37.106.316    MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ALL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES: SECURED CARE UNIT WITHIN A LICENSED LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE FACILITY

(1) All rules in this subchapter apply to secured care units.

(2) Special locking arrangements as specified in the "NFPA 101: Life Safety Code Handbook", 2012 Edition must be utilized, or an acceptable alternative is based on an equivalency for the automatically releasing, panic hardware required by section 7.2.1.6.1 of the "NFPA 101: Life Safety Code Handbook", 2012 Edition. Where local authorities having jurisdiction allow, the following conditions apply to this alternative:

(a) All locks must be electromagnetic. The use of mechanical locks, such as a deadbolt is not permitted;

(b) All of the secured doors must have a manual electronic keypad release. The keypad must release the lock(s) on the door(s) after entry of the proper code sequence;

(c) The code sequence must be posted in the vicinity of each keypad and may be inconspicuous;

(d) Provisions must be made for the rapid removal of occupants by such reliable means as the remote control of the locks. Typically this is done by placing a staff-accessible switch at the nurse's station which is capable of releasing all doors; and

(e) All the locks on all secured doors must automatically release upon any of the following conditions:

(i) the actuation of the approved supervised automatic fire alarm system;

(ii) the actuation of an approved supervised automatic sprinkler system; and

(iii) upon the loss of power controlling the lock(s) or locking mechanism.

(3) A secured care unit is considered a separate nursing unit and must have a nurse station located within the secured care unit. At a minimum, the nurse station must provide the following:

(a) provisions for charting;

(b) provisions for hand washing;

(c) provisions for medication storage and preparation;

(d) telephone access; and

(e) a nurse call system in compliance with table 2.1-4 as found in the 2018 Edition of the AIA Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Health Care Facilities.

(4) The nurse call system for the secured care unit must report to the secured care unit nurse station, but may also annunciate the call at another location, such as a main nurse station.

(5) Observation beds cannot be located in secured care units.

(6) Space within the secured care unit used for dining, activities, and day space must be provided at a ratio of 35 square feet per resident, with at least 20 square feet per resident dedicated to the dining space.

(7) No more than two secured care unit residents can reside in a single room.

(8) Each secured care unit resident must have access to a toilet without entering the corridor.

(a) Doors to bathrooms may be removed in private rooms.

(9) A secured care unit must provide for a nourishment station. The minimum standards for a nourishment station as indicated in section 2.5-2.2.6.7 of the 2018 Edition of the AIA Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Health Care Facilities include:

(a) a work counter;

(b) a refrigerator;

(c) storage cabinets;

(d) space for trays and dishes used for nonscheduled meal service;

(e) an icemaker dispenser unit for patient ice consumption within or in close proximity to the secured care unit;

(f) a sink for preparing nourishments between meals; and

(g) hand washing facilities that are in or immediately accessible from the nourishment station.

(10) A secured care unit must provide secured care unit residents access to large group activities when provided for the general population, such as holiday activities and special events as determined appropriate.

 

History: 50-5-103, MCA; IMP, 50-5-103, 50-5-204, MCA; NEW, 2013 MAR p. 2146, Eff. 11/15/13; AMD, 2022 MAR p. 1876, Eff. 9/24/22.