Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0465 - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Subtitle 0465-02 - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Department of
Chapter 0465-02-01 - Definitions
Section 0465-02-01-.01 - DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN ALL RULES

(1) "Adaptive Behavior" means the effectiveness or degree with which a person supported meets the standard of personal independence, maturation, learning, and social responsibility expected for his/her age and cultural group.

(2) "Agency" means a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or limited liability partnership providing personal support services or support coordination as defined below. Agency includes all entities that employ or subcontract with individuals who provide personal support services or support coordination for persons supported.

(3) "Applicant or Licensee Applicant" means the proprietorship, partnership, association, governmental agency, or corporation which makes, or is required to make, application for the licensure of a facility/service determined to be under the licensure jurisdiction of the Department.

(4) "Assessment" means a documented evaluation of a person supported for the purpose of determining prevention, treatment, and/or rehabilitation needs. An assessment may, but does not necessarily, include examinations and tests determined to be necessary by the service staff based on the presenting problems and symptoms of the person supported.

(5) "Aversive Stimuli" means painful or noxious stimuli, which are employed to reduce the frequency of or to eliminate problem behaviors.

(6) "Behavior Management Drugs" means a drug or medication used for the purpose of modifying, limiting, or eliminating problem behaviors. Included are antipsychotic drugs/antipsychotics, antianxiety drugs, and antidepressants. Excluded are drugs that may have behavior-modifying effects, but are not prescribed or administered for that purpose, such as anticonvulsants.

(7) "Capable of Self-Preservation" means that a person supported is capable of responding to an approved emergency signal, including prompting by voice, by following a pre-taught evacuation procedure within a reasonable time limitation whether or not he/she is fully aware of the reasons for the action. A person supported is capable of self-preservation if they are able to transfer unassisted from a bed or another fixed position to an individualized means of mobility, which is continuously available, and able to demonstrate the ability to transverse a pre-defined means of egress from the facility or dwelling within a reasonable time limitation. Persons supported who have security measures imposed upon them beyond their control, which prevent their egress from the facility or dwelling, are not capable of self-preservation.

(8) "Caregiver" means a temporary care-giving adult individual with power of attorney or form provided by the Department of Children Services for care of minor child as defined by T.C.A. § 34-6-302.

(9) "Case Management" means support provided for obtaining eligibility for service, assessment, development and evaluation and revision of the plan of care and the assistance with the selection and coordination of services and providers for persons who are supported, including those in the Self-Determination Waiver.

(10) "Center Based Environment" means a congregate setting where services are rendered. This setting is subject to life safety inspections, which vary dependent upon the applicable occupancy classification.

(11) "Chief Executive Officer or Director" means the individual appointed, designated, or hired by the governing body to be responsible for the licensee's day-to-day operation.

(12) "Civil Rights" means the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to citizens by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Tennessee, and by federal and state statutes. Licensees are encouraged to adopt the principles contained within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights found at www.un.org.

(13) "Community/Home Based Environment" means a non-congregate setting where services are rendered. This environment is not subject to life safety inspections, as the corporate office is the licensed setting.

(14) "Community Living Skills" means the array of skills which enables a person supported to live independently in the community. These include, but are not limited to, skills in the following areas:

(15) "Conservator" means an individual or individuals or a corporation appointed by the court to exercise the decision-making rights and duties of a person with a disability in one or more areas in which he/she lacks capacity as determined and required by the orders of the court.

(16) "Corporal Punishment" means the application of painful stimuli to the body in an attempt to terminate behavior or as a penalty for behavior, but does not mean aversive stimuli.

(17) "Chronic Condition" means a mental and/or physical impairment that is expected to last indefinitely.

(18) "Department" or "DIDD" means the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

(19) "Direct Support Staff" means licensee personnel who have, face-to-face contact with persons supported, excluding administrators, bookkeepers, accountants, secretaries, typists, clerks, or other clerical personnel, doctors, nurses, psychologists, speech and language therapists, pharmacy and other professional support personnel, maintenance, groundskeepers, cooks, bus drivers, or other personnel, teachers, trainers, social workers, and other professional personnel, unless such personnel are under specific assignment to direct services staff duties and then only for that amount of time devoted to direct support staff duties.

(20) "DSM" means the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, a handbook for mental health professionals listing different categories of mental disorders and the criteria for diagnosing them.

(21) "Education Services" means consultation provided by a licensed nurse to the person supported or primary family caregiver concerning a chronic condition.

(22) "Emergency Procedures" means the use of procedures necessary to control severely aggressive or destructive behaviors that could not have been anticipated and that place the person supported or others in imminent danger.

(23) "Emotional Abuse" means any threatening behavior or statement directed toward a person supported that causes emotional trauma or fear including, but not limited to, humiliation, harassment, threats of punishment or deprivation, intimidation or demeaning or derogatory communication (vocal, written, gestures), including verbal abuse, directed to or within eyesight or audible range of the person supported.

(24) "Emotional Harm" means psychological distress which may include; fear, anxiety, stress, trauma, humiliation, depression or grief. Such a response may or may not be visible in people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

(25) "Exploitation" means any act intended to exploit, extort, or defraud a person supported including, but not limited to deliberate misplacement, misappropriation or wrongful temporary or permanent use of belongings or money (the loss of $50.00 or more within a 60 day calendar period) with or without the consent of the person supported. The illegal or improper use of the resources or status of the person supported for another's benefit or advantage.

(26) "Facility" means an institution, treatment resource, group residence, boarding home, sheltered workshop, activity center, rehabilitation center, hospital, or other entity by these or other names, providing intellectual and/or developmental disabilities services.

(27) "Governing Body" means an individual or individuals with primary legal authority and responsibility for the overall operation and to whom a director/chief executive officer is responsible. Depending upon the organizational structure, this body may be an owner or owners, a board of directors or other governing members of the licensee, or state, city, or county officials appointed by the licensee, etc.

(28) "Grievance Procedure" means a procedure for responding to an expression of a cause of distress believed by a person supported, or by acting on behalf of a person supported, to constitute a reason for complaint.

(29) "Guardian" means an individual or individuals appointed by a court to provide partial or full supervision, protection and assistance of the person or property, or both, of a minor as defined by T.C.A. § 34-1-101(9).

(30) "Habilitation or Habilitative Services" means the structured process by which the service provider assists a person supported to acquire and maintain those life skills which enable them to cope more effectively with the demands of his/her disability and the environment, and to raise the physical, mental, and social skills. This process includes programs of formal, structured education and training as described in the ISP.

(31) "Hold Out to the Public" means asserting expertise and availability through advertising, public notice, self-promotion, etc.

(32) "Human Rights Committee" means a designated group of people which consists of at least three (3) members, one (1) of whom must be independent of the licensee. The committee's function is to review the licensee's activities to ensure that the rights of the person supported are not suppressed, neglected, or abused.

(33) "ICD" means the current version of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, published by the World Health Organization. The ICD provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease.

(34) "Independent Living Skills" means the complete continuum of skills involved in increasing independence. These include, but are not limited to, the following areas: grooming/personal hygiene, selection/care of clothing, responsible self-medication, personal safety, housekeeping, nutritional/meal preparation, eating/table manners, use of telephone, and money/budgeting concepts.

(35) "Individual Support Plan" (ISP) means a document developed by the ISP team/circle of support and the person supported, which identifies the needs of the person supported and specifies goals to be addressed in treatment and the interventions used to accomplish these goals. ISPs may also be referred to as a Plan of Care, Person Centered Support Plan, Support Plan, Individual Family Support Plan, etc.

(36) "Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Professional" means an individual with a bachelor's degree in a field related to developmental disabilities or an individual with a bachelor's degree and two (2) years of supervised work in the field of intellectual or developmental disabilities.

(37) "Intellectual Disabilities / Developmental Disabilities Services" means all services pertaining to and incidental to the prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, domiciliary care, training, habilitation, counseling, or supervision of a person supported with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

(38) "Legend Drugs" mean any item that federal law prohibits dispensing without a prescription from a licensed doctor, dentist, optometrist, or veterinarian, as defined in T.C.A. § 53-10-101.

(39) "Licensed Clinical Psychologist" means a psychologist licensed to practice psychology in Tennessee with the certified competency in clinical psychology determined by the Board of Examiners in Psychology.

(40) "Licensed Practitioner" means an individual who is licensed by the Tennessee Health Related Boards as a:

(41) "Licensee" means the proprietorship, partnership, association, governmental agency, or corporation which provides a service under the licensure jurisdiction of the Department.

(42) "Major Life Activities" means:

(43) "Medication" means drug, either prescribed or available over the counter, intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease or condition.

(44) "Medication Administration" means giving the person supported injections or any form of medication or administration that would only be appropriate and acceptable for individuals who are authorized to do so by T.C.A., Title 63 or rules and regulations of the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners or the Tennessee Board of Nursing and in a manner prescribed under Departmental Rules.

(45) "Medication Assistance" means providing medication reminders and opening medication packaging, but does not mean giving the person supported injections or any form of medication or medication administration that would only be appropriate and acceptable for individuals who are authorized to do so by Title 63, Chapter 7 of the T.C.A. Medication assistance includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(46) "Mobile Non-Ambulatory" means a person who is able, without other assistance, to transfer to and move about only with the aid of a wheelchair, walker, crutch, wheeled platform, or similar device.

(47) "On-Duty and On-Site" means a staff person who is on the premises and has the obligation to carry out any job responsibilities designated in his/her job description.

(48) "On-Site" means a staff person who is on the premises, but is only required to be on duty during an emergency.

(49) "Person Supported" means a service recipient defined under T.C.A. § 33-1-101(23) as a person who is receiving services, has applied for services, or for whom someone has applied for or proposed services because the person has intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

(50) "Person Who is Ambulatory" means a person who is physically and mentally capable under emergency conditions of finding a way to safety without physical assistance from another person. A person who is ambulatory may use a cane, wheelchair or other supportive device and may require verbal prompting.

(51) "Personal Care" means services provided to a person supported who does not require chronic or convalescent medical or nursing care. Personal care may include, but are not limited to, any of the following services:

(52) "Personal Support Services" means one or more of the following are services provided at the regular or temporary residence of the person supported to assist with activities of daily living. Personal support services include, but are not limited to:

(53) "Personal Support Services Agency" means a sole proprietorship (someone who owns an unincorporated business by him/herself), partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership providing personal support services.

(54) "Personal Support Services Worker" or "Worker" means a person licensed as a personal support services agency, or an employee for an individual subcontracted by a personal support services agency who is providing personal support services under an arrangement between a person supported and a personal support services agency.

(55) "Physical Abuse" means actions including, but not limited to, any physical motion or action by which physical harm, pain or emotional harm. Also included is the use of excessive force when restraining a person supported (e.g., using methods to restrain them which are not outlined in staff training) and acts which constitute sexual activity.

(56) "Physician" means a graduate of an accredited medical school authorized to confer upon graduates the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) who is duly licensed in Tennessee or an osteopathic physician who is a graduate of a recognized osteopathic college authorized to confer the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) and who is licensed to practice osteopathic medicine in Tennessee.

(57) "Physician Assistant" means an individual who renders services, whether diagnostic or therapeutic, which are acts constituting the practice of medicine and, but for the provisions of T.C.A. § 63-6-204, could only be performed by a licensed physician.

(58) "Policies and Procedures Manual" means a document that describes the philosophy, services, organization, policies, and procedures for the provision and implementation of services for the person supported provided by the licensee.

(59) "PRN" means an order which is written to allow a medication or a treatment to be given on an as-needed basis.

(60) "Psychiatrist" means a physician who specializes in the assessment and treatment of persons diagnosed with psychiatric disorders; is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or has the documented equivalent in education, training and/or experience; and who is fully licensed to practice medicine in the State of Tennessee.

(61) "Psychotropic Drug/Medication" means a drug which exercises a direct effect upon the central nervous system and which is capable of influencing and modifying behavior. Drugs covered by these rules include but are not limited to:

(62) "Qualified Dietician" means a person licensed as a dietician/nutritionist by the Tennessee Board of Dietician/Nutritionist Examiners.

(63) "Qualified Food Service Manager" means a qualified dietician, a graduate of a dietetic technician or assistant training program approved by the American Dietetic Association, or a graduate of a state-approved course that provides ninety (90) or more hours of classroom instruction in food service supervision, who has experience as a supervisor in a health care institution with consultation from a qualified dietician.

(64) "Qualified Medical Records Practitioner" means a record technician (ART) currently accredited by the American Medical Records Association, or a registered record administrator (RRA) currently registered by the American Medical Record Association, or others qualified by work experience.

(65) "Qualified Prescribers" means individuals authorized to prescribe medications by the State of Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners or the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

(66) "Quality Assurance" means a systematic procedure for the review and evaluation of the agency's functions, quality of services, and the utilization of resources in the provision of services.

(67) "Reputable and Responsible Character" means having a personal and/or business history which suggests that the licensee can be trusted with responsibility for persons supported who are particularly vulnerable to neglect, and financial and sexual exploitation. Personal and/or business histories involving operation of substandard facilities and/or services and an arrest record resulting in a conviction for offense relating to theft, larceny, embezzlement, rape, assault, homicide, drugs, and pornography, are inherently inconsistent with "reputable and responsible character."

(68) "Restraint" means measures taken to restrict the freedom of movement of a person supported, including:

(69) "Restrictive Procedure" means a treatment or procedure that limits the rights of the person supported for the purpose of controlling or modifying problem behavior, including but not limited to, time-out and restraint, and seeks to replace them with behaviors that are adaptive and appropriate.

(70) "Schedule II Drugs" means drugs and other substances, by whatever name (official, common, usual, chemical, or brand) as defined in T.C.A. § 39-17-407 or listed in T.C.A. § 39-17-408.

(71) "Seclusion" means the confinement of a person supported alone in a room or an area where he/she is prevented from leaving. This definition is not limited to instances in which a person supported is confined by a locked or a closed door. Seclusion does not include:

(72) "Self-Administration of Medication" means the ability of a person supported to take prescribed or over-the-counter medications without assistance from another individual.

(73) "Shall or Must" means a mandatory provision.

(74) "Should or May" means a suggestion or recommendation.

(75) "Standard Precautions" means an approach to infection control based on the principle that broken skin and mucus membranes, as well as all blood, bodily fluids, and secretions (except sweat) may contain transmittable infectious agents. Standard precautions apply to all people regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status in any setting where care is provided. Current guidelines for standard precautions are published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

(76) "Support Coordination" means the assessment, planning, implementation coordination and monitoring of services and supports that assist persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop personal relationships, participate in their community, increase control over their own lives and develop the skills and abilities needed to achieve these goals as specified in the person-centered ISP of the person supported.

(77) "Support Coordination Agency" means a sole proprietorship (someone who owns an unincorporated business by him/herself), partnership, corporation, limited liability company or limited liability partnership providing support coordination.

(78) "Support Coordinator" means a person licensed as a support coordination agency, or an employee or an individual subcontracted by a support coordination agency who is providing support coordination under an arrangement between a person supported and a support coordination agency.

(79) "Time-Out" means a behavior management procedure in which the opportunity for positive reinforcement is withheld, contingent upon the demonstration of undesired behavior. Timeout may involve the voluntary separation of a person supported from individuals.

(80) "Treatment" means a therapeutic process to reduce or eliminate the symptoms and side effects of mental illness, alcohol and/or drug abuse, or dependency disorders through direct observation, assessment, examination, and therapeutic intervention. Treatment services include: screening; clinical assessment; diagnostic evaluation; treatment planning; therapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group therapy; medication prescription and monitoring; and discharge planning and referral.

(81) "Treatment Review Committee" means a committee to make decisions for a person supported who lacks capacity as defined by T.C.A. § 33-3-218. The composition, duties and responsibilities of Treatment Review Committees are defined by T.C.A. § 33-6-107.

(82) "Vocational Services" means the services provided to persons supported, which involve remunerative work experiences and the provision of vocational activities.

(83) "Volunteer" means an individual who is not paid by the licensee and whose varied skills are used by the licensee to support and supplement the efforts of the paid staff.

(84) "Written" means, as applied to a licensee's records, any generally accepted format, including electronic or paper, used for retaining business or client records.