Code of Massachusetts Regulations
105 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Title 105 CMR 164.000 - Licensure of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
Part ONE - LICENSING AND APPROVAL PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS
Licensee Administration and Organization
Section 164.062 - All Hazard and Emergency Planning and Procedures

Universal Citation: 105 CMR 164.000 MA Code of Regs 164.062

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

(A) The Licensed or Approved Provider shall establish a written plan for response to emergencies, which must include:

(1) Said plan shall be formulated on an all-hazards approach: provide for response to internal, local, community, state, regional or national emergencies, regardless of cause (natural or man-made).

(2) The plan shall include a mechanism for review of all services furnished by the Licensed or Approved Provider, and how those services will be affected by and changed to address the emergency to which they would potentially respond.

(3) The plan shall document the Licensed or Approved Provider's communications with community emergency management and response agencies.

(4) The plan shall include at a minimum the provisions described in 105 CMR 164.062(B)(1) through (8).

(B) Specification of roles and responsibilities of program staff in the event of an emergency, including the sequence of authority in the event executive leadership is unavailable. The chain of command shall describe duties related to emergencies, including:

(1) internal communication and notification of the emergency, including notice to all staff, patients, residents, and the Department;

(2) instructions related to use of alarm systems and signals;

(3) instructions for evacuation of the building;

(4) notification of and liaison to local emergency management and response agencies;

(5) where evacuation of the locality is necessary, overseeing evacuation of patients or residents and staff to designated evacuation/relocation sites;

(6) where evacuation of the facility is not appropriate, shelter-in-place procedures and plans to implement any procedures that are responsive to an extended state of emergency;

(7) ensuring security of program records; and

(8) controlling access to the facility.

(C) Facility offices and waiting areas must display the names and telephone number of individuals, such as physicians, hospitals, emergency medical technicians, who should be contacted in case of emergency or utilize 911 or similar local emergency resources. A mechanism to address patient medical or psychiatric emergencies occurring outside of program hours of operation must be provided, including the establishment of an emergency contact system to obtain dosage levels and other pertinent patient information on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week basis, as appropriate under confidentiality regulations.

(D) Establishment of an emergency communication system specifying responsibility for:

(1) notifying staff;

(2) notifying patients and residents; and

(3) notifying the Department.

(E) Identification of local and state emergency management and response agencies, including location, phone numbers and emergency contact information.

(F) Relocation of Staff and Patients and Residents in the Event of an Evacuation. Such plan shall identify the local evacuation sites and procedures, and shall specify provisions for evacuation of individuals whose mobility is impaired and/or who require adaptive equipment. The Licensed or Approved Provider shall determine, and document, any restrictions that may apply to evacuation sites.

(G) Maintenance of Essential Services. Licensed or Approved Providers who store and/or dispense medications shall include provisions for safe storage of medication as well as for continuity of service to patients and residents. Licensed or Approved Providers must ensure continuity of essential services through modification of operations, subject to approval by the Department, which are specific to the type of the applicable emergency.

(H) Provision for Continuity of Care for Existing Residents and Patients. Licensed or Approved Providers may develop cooperative plans with other substance abuse treatment programs in the community to provide for continuity of care.

(I) Safe Storage and Retrieval of Program Records. This plan shall include provision for regular backup and separate fireproof storage of electronic records.

(J) Preparation of staff, patients, and residents through periodic training, drills, and review and active updating of procedures. Training and drills must be responsive to a reasonable variety of emergencies.

(K) Licensed or Approved Provider's response to community need for substance use disorder treatment service as a result of the emergency. Said response may be established in coordination with other substance use disorder treatment services, programs or facilities in the Licensed or Approved Provider's community.

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