Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-68-.06 - Facilities

(1) General Requirements. The facility shall provide an environment that is therapeutic to and supportive of all the patients, their healthy development and their changing needs. The therapeutic environment shall take into consideration the architecture of the facility, indoor and outdoor activity areas, furnishings, equipment, decorations and all other factors that involve the physical environment.

(a) Facilities shall be designed to meet the needs of the age group of the patients and the objectives of the program.

(b) Facilities shall be maintained in a safe and clean manner and must meet fire, safety, health and sanitation regulations.

(c) There shall be adequate and appropriate space and equipment for all facility programs and their various functions within the facility.

(d) Facilities shall provide sufficient space and equipment to ensure housekeeping and maintenance programs sufficient to keep the building and equipment clean, tidy and in a state of good repair.

(2) Disaster Preparedness. The facility shall prepare for potential emergency situations that may affect patient care by having an effective disaster preparedness plan that identifies emergency situations and outlines an appropriate course of action. The plan must be reviewed and revised at least annually, as appropriate, including any related written agreements.

(a) The disaster preparedness plan shall include at a minimum plans for the following emergency situations:

1. local and widespread weather emergencies or natural disasters, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, ice or snow storms, or floods;

2. man-made disasters such as acts of terrorism and hazardous materials spills;

3. unanticipated interruption of service of utilities, including water, gas, or electricity, either within the facility or within a local or widespread area;

4. loss of heat or air conditioning;

5. fire, explosion, or other physical damage to the facility; and

6. pandemics or other situations where the community's need for services exceeds the availability of beds and services regularly offered by the facility.

(b) There shall be plans to ensure sufficient staffing and supplies to maintain safe patient care during the emergency situation.

(c) There shall be plans for the emergency transport or relocation of all or a portion of the facility patients, should it be necessary, in vehicles appropriate to the patient's condition(s) when possible, including written agreements with any facilities which have agreed to receive patients in these situations.

(d) The facility shall document participation of all areas of the facility in quarterly fire drills.

(e) In addition to fire drills, the facility shall have its staff rehearse portions of the disaster preparedness plan, with a minimum of two (2) rehearsals each calendar year either in response to an emergency or through planned drills, with coordination of the drills with the local Emergency Management Agency (EMA) whenever possible.

(f) The facility shall provide a copy of the internal disaster preparedness plan to the local Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and shall include the local EMA in development of the facility's plan for the management of external disasters.

(g) The facility's disaster preparedness plan shall be made available to the department for inspection upon request. In addition, when provided with sixty (60) days notice in writing, the department may direct the facility to submit and periodically update the disaster preparedness plan electronically in a format acceptable to the department.

(h) The department may suspend any requirements of these rules and the enforcement of any rules where the Governor of the State of Georgia has declared a state of emergency.

(3) Construction. The plan, design and construction of the facility must meet the following requirements:

(a) All plans and specifications for the construction of new facilities shall be approved by the department prior to commencing work on the building. Such construction includes new buildings, additions, alterations, or renovations to existing buildings.

(b) A program narrative shall be submitted prior to or along with the submission of schematic plans for proposed new construction, additions or conversions. The program narrative shall contain information regarding:

1. sponsorship;

2. community needs;

3. program of service;

4. type of construction; and

5. financing for the construction and operation of the facility.

(c) Any individual or group planning construction of a facility shall submit schematic and/or preliminary plans to the department for review and counsel in the interpretation of these rules and regulations. Completed or final plans and specifications shall besubmitted for final review and approval; including site, driveways and parking areas, type of construction, mechanical and electrical systems, the type and location of major equipment, the intended use of each room, the proposed system of garbage and refuse disposal.

(d) Plans for additions and/or alterations to an existing building shall be submitted in sufficient detail to include type of construction and layout of the existing building to show overall relationship.

(e) Approved final plans shall not be materially changed without prior approval of such changes by the department.

(4) Location and Site.

(a) The site shall be approved by the department; and

(b) The site shall have proper drainage, sewage disposal, water, electrical, telephone and other necessary facilities available to the site.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-68-.06

O.C.G.A. Sec. 31-7-2.1.

Original Rule entitled "Facilities" adopted. F. July 14, 2010; eff. August 3, 2010.