinent patients on a daily basis, including week-ends and holidays;

b. soiled linen and clothing shall be collected and enclosed in suitable bags or containers in well ventilated areas, separate from clean linen and not permitted to accumulate in the facility;

c. the hospice inpatient facility shall have policies and procedures that address:

i. frequency of linen changes;

ii. storage of clean linen; and

iii. storage of soiled linen;

7. the hospice inpatient facility shall make provisions for isolating patients with infectious diseases. The hospice should institute the most current recommendations of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relative to the specific infection(s) and communicable disease(s). The hospice provisions for isolating patients with infectious diseases shall include:

a. definition of nosocomial infections and communicable diseases;

b. measures for assessing and identifying patients and health care workers at risk for infections and communicable diseases;

c. measures for prevention of infections, especially those associated with immunosuppressed patients and other factors which compromise a patients resistance to infection;

d. measures for prevention of communicable disease outbreaks, especially tuberculosis;

e. provision of a safe environment consistent with the current CDC recommendations for the identified infection and/or communicable disease;

f. isolation procedures and requirements for infected or immunosuppressed patients;

g. use and techniques for universal precautions;

h. methods for monitoring and evaluating practice of asepsis;

i. care of contaminated laundry, i.e., clearly marked bags and separate handling procedures;

j. care of dishes and utensils, i.e., clearly marked and handled separately;

k. use of any necessary gowns, gloves or masks posted and observed by staff, visitors, and anyone else in contact with the patient; and

l. techniques for hand washing, respiratory protection, asepsis sterilization, disinfection, needle disposal, solid waste disposal, as well as any other means for limiting the spread of contagion;

m. orientation of all new hospice personnel to infections, to communicable diseases and to the infection control program; and

n. employee health policies regarding infectious diseases, and when infected or ill employees shall not render direct patient care;

8. the hospice inpatient facility should isolate infected patients only to the degree needed to isolate the infecting organism. The method should be the least restrictive possible while maintaining the integrity of the process and the dignity of the patient;

9. the hospice inpatient facility shall provide the following:

a. storage for administrative supplies;

b. hand washing facilities located convenient to each nurses station and medication distribution station;

c. charting facilities for staff at each nurses' station;

d. a "clean" workroom which contains a work counter, sink, storage facilities and covered waste receptacles;

e. a "soiled" workroom for receiving and cleanup of equipment;

f. parking for stretchers and wheelchairs in an area out of the path of normal traffic and of adequate size for the facility;

g. a janitor's closet which contains a floor receptor with mop hooks over the sink and storage space for housekeeping equipment and supplies;

h. a multi-purpose lounge or lounges shall be provided suitable and furnished for: reception, recreation, dining, visitation, group social activities, and worship. Such lounge or lounges shall be located convenient to the patient rooms designed to be served;

i. a conference and consultation room shall be provided which is suitable and furnished for family privacy, including conjugal visit rooms, clergy visitations, counseling, and viewing of a deceased patient's body during bereavement. The conference and consultation room shall be located convenient to the patient rooms it is designed to serve;

j. public telephone and restrooms shall be provided.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:2181-2191.

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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