37.40.408    FACILITY POLICY REQUIREMENTS

(1) The facility must develop and implement written policies and procedures that prohibit mistreatment, neglect, and abuse of residents and misappropriation of resident property.

(2) The policies must provide that the facility will:

(a) not use verbal, mental, sexual, or physical abuse, corporal punishment, or involuntary seclusion;

(b) not employ individuals who have been found guilty of abusing, neglecting, or mistreating residents by a court of law, or have had a finding entered into the nurse aide registry concerning abuse, neglect, mistreatment of residents or misappropriation of their property;

(c) report any knowledge it has of actions by a court of law against an employee, which would indicate unfitness for service as a nurse aide or other facility staff to the nurse aide registry maintained by the department of public health and human services;

(d) ensure that all alleged violations involving mistreatment, neglect, or abuse, including injuries of unknown source, and misappropriation of resident property are reported immediately to the administrator of the facility, the long term care ombudsman, and the department of public health and human services in accordance with 52-3-811 , MCA;

(e) have evidence that all alleged violations are thoroughly investigated, and must prevent further potential abuse while the investigation is in progress;

(f) ensure that the results of all investigations must be reported to the administrator of the facility and to the department of public health and human services in accordance with 52-3-811 , MCA, within five working days of the incident; and

(g) if the alleged violation is verified, take appropriate corrective action.

History: Sec. 53-6-113, MCA; IMP, Sec. 53-6-101 and 53-6-113, MCA; NEW, 2004 MAR p. 1479, Eff. 7/2/04.