Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. A
nursing facility shall provide medically related social services to attain or
maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being
of each resident.
B. It is the
responsibility of the nursing facility to identify the medically-related social
service needs of the resident and assure that the needs are met by the
appropriate disciplines.
C. A
nursing facility with more than 120 beds shall employ a qualified psychosocial
worker on a full-time basis.
1. Qualifications
of a Social Worker. A qualified social worker shall have:
a. a bachelors degree in social work or a
bachelors degree in a human services field including but not limited to:
sociology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, and psychology;
and
b. one year of supervised
social work experience in a health care setting working directly with
individuals.
D.
A nursing facility with 120 beds or less shall designate at least one staff
member as social services designee (SSD). The SSD is responsible for assuring
that the medically-related social services needs of each resident are
identified and met by the appropriate disciplines.
1. The individual responsible for provision
of social services shall:
a. arrange for
social services from outside sources or by furnishing the services
directly;
b. integrate social
services with other elements of the plan or care; and
c. complete a social history.
E. Social History. The
SSD shall complete, date, and sign a social history on applicants/residents
within seven days after their admission. The history shall include but shall
not be limited to the following information:
1. background:
a. age, sex, and marital status;
b. birthplace;
c. religion;
d. cultural and ethnic background;
e. occupation;
f. education;
g. special training or skills; and
h. primary language; and
2. social functioning:
a. living situation and address before
admission;
b. names and
relationships with family and friends;
c. involvements with organizations and
individuals within the community; and
d. feelings about admission to the nursing
facility.
F.
Social Needs Assessment
1. The SSD shall also
identify and document the needs and medically related social/emotional problems
within 14 days after admission.
2.
The social services assessment shall become a component of the plan of care
written in conjunction with other disciplines and shall be filed in the active
medical record.
3. If the initial
social assessment concludes that there are no problems or unmet social needs,
the social assessment shall state that no social services are
required.
G.
Participation in Interdisciplinary Staffing. The SSD shall participate in the
interdisciplinary staffing.
H.
Social Services Progress Notes. Social services progress notes shall:
1. be recorded as often as necessary to
document services provided, but at least every 90 days (quarterly) in nursing
facilities and as often as necessary to describe changes in social
conditions;
2. document the degree
of involvement of family and friends, interaction with staff and other
residents, and adjustment to the nursing facility and roommate(s);
3. reflect the social needs and
functioning;
4. document services
in the plan of care are actually being provided; and
5. remain in the active medical chart for
three to six months.
I.
Vision and Hearing. The nursing facility shall assist the resident in:
1. making appointments;
2. arranging for transportation to and from
appointments; and
3. locating
assistance from community and charitable organizations when payment is not
available through Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance.
J. Dental
1. The nursing facility shall provide or
obtain from an outside resource, the following dental services to meet the
needs of each resident:
a. routine dental
services to the extent covered under the state plan; and
b. emergency dental services.
2. The nursing facility shall, if
necessary, assist the resident:
a. in making
appointments;
b. in arranging for
transportation to and from the dentists office; and
c. by promptly referring residents with lost
or damaged dentures to a dentist.
K. The nursing facility shall establish
policies and procedures for ensuring the confidentiality of all social
information. Records shall reflect each referral to an outside agency and shall
include the applicant/resident's written consent to release the
information.
L. The same
qualifications apply to Medicare skilled nursing facilities.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
40:2009.1-2116.
