37.106.1829    SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY: INFECTION CONTROL

(1) A specialty mental health facility must ensure that:

(a) the facility has an effective facility wide infection control surveillance program developed for the identification, investigation, prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

(b) the facility has written policies and procedures that describe the types of surveillance carried out to monitor the rates of nosocomial infections, the systems used to collect and analyze data, and the activities carried out to prevent and control infection.

(c) A staff member is designated as a manager of the infection control program who has education, training or experience related to infection control, that facility records contain documented evidence of the manager's qualifications, and that the manager participates in continuing education in the area of infection control.

(d) A multidisciplinary committee oversees the program for surveillance, prevention, and control of infection, a committee that includes the designated infection control manager and representatives from the professional staff; administration; and housekeeping, laundry, dietary, maintenance and pharmacy services; and meets whenever the committee members determine the facility needs such a meeting.

(e) Each department, including housekeeping, laundry, dietary, maintenance, pharmacy, and nursing/medical, develops and implements policies and procedures which reflect current and accepted infection control standards of practice, and that these policies are updated and reviewed annually by the infection control committee.

(2) The facility must be in compliance with Title 75, part 10, MCA, the Infectious Waste Management Act.

(3) The department hereby adopts and incorporates by reference Title 75, part 10, MCA, containing requirements for health care facilities in handling of infectious wastes. A copy of the law may be obtained from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Quality Assurance Division, 2401 Colonial Drive, P.O. Box 202953, Helena, MT 59620-2953.

History: Sec. 50-5-103, MCA; IMP, Sec. 50-5-103, MCA; NEW, 1991 MAR p. 2454, Eff. 12/13/91; TRANS, from DHES, 2002 MAR p. 185.