Title 37, Chapter 4, Section 124
( 37-4-124)
(a) Mistreatment, neglect, or abuse in any form of any client is
prohibited. Medication in quantities that interfere with the
client's habilitation program is prohibited. All medication,
seclusion, or physical restraints are to be used solely for the
purposes of providing effective habilitation and protecting the
safety of the client and other persons. Restraints shall not be
employed as punishment, for the convenience of the staff, or as a
substitute for programs. (b) Physical restraints shall not be applied unless: (1) A person who is involved in the care and treatment of the
client as a physician, psychologist, or clinical nurse specialist
in psychiatric/mental health determines such restraints to be
necessary in order to prevent a client from seriously injuring
himself or herself or others; or (2) A professional staff member determines that there exists an
emergency requiring the use of such restraints. For purposes of
this Code section, an emergency exists when the client presents an
immediate danger of injury to himself or herself or others. The
authorization of physical restraints by a professional staff
member shall be immediately reported to a physician and any
psychologist involved in the care and treatment of the client. A
physician's, psychologist's, or clinical nurse specialist's in
psychiatric/mental health order for restraints shall expire after
12 hours, at which time a new determination of the need for
restraints must be made. The physician, psychologist involved in
the care and treatment of the client, or clinical nurse specialist
in psychiatric/mental health involved in the care and treatment of
the client must issue a written order for each use of restraints.
The facility shall have written policies and procedures which
govern the use of such restraints and which clearly delineate, in
descending order, the personnel who can authorize the use of
restraints in emergency situations. (c) Every use of physical restraints shall be made a part of the
resident's clinical record. The following shall be documented in the
record: (1) The reasons for applying the restraint; (2) The signature of the person authorizing the restraint; (3) The time of application and removal of the restraint; and (4) A record of checks at least every 30 minutes by a staff member
trained in use of restraints and the signature of the person
making such checks. A copy of each use of restraint shall be
forwarded to the superintendent for review. (d) For the purposes of this Code section, those devices which
restrain movement but are applied for protection from accidental
injury or are required for the medical treatment of the client's
physical condition or for supportive or corrective needs of the
client shall not be considered physical restraints. However, devices
used in such situations must be authorized and applied in compliance
with the facility's policies and procedures. The use of any such
devices shall be recorded in writing as a part of the client's
individualized program plan. |