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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Rule 3701-16-09 | Personal care services; medication administration; resident medications; application of dressings; supervision of therapeutic diets.

 

(A) For the purposes of this rule;

(1) Personal care services or skilled nursing care are provided by a residential care facility when:

(a) They are provided by a person:

(i) Employed by the facility;

(ii) Associated with the facility; or

(iii) Who is a related party to the facility;

(b) By another person pursuant to an agreement to which neither the resident nor their sponsor is a party;

(c) By another person pursuant to an agreement the facility requires a resident or their sponsor to contract with a person to receive services; or

(d) The resident does not have free choice of service provider.

For purposes of this rule "related party" means an individual or organization that, to a significant extent, has common ownership with, is associated or affiliated with, has control of, or is controlled by, the owner or operator of the residential care facility.

(2) A residential care facility may provide the skilled nursing care authorized by paragraphs (J) and (K) of this rule through the following arrangements as long as the residential care facility complies with the applicable provisions of this rule:

(a) Qualified staff members of the residential care facility; or

(b) Through agreements or contractual arrangements, including but not limited to, contracts with a home health agency certified under Title XVIII of "the Social Security Act", 42 U.S.C. 301, as amended (1981), or a licensed hospice care program, licensed under Chapter 3712. of the Revised Code.

(B) Each residential care facility is obligated to:

(1) Specify in its policies and the resident agreements, obligated by rule 3701-16-07 of the Administrative Code, the extent and types of personal care services it provides; and

(2) Provide personal care services to its residents who are in need of those services, unless the resident and the facility have entered into a risk agreement under rule 3701-16-07 of the Administrative Code or the resident has refused services, and may provide personal care services to other residents upon request.

Nothing in this paragraph is to be construed as permitting personal care services to be imposed upon a resident who is capable of performing the activity in question without assistance unless requested.

(C) If a resident requires certain personal care services that the residential care facility does not offer:

(1) The facility is obligated to comply with paragraph (G) of rule 3701-16-08 of the Administrative Code; and

(a) Arrange for or allow the resident to arrange for the services to be provided; or

(b) Transfer the resident to an appropriate setting or discharge the resident in accordance with section 3721.16 of the Revised Code and Chapter 3701-61 of the Administrative Code; or

(2) The facility and the resident may enter into a risk agreement in accordance with paragraphs (F) and (G) of rule 3701-16-07 of the Administrative Code, if the facility has a policy of entering into such agreements.

(D) Each residential care facility is obligated to ensure that personal care services are provided to residents:

(1) In accordance with acceptable standards of care;

(2) By staff members meeting the training standards of rule 3701-16-06 of the Administrative Code; and

(3) That meet the needs of residents as determined in the resident assessments obligated by rule 3701-16-08 of the Administrative Code and consistent with the resident agreements under rule 3701-16-07 of the Administrative Code.

(E) A residential care facility may provide for the administration of medication to residents in accordance with division (B) of section 3721.011 of the Revised Code and this rule.

(1) All medication taken by residents of residential care facilities will be self-administered, and members of the staff of a residential care facility are barred from administering medication to residents, except that medication may be administered in accordance with division (B) of section 3721.011 of the Revised Code and paragraphs (G) and (H) of this rule.

(2) A residential care facility may admit or retain an individual requiring medication only if the individual is capable of taking their own medication and biologicals, as determined in writing by the person's attending physician or other licensed healthcare professional working within their scope of practice, or if the facility provides for the administration of medication by:

(a) A home health agency certified under Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C. 301, as amended (1981);

(b) A hospice care program licensed under Chapter 3712. of the Revised Code; or

(c) A member of the staff of the residential care facility who is qualified to perform medication administration.

(F) Staff members may assist with self-administration of medication by doing any of the following once they have received training in providing the services, as obligated by paragraph (E) of rule 3701-16-06 of the Administrative Code:

(1) Remind a resident when to take medication, and watch to ensure that the resident follows the directions on the container;

(2) Assist a resident in self-administration of medication by taking the medication from the locked area where it is stored and handing it to the resident. If the resident is physically unable to open a container, a staff member may open the container for the resident. The staff member is obligated to check the name on the prescription label and verify that the resident's name on the prescription label corresponds to the resident requesting the medication before handing it to the resident. The staff member may read the label and directions on the medication container to the resident upon request. The staff member also may remind the resident and any other individual designated by the resident when prescribed medication needs to be refilled. Staff members are not allowed to assist a resident with self-administration of a prescription medication that belongs to another resident;

(3) Assist a physically impaired but mentally alert resident such as, but not limited to, a resident with arthritis, cerebral palsy, or Parkinson's disease, upon that resident's request, in removing oral or topical medication from containers and in consuming or applying the medication upon request by or with the consent of the resident. If the resident is physically unable to place a dose of medicine to their mouth without spilling it, a staff member may place the dose in a container and place the container to the mouth of the resident. As used in this paragraph, "topical medication" means:

(a) Eye, nose, or ear drops excluding irrigations; and

(b) Medication used in the treatment of a skin condition or minor abrasion, excluding debriding agents; and

(4) Assist a resident with organizing the resident's medications in a weekly pill organizer if the resident is able to differentiate between pills and actively participates in the organization. Nothing in this rule is to be construed as allowing staff members to fill a weekly pill organizer for a resident.

(G) Medication are obligated to be administered in accordance with accepted standards of practice to a resident in a residential care facility only by the following persons authorized by law to administer medication:

(1) A registered nurse;

(2) A licensed practical nurse holding proof of successful completion of a course in medication administration approved by the Ohio board of nursing pursuant to Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code who is allowed to administer medication only at the direction of a registered nurse or physician;

(3) A physician; or

(4) A person authorized by law to administer medication.

(H) Residential care facilities that administer medication are obligated to comply with all of the following:

(1) No medication is allowed to be given to any resident unless ordered by a physician or individual authorized under state law to prescribe medications. Ordered medications are obligated to be administered unless the resident refuses or the resident exhibits symptoms that contraindicate medication administration. If a medication is not administered, the staff member responsible for administering the medication is obligated to document in the resident's record why the medication was not administered. Telephone orders are not allowed to be accepted by a person other than a licensed nurse, another physician or a pharmacist except that a licensed health professional may receive, document and date medication orders concerning their specific discipline, to the extent permitted by applicable licensing laws. If orders are given by telephone, they are obligated to be recorded with the prescriber's name and the date, and the order signed by the person who accepted the order. All telephone orders are obligated to be signed by the physician who gave the order or other licensed health professional with prescriptive authority working under the supervision of or in collaboration with the physician within fourteen days after the order was given. The residential care facility may accept facsimile and electronic documentation of orders in accordance with paragraph (B)(4) of rule 3701-16-09.1 of the Administrative Code;

(2) All medications are obligated to be given only to the individual resident for whom they are prescribed, given in accordance with the directions on the prescription or the physician's or other authorized prescriber's orders, and recorded on the resident's medication record obligated by paragraph (I)(7) of this rule;

(3) The person who administers the medication is obligated to observe the resident for adverse effects, contraindications, and medication effectiveness. Such person is obligated to notify the resident's attending physician or other licensed healthcare professional working within their scope of practice, of any undesirable effects and document these effects and the date and time of such notification in the resident's medication record;

(4) Only administer drugs bearing the American hospital formulary service therapeutic class 4:00, 28:16:08, 28:24:08, or 28:24:92 with the authorization of the attending physician, after personal examination of the resident and documentation of the medical condition being treated and reasons for use of the drug and when necessary to treat a resident's medical condition and to assist the resident to attain their highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. Drugs used for this purpose are not considered chemical restraints as defined in paragraph (L) of this rule; and

(5) Ohio board of pharmacy and United States drug enforcement administration regulations.

(I) Residential care facilities that handle residents' medication are obligated to:

(1) Not stock or dispense medicines or drugs which may be sold only by prescription unless the facility has in its employ, on either a full-time or part-time supervisory and consulting basis, a pharmacist registered under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code, who will be in complete control of such stock and the dispensing thereof;

(2) Keep all prescription medications in locked storage areas, including drugs requiring refrigeration, except medications of residents living in individual units who self-administer their own medications may be stored in the resident's unit if the resident and residential care facility take reasonable precautions to prevent access to the medications by other residents;

(3) Assure that the labeling of prescription medicine and drugs meet the following criteria:

(a) Every container of medicine and drugs prescribed for a resident for self-administration or assistance by non-licensed health care personnel, will be clearly labeled with the resident's name, the proprietary or generic name of the medication dispensed and its strength, the name and address of the dispensing pharmacy, the name or initials of the dispensing pharmacist, the prescription number, the date dispensed, the name of the prescribing physician or individual authorized under state law to prescribe medications, and the instructions for use including any cautions which may be obligated by federal or state law. Containers too small to bear a complete prescription label will be labeled with at least the prescription number and the dispensing date and will be dispensed in a container bearing a complete prescription label;

(b) Medicines and drugs dispensed by a health care facility pharmacy for administration by a licensed nurse or physician to residents whereby the medicines and drugs are not in the possession of the resident prior to administration will be clearly labeled in accordance with rule 4729-17-10 of the Administrative Code;

(c) Not repackage or relabel resident medications; and

(d) Ensure over-the-counter medications that are either administered by an individual acting within their scope of practice and based on a prescriber's order, or given to residents capable of self-administration of medication, contain a United States food and drug administration label indicating, in part, the medication's:

(i) Name;

(ii) Strength;

(iii) Quantity;

(iv) Accessory instructions;

(v) Lot number; and

(vi) Expiration date;

Over-the-counter medications kept by residents capable of self-administration do not need to meet the criteria of this rule.

(4) Send a resident's medication with him or her upon permanent transfer or discharge or destroy or dispose them with the consent of the resident in accordance with any applicable state or federal laws and regulations;

(5) If controlled substances are used, order, dispense, administer, and dispose of controlled substances in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations and ensure policies and procedures are in place to prevent the misappropriation or theft of controlled substances;

(6) Keep a written list of all medications prescribed for each resident and are obligated to make a good-faith effort to keep the list current; and

(7) Maintain an individual medication record for each resident to whom the residential care facility administers medications in which:

(a) Medication orders, including telephone, electronic, and facsimile orders, are recorded and signed by the prescriber; and

(b) All medications are recorded as given, documenting the name of the medication, date and time given, route of administration, and signed by the individual administering the medication.

(J) Each residential care facility that provides for the application of dressings in accordance with division (A) of section 3721.011 of the Revised Code is obligated to:

(1) Establish in writing the services pertaining to the application of dressings that are routinely managed by the facility. The determination of the type of applications of dressings that are managed by the facility are based on staff education, staff competence, the amount of staff experience with the listed types of applications of dressings, and support services available in the facility;

(2) Develop and follow policies and procedures which assure that the application of dressings are provided in accordance with acceptable standards of practice;

(3) Ensure that the application of dressings are provided only by individuals authorized under state law to provide the application of the dressing. Skilled nursing care may be delegated in accordance with Chapter 4723-13 of the Administrative Code;

(4) Evaluate each resident at least once every seven days to determine whether the resident should be transferred to a nursing home or other appropriate health care setting. The evaluation and determination is obligated to be performed by the appropriate health care professional and documented in the resident's record;

(5) Document all applications of dressings that are provided by the residential care facility in the resident's record. Such documentation is obligated to include, but not be limited to, treatment and medication orders issued by appropriate licensed health care professionals when needed to authorize provision of a service and nurse's notes indicating the nature of the service provided and the resident's status. The residential care facility may accept facsimile and electronic orders in accordance with paragraph (B)(4) of rule 3701-16-09.1 of the Administrative Code; and

(6) Ensure that a nurse coordinates the overall nursing care of each resident who receives applications of dressings.

(K) Each residential care facility that provides supervision of therapeutic diets is obligated to comply with the applicable provisions of rule 3701-16-10 of the Administrative Code. The residential care facility may accept facsimile and electronic documentation of therapeutic diet orders in accordance with paragraph (B)(4) of rule 3701-16-09.1 of the Administrative Code;

(L) The residential care facility is forbidden from physically, chemically, or through isolation, restraining residents.

(1) For the purposes of this paragraph:

(a) "Physical restraint" means, but is not limited to, any article, device, or garment that interferes with the free movement of the resident and that the resident is unable to remove easily, a geriatric chair, or a locked room door;

(b) "Chemical restraint" means any drug that is used for discipline or staff convenience and not prescribed to treat medical symptoms; and

(c) "Freedom of movement" means the ability of the resident to move around within the context of the resident's functional capacity as assessed by the facility.

(2) A residential care facility's use of the following items for the purposes stated in this paragraph will not be construed as physically or chemically restraining a resident or subjecting a resident to prolonged isolation:

(a) Devices that assist a resident in the improvement of the resident's mental and physical functional status and that do not restrict freedom of movement or normal access to one's body;

(b) Medications that are standard treatment or a documented exception to standard treatment for the resident's medical or psychiatric condition which assist a resident in attaining or maintaining the resident's highest practicable physical, mental, and psycho-social well-being;

(c) Residency in a secured special care unit that restricts a resident's freedom of movement throughout the facility if;

(i) Care and services are provided in accordance with each resident's individual needs and preferences, not for staff convenience;

(ii) The need for continued residency in the secured special care unit is reviewed during each periodic assessment obligated by rule 3701-16-08 of the Administrative Code;

(iii) The secured special care unit meets state building and fire code standards; and

(iv) Residency on the secured special care unit is not based solely on the resident's diagnosis.

(d) Not withstanding paragraph (L)(2)(c) of this rule, a resident may choose to reside in the secured special care unit based upon their specific circumstances, such as if their spouse is a resident of the secured special care unit, or if the only room available in the facility is on the secured special care unit. A resident who chooses to reside in the secured special care unit needs to be able to enter and exit the unit without assistance.

Last updated July 12, 2024 at 9:34 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3721.04
Amplifies: 3721.01; 3721.011
Five Year Review Date: 7/2/2029
Prior Effective Dates: 12/21/1992, 9/29/1996, 6/21/1997, 12/1/2001, 4/1/2007, 1/1/2013, 3/1/2018