Kan. Admin. Regs. § 26-40-303 - Nursing facility physical environment; existing nursing facilities

(a) Applicability. This regulation shall apply to all nursing facilities licensed on the effective date of this regulation.

(b) Codes and standards. Each nursing facility shall meet the requirements of the building codes, standards, and regulations enforced by city, county, or state jurisdictions. The requirements specified in this regulation shall be considered as a minimum.

(1) Each nursing facility shall meet the following requirements, as adopted by reference in K.A.R. 26-39-105 :

(A) The national fire protection association's NFPA 101 "life safety code" (LSC); and

(B) the "Americans with disabilities act accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities" (ADAAG).

(2) Each nursing facility and any portion of each nursing facility that was approved under a previous regulation shall, at a minimum, remain in compliance with the regulation or building code in effect at the date of licensure.

(c) Nursing facility design. The design and layout of each nursing facility shall differentiate among public, semiprivate, and private space and shall promote the deterrence of unnecessary travel through private space by staff and the public. The resident unit shall be arranged to achieve a home environment, short walking and wheeling distances, localized social areas, and decentralized work areas.

(d) Resident unit. A "resident unit" shall mean a group of resident rooms, care support areas, and common rooms and areas as identified in this subsection and subsections (e) and (f), unless otherwise indicated. Each resident unit shall have a resident capacity of no more than 60 residents and shall be located within a single building.

(1) Resident rooms. At least five percent of the resident rooms shall have a maximum occupancy of one resident per room. The occupancy of the remaining rooms shall not exceed two residents per room. If a nursing facility has rooms that accommodate three or four residents on the effective date of this regulation, this requirement shall not apply until the nursing facility converts its existing three- and four-resident rooms to private or semiprivate rooms.

(A) Each resident room shall meet the following requirements:

(i) Be located on a floor at or above ground level;

(ii) allow direct access to the corridor;

(iii) measure at least 100 square feet in single resident rooms and at least 160 square feet in double resident rooms, exclusive of alcoves, vestibules, toilet room, closets or freestanding wardrobes, sinks, and other built-in items. If the building was constructed before January 1, 1963 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, rooms shall measure at least 90 square feet in single resident rooms and at least 160 square feet in double resident rooms, exclusive of alcoves, vestibules, toilet room, closets or freestanding wardrobes, sinks, and other built-in items; and

(iv) provide at least one operable exterior window that opens for ventilation. The window area shall not be less than 12 percent of the gross floor area of the resident room.

(B) Each bed area in a double resident room shall have separation from the adjacent bed by use of walls, doors, or ceiling suspended curtains to afford complete visual privacy.

(C) The configuration of each resident room shall be designed to allow at least three feet of clearance along the foot of each bed and along both sides of each bed.

(D) The nursing facility shall have functional furniture to meet each resident's needs, including a bed of adequate size with a clean, comfortable mattress that fits the bed, and bedding appropriate to the weather and the needs of the resident.

(E) Each resident's room shall include personal storage space in a fixed closet or freestanding wardrobe with doors. This storage shall have minimum dimensions of one foot 10 inches in depth by two feet six inches in width and shall contain an adjustable clothes rod and shelf installed at a height easily reached by the resident. Accommodations shall be provided for hanging full-length garments. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the minimum dimensions specified in this paragraph shall not apply.

(2) Resident toilet rooms. Each resident toilet room shall serve no more than two resident rooms and be accessed directly from the resident's room. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, resident access to the toilet room may be from the general corridor.

(A) Each toilet room shall contain at least a toilet and hand-washing sink, unless a hand-washing sink is provided in the resident room adjacent to the toilet room.

(B) Each resident toilet room shall have at least 30 square feet to allow maneuverability of a wheelchair. If the room contains a shower that presents no obstruction to the turning radius, the space occupied by the shower may be included in the minimum dimensions.

(C) If a shower is present in a toilet room, the shower shall be curtained or in another type of enclosure for privacy.

(e) Resident unit care support rooms and areas. The rooms and areas required in this subsection shall be located in each resident unit and shall be accessed directly from the general corridor without passage through an intervening room or area, except the medication room as specified in paragraph (e)(2)(A) and housekeeping closets. Each care support area shall be located less than 200 feet from each resident room. If the building was constructed before February 15,1977 and the nursing facility was licensed on the effective date of this regulation, the distance specified in this paragraph shall not apply.

(1) Nurses' workroom or area. Each resident unit shall have sufficient areas for supervisory work activities arranged to ensure the confidentiality of resident information and communication.

(A) A nurses' workroom or area shall have space for the following:

(i) Charting;

(ii) the transmission and reception of resident information;

(iii) clinical records and other resident information;

(iv) a telephone and other office equipment; and

(v) an enunciator panel or monitor screen for the call system. If a resident unit has more than one nurses' workroom or area, space for an enunciator panel or monitor for the call system shall not be required in more than one nurses' workroom or area.

(B) The nurses' workroom or area shall be located so that the corridors outside resident rooms are visible from the nurses' workroom or area. The nursing facility may have cameras and monitors to meet this requirement.

(C) Direct visual access into each nurses' work area shall be provided if the work area is located in an enclosed room.

(2) Medication room or area. Each resident unit shall have a room or area for storage and preparation of medications or biologicals for 24-hour distribution, with a temperature not to exceed 85°F. This requirement shall be met by one or more of the following:

(A) A room with an automatically closing, self-locking door visible from the nurses' workroom or area. The room shall contain a work counter with task lighting, hand-washing sink, refrigerator, and shelf space for separate storage of each resident's medications. The secured medication storage room shall contain separately locked compartments for the storage of controlled medications listed in K.S.A. 65-4107, and amendments thereto, and any other medications that, in the opinion of the consultant pharmacist, are subject to abuse;

(B) if the resident unit serves no more than 32 residents, a nurses' workroom or area equipped with a work counter with task lighting, hand-washing sink, locked refrigerator, and locked storage for resident medications. A separately locked compartment shall be located within the locked cabinet, drawer, or refrigerator for the storage of controlled medications listed in K.S.A. 65-4107, and amendments thereto, and any other medications that, in the opinion of the consultant pharmacist, are subject to abuse;

(C) a locked medication cart, in addition to a medication room or area, if the cart is located in a space convenient for control by nursing personnel who are authorized to administer medication. If controlled medications listed in K.S.A. 65-4107, and amendments thereto, and any other medications that, in the opinion of the consultant pharmacist, are subject to abuse are stored in the medication cart, the cart shall contain a separately locked compartment for the storage of these medications; or

(D) in the resident's room if the room contains space for medication preparation with task lighting, access to a hand-washing sink, and locked cabinets or drawers for separate storage of each resident's medication. Controlled medications listed in K.S.A. 65-4107, and amendments thereto, and any other medications that, in the opinion of the consultant pharmacist, are subject to abuse shall not be stored in a resident's room.

(3) Clean workroom. Each resident unit shall have a room for the preparation, storage, and distribution of clean or sterile materials and supplies and resident care items.

(A) The room shall contain a work counter with a sink and adequate shelving and cabinets for storage.

(B) The room area shall be at least 80 square feet, with a length or width of at least six feet. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the minimum dimensions specified in this paragraph shall not apply.

(C) If the resident unit is located in a freestanding building, a clothes dryer for processing resident personal laundry that is not contaminated laundry may be located in the clean workroom if the following requirements are met:

(i) An additional minimum of 40 square feet per dryer shall be provided.

(ii) The soiled workroom shall contain a washing machine positioned over a catch pan.

(iii) The clean workroom shall have a door opening directly into the soiled workroom without entering the general corridor. The door opening shall be covered with a plastic-strip door or by other means to prevent interference of ventilation requirements for both workrooms.

(D) Storage and preparation of food and beverages shall not be permitted in the clean workroom.

(4) Clean linen storage. Each resident unit shall have a room or area with adequate shelving, cabinets, or cart space for the storage of clean linen. The storage area may be located in the clean workroom.

(5) Soiled workroom. Each resident unit shall have a soiled workroom for the disposal of wastes, collection of contaminated material, and the cleaning and sanitizing of resident care utensils.

(A) The soiled workroom shall contain a work counter, a two-compartment sink, a covered waste receptacle, a covered soiled linen receptacle, and a storage cabinet with a lock for sanitizing solutions and cleaning supplies. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the soiled workroom shall contain these fixtures except that the sink shall be at least a one-compartment sink.

(B) The room area shall be at least 80 square feet, with a length or width of at least six feet. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the minimum dimensions shall not apply.

(C) If the resident unit is located in a freestanding building, a washing machine for processing resident personal laundry that is not contaminated laundry may be located in the soiled workroom if the following requirements are met:

(i) An additional minimum of 40 square feet per washing machine shall be provided.

(ii) The washing machine shall be positioned over a catch pan.

(iii) The clean workroom shall contain a clothes dryer.

(iv) The soiled workroom shall have a door opening directly into the clean workroom without entering the general corridor. The door opening shall be covered with a plastic-strip door or by other means to prevent interference of ventilation requirements for both workrooms.

(D) A housekeeping room may be located in the soiled workroom if the following conditions are met:

(i) The soiled workroom is located in a resident unit in a freestanding building.

(ii) The housekeeping room is enclosed.

(iii) The soiled workroom includes at least 20 square feet in additional space.

(E) Clean supplies, equipment, and materials shall not be stored in the soiled workroom.

(6) Equipment storage rooms or areas. Each resident unit shall have sufficient rooms or enclosed areas for the storage of resident unit equipment.

(A) The total space shall be at least 120 square feet plus an additional minimum of one square foot for each resident based on resident capacity, with no single room or area less than 30 square feet. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the minimum dimensions specified in this paragraph shall not apply.

(B) If mechanical equipment or electrical panel boxes are located in the storage area, the nursing facility shall have additional space for the access to and servicing of equipment.

(7) Housekeeping room. Each resident unit shall have at least one room for the storage of housekeeping supplies and equipment needed to maintain a clean and sanitary environment.

(A) Each housekeeping room shall contain the following:

(i) A floor receptor or service sink, or both;

(ii) hot and cold water;

(iii) adequate shelving;

(iv) provisions for hanging mops and other cleaning tools; and

(v) space for buckets, supplies, and equipment.

(B) If the housekeeping room in the resident unit serves the resident kitchen and any other areas of the unit, the nursing facility shall designate separate mops and buckets for use in each specific location.

(C) If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the nursing facility shall have at least one janitor's closet that contains either a floor receptor or service sink, or both, and storage space for janitorial equipment and supplies.

(8) Toilet room. Each resident unit shall have a staff toilet room with a hand-washing sink. If a resident unit is located in a freestanding building, the resident unit shall have at least one toilet room that contains a hand-washing sink and is accessible according to ADAAG, as adopted by reference in K.A.R. 26-39-105, for resident, staff, and visitor use. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, this paragraph shall not apply.

(9) Resident kitchen. Any resident unit may have a decentralized resident kitchen if the resident kitchen meets the following requirements:

(A) Is adequate in relation to the size of the resident unit;

(B) is designed and equipped to meet the needs of the residents; and

(C) meets the requirements in paragraph (f)(7).

(10) Nourishment area. Each resident unit shall have an area available to each resident to ensure the provision of nourishment and beverages, including water, between scheduled meals. The nourishment area may serve more than one resident unit if centrally located for easy access from each of the nursing areas served. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the nursing facility shall not be required to have a nourishment area.

(A) The nourishment area shall contain a hand-washing sink, equipment for serving nourishment and beverages, a refrigerator, and storage cabinets.

(B) The nourishment area may be located in the resident unit kitchen if the kitchen has both a hand-washing sink and counter accessible according to ADAAG, as adopted by reference in K.A.R. 26-39-105, and all residents have access to the area between scheduled meals.

(11) Bathing room. Each nursing facility shall have a room or rooms with sufficient bathing units to permit each resident to bathe privately and either independently or with staff assistance.

(A) Each nursing facility shall have at least one hydro-therapy bathing unit. If the building was constructed before November 1, 1993 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, this requirement shall not apply.

(B) Each nursing facility shall have bathing units at a rate of one for each 15 residents, based on the number of residents who do not have a toilet room, with a shower accessed directly from the resident's room. A hydrother-apy bathing unit may be counted as two bathing units to meet this ratio.

(C) The bathing room shall contain the following:

(i) A hand-washing sink;

(ii) an area enclosed for privacy that contains a toilet for resident use;

(iii) a shower that measures at least four feet by four feet without curbs and is designed to permit use by a resident in a wheelchair, unless a shower is provided in each resident's toilet room. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the minimum dimensions specified in this paragraph shall not apply;

(iv) a visually enclosed area for privacy during bathing, drying, and dressing, with space for a care provider and wheelchair; and

(v) a locked supply cabinet.

(12) Personal laundry room. Any resident unit may have a laundry room for each resident to launder personal laundry that is not contaminated laundry, if the requirements in paragraph (f)(8) are met.

(13) Mobility device parking space. Each nursing facility shall have parking space for residents' mobility devices. The parking space shall be located in an area that does not interfere with normal resident passage. The parking space shall not be included in determining the minimum required corridor width.

(f) Common rooms and support areas in the nursing facility's main building. The rooms and areas required in this subsection shall be located in the main building of each nursing facility, unless otherwise indicated, and shall be accessed directly from the general corridor without passage through an intervening room or area. If a resident unit is located in a freestanding building, the administrator shall ensure that transportation is provided for each resident to access services and activities that occur in the main building to enhance the resident's physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.

(1) Living, dining, and recreation areas. Each nursing facility shall have sufficient space to accommodate separate and distinct resident activities of living, dining, and recreation. If a resident unit is located in a freestanding building, the resident unit shall include living, dining, and recreation areas.

(A) Space for living, dining, and recreation shall be provided at a rate of at least 27 square feet per resident based on each resident unit's capacity, with at least 14 square feet per resident in the dining area. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the nursing facility shall have space for living, dining, and recreation at a rate of at least 20 square feet per resident based on each resident unit's capacity, with at least 10 square feet per resident in the dining area.

(B) Window areas in each living, dining, and recreation area shall be at least 10 percent of the gross floor space of those areas. The window area requirement shall not be met by the use of skylights.

(2) Multipurpose room. Each nursing facility shall have a room or area for resident use for social gatherings, religious services, entertainment, or crafts, with sufficient space to accommodate separate functions.

(A) The multipurpose room shall have an area of at least 200 square feet for 60 or fewer residents, plus at least two square feet for each additional resident over 60, based on the nursing facility's resident capacity. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the minimum dimensions specified in this paragraph shall not apply.

(B) The multipurpose room or area shall contain a work counter with a hand-washing sink, and storage space and lockable cabinets for equipment and supplies. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the hand-washing sink may be located in close proximity to the multipurpose room or area.

(3) Den. Each nursing facility shall have a room for residents to use for reading, meditation, solitude, or privacy with family and other visitors unless each resident has a private room. The room area shall be at least 80 square feet. This paragraph shall not apply to facilities that meet the following conditions:

(A) The building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation.

(B) Any decrease to the nursing facility's resident capacity is for the sole purpose of converting semiprivate rooms to private rooms.

(4) Exam room. Each nursing facility shall have a room for a physician to examine and privately consult with a resident.

(A) The exam room shall meet the following requirements:

(i) The room area shall be at least 120 square feet, with a length or width of at least 10 feet.

(ii) The room shall contain a hand-washing sink, an examination table, and a desk or shelf for writing.

(iii) If the examination room is located in the rehabilitation therapy room, the examination room shall be equipped with cubicle curtains.

(B) The requirement for an exam room shall not apply to any nursing facility that meets both of the following conditions:

(i) The building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation.

(ii) Any decrease to the nursing facility's resident capacity on or after the effective date of this regulation is for the sole purpose of converting semiprivate rooms to private rooms.

(5) Rehabilitation room. Each nursing facility shall have a room for the administration and implementation of rehabilitation therapy.

(A) The rehabilitation room shall include the following:

(i) Equipment for carrying out each type of therapy prescribed for the residents;

(ii) a hand-washing sink;

(iii) an enclosed storage area for therapeutic devices; and

(iv) provisions for resident privacy.

(B) The rehabilitation room shall have an area of at least 200 square feet for 60 or fewer residents, plus at least two square feet for each additional resident over 60, based on resident capacity, to a maximum requirement of 655 square feet. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the minimum dimensions specified in this paragraph shall not apply.

(C) If a resident unit is located in a freestanding building, the resident unit may have a designated area for rehabilitation in a bathing room. The combined use of the space shall not limit the residents' bathing opportunities or rehabilitation therapy.

(6) Beauty and barber shop. Each nursing facility shall have a room or area for the hair care and grooming of residents appropriate in size for the number of residents served.

(A) The beauty and barber shop shall contain at least one shampoo sink, space for one floor hair dryer, workspace, and a lockable supply cabinet.

(B) If a resident unit is located in a freestanding building, the resident unit may have a designated area for the hair care and grooming of residents in the bathing room if all of the following conditions are met:

(i) The bathing room does not contain a shower.

(ii) The area contains at least one shampoo sink, space for one floor hair dryer, and workspace.

(iii) The combined use of the space does not limit the residents' bathing, hair care, or grooming opportunities.

(7) Dietary areas. Each nursing facility shall have dietary service areas that are adequate in relation to the size of the nursing facility and are designed and equipped to meet the needs of the residents. Each nursing facility shall meet the requirements of the "food code," as adopted by reference in K.A.R. 26-39-105, unless otherwise indicated in this subsection. The following elements shall be included in each central kitchen and resident kitchen:

(A) A control station for receiving food supplies;

(B) food preparation and serving areas and equipment in accordance with the following requirements:

(i) Conventional food preparation systems shall include space and equipment for preparing, cooking, baking, and serving; and

(ii) convenience food service systems, including systems using frozen prepared meals, bulk-packaged entrees, individual packaged portions, or contractual commissary services, shall include space and equipment for thawing, portioning, cooking, baking, and serving;

(C) space for meal service assembly and distribution equipment;

(D) a two-compartment sink for food preparation.If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the kitchen shall have at least a one-compartment sink for food preparation;

(E) a hand-washing sink in the food preparation area;

(F) a ware-washing area apart from, and located to prevent contamination of, food preparation and serving areas. The area shall include all of the following:

(i) Commercial-type dishwashing equipment;

(ii) space for receiving, scraping, sorting, and stacking soiled tableware and transferring clean tableware to the using area; and

(iii) if in a resident kitchen, an under-counter commercial or residential dishwasher that meets the national sanitation foundation (NSF) international standards;

(G) a three-compartment deep sink for manual cleaning and sanitizing or, if in a resident kitchen, an alternative means for a three-step process for manual cleaning and sanitizing;

(H) an office in the central kitchen for the dietitian or dietetic services supervisor or, if in a resident kitchen, a workspace for the dietitian or dietetic services supervisor;

(I) a toilet room and a hand-washing sink available for dietary staff located within close proximity to the kitchen;

(J) an enclosed housekeeping room located within the central kitchen that contains a floor receptor or service sink with hot and cold water, shelving, and storage space for housekeeping equipment and supplies. If the building was constructed before February 15,1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, a housekeeping room shall not be required in the kitchen. If in a resident kitchen, there shall be an enclosed housekeeping room adjacent to the kitchen that contains storage for dietary services cleaning equipment;

(K) an ice machine that, if available to residents for self-serve, shall dispense ice directly into a container and be designed to minimize noise and spillage onto the floor;

(L) sufficient food storage space located adjacent to the central kitchen or resident kitchen to store at least a four-day supply of food to meet residents' needs, including refrigerated, frozen, and dry storage;

(M) sufficient space for the storage and sanitizing of cans, carts, and mobile equipment; and

(N) a waste storage area in a separate room or an outside area that is readily available for direct pickup or disposal.

(8) Laundry services. Each nursing facility shall have the means for receiving, processing, and storing linen needed for resident care in a central laundry or off-site laundry, or both, or a personal laundry room located on a resident unit in combination with these options. The arrangement of laundry services shall provide for an orderly workflow from dirty to clean, to minimize cross-contamination.

(A) If nursing facility laundry or more than one resident's personal laundry is to be processed, the laundry services area shall have separate rooms, with doors that do not open directly onto the resident unit, that have the following:

(i) A soiled laundry room for receiving, holding, and sorting laundry, equipped with containers with tightly fitting lids for soiled laundry, that is exhausted to the outside;

(ii) a processing room that contains commercial laundry equipment for washing and drying and a hand-washing sink;

(iii) an enclosed housekeeping room that opens into the laundry processing area and contains either a floor receptor or service sink, or both, and shelving and space for storage of housekeeping equipment and supplies;

(iv) a clean laundry room for handling, storing, issuing, mending, and holding laundry with egress that does not require passing through the processing or soiled laundry room; and

(v) storage space for laundry supplies.

(B) If nursing facility laundry or more than one resident's personal laundry is to be processed, the washing machine shall be capable of meeting high-temperature washing or low-temperature washing requirements as follows:

(i) If high-temperature washing is used, the washing machines shall have temperature sensors and gauges capable of monitoring water temperatures of at least 160°F and manufacturer documentation that the machine has a wash cycle of at least 25 minutes at 160°F or higher.

(ii) If low-temperature washing is used, the washing machines shall have temperature sensors and gauges capable of monitoring water temperatures to ensure a wash temperature of at least 71°F and manufacturer documentation of a chlorine bleach rinse of 125 parts per million (ppm) at a wash temperature of at least 71°F. Oxygen-based bleach may be used as an alternative to chlorine bleach if the product is registered by the environmental protection agency.

(C) If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the following elements shall be included:

(i) A soiled laundry room or area for receiving, holding, and sorting laundry, equipped with containers with tightly fitting lids for soiled laundry, that is exhausted to the outside;

(ii) a processing room or area that contains commercial laundry equipment for washing and drying and a handwashing sink;

(iii) a clean laundry room or area for handling, storing, issuing, mending, and holding laundry; and

(iv) storage space for laundry supplies.

(D) If each resident's personal laundry is processed separately on a resident unit, the laundry maybe handled within one or more rooms if separate, defined areas are provided for handling clean and soiled laundry.

(E) If laundry is processed off-site, the following elements shall be provided:

(i) A soiled laundry room, equipped with containers that have tightly fitted lids for holding laundry, that is exhausted to the outside; and

(ii) a clean laundry room for receiving, holding, inspecting, and storing linen.

(9) Central storage. Each nursing facility shall have at least five square feet per resident capacity in separate rooms or separate space in one room for storage of clean materials or supplies and oxygen. If the building was constructed before February 15,1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the minimum dimensions specified in this paragraph shall not apply.

(10) Housekeeping room. Each nursing facility shall have a sufficient number of rooms for the storage of housekeeping supplies and equipment needed to maintain a clean and sanitary environment.

(A) Each housekeeping room shall contain the following:

(i) A floor receptor or service sink;

(ii) hot and cold water;

(iii) adequate shelving;

(iv) provisions for hanging mops and other cleaning tools; and

(v) space for buckets, supplies, and equipment.

(B) If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the nursing facility shall have at least one housekeeping room with a floor receptor or service sink and with storage space for equipment and supplies.

(g) Staff and public areas. The rooms and areas required in this subsection shall be located in the main building of each nursing facility and in each freestanding building with a resident unit unless otherwise indicated.

(1) Staff support area. Each nursing facility shall have a staff support area for staff and volunteers that contains the following, at a minimum:

(A) A staff lounge or area;

(B) lockers, drawers, or compartments that lock for safekeeping of each staff member's personal effects; and

(C) a toilet room and hand-washing sink. If a resident unit is located in a freestanding building, the toilet room located in the resident unit may meet this requirement. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, this requirement shall not apply.

(2) Public areas. Each nursing facility shall have public areas to accommodate residents, staff, and visitors.

(A) Each building constructed and licensed as a nursing facility before February 15, 1977 shall have the following public areas:

(i) A sheltered entrance at grade level to accommodate persons in wheelchairs;

(ii) one public toilet and hand-washing sink;

(iii) at least one toilet and hand-washing sink accessible to a person in a wheelchair;

(iv) a drinking fountain or cooler, or other means to obtain fresh water; and

(v) a telephone, located in an area with sufficient space to allow for use by a person in a wheelchair, where calls can be made without being overheard.

(B) Each building constructed on or after February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation shall have the following public areas:

(i) A sheltered entrance at grade level to accommodate persons in wheelchairs;

(ii) a lobby or vestibule with communication to the reception area, information desk, or resident unit;

(iii) at least one public toilet and hand-washing sink that are accessible to a person in a wheelchair. If a resident unit is located in a freestanding building, the toilet room on the resident unit may meet this requirement;

(iv) if a nursing facility has a resident capacity greater than 60, at least one additional public toilet and hand-washing sink shall be provided;

(v) a drinking fountain or cooler, or other means to obtain fresh water; and

(vi) a telephone, located in an area with sufficient space to allow for use by a person in a wheelchair, where calls can be made without being overheard.

(3) Administrative areas. Each nursing facility shall have the following areas for administrative work activities in the main building:

(A) An administrator's office; and

(B) space for office equipment, files, and financial and clinical records.

(h) Nursing facility support systems. Each nursing facility shall have support systems to promote staff responsiveness to each resident's needs and safety.

(1) Call system. Each nursing facility shall have a functional call system that ensures that nursing personnel working in the resident unit and other staff designated to respond to resident calls are notified immediately when a resident has activated the call system.

(A) Each nursing facility shall have a call button or pull cord located next to each bed that, if activated, will initiate all of the following:

(i) Produce an audible signal at the nurses' workroom or area or activate the portable electronic device worn by each required staff member with an audible tone or vibration;

(ii) register a visual signal on an enunciator panel or monitor screen at the nurses' workroom or area, indicating the resident room number;

(iii) produce a visual signal at the resident room corridor door or activate the portable electronic device worn by each required staff member, identifying the specific resident or room from which the call has been placed; and

(iv) produce visual and audible signals in clean and soiled workrooms and in the medication preparation rooms or activate the portable electronic device worn by each required staff member with an audible tone or vibration.

(B) Each nursing facility shall have an emergency call button or pull cord located next to each resident-use toilet, shower, and bathtub that, if activated, will initiate all of the following:

(i) Produce a repeating audible signal at the nurses' workroom or area or activate the portable electronic device worn by each required staff member with an audible tone or vibration;

(ii) register a visual signal on an enunciator panel or monitor screen at the nurses' workroom or area, indicating the location or room number of the toilet, shower, or bathtub;

(iii) produce a rapidly flashing light adjacent to the corridor door at the site of the emergency or activate an electronic portable device worn by each required staff member, identifying the specific resident or room from which the call has been placed; and

(iv) produce a rapidly flashing light and a repeating audible signal in the nurses' workroom or area, clean workroom, soiled workroom, and medication preparation rooms or activate the portable electronic device worn by each required staff member with an audible tone or vibration.

(C) The administrator shall implement a policy to ensure that all calls activated from an emergency location receive a high-priority response from staff.

(D) If the nursing facility does not have a wireless call system, the nursing facility shall have additional visible signals at corridor intersections in multicorridor units for all emergency and nonemergency calls. If the building was constructed before February 15, 1977 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the nursing facility shall not be required to have additional visible signals at corridor intersections for all emergency and nonemergency calls.

(E) All emergency and nonemergency call signals shall continue to operate until manually reset at the site of origin.

(F) If call systems include two-way voice communication, staff shall take precautions to protect resident privacy.

(G) If a nursing facility uses a wireless system to meet the requirements of paragraphs (h)(1)(A) through (E), all of the following additional requirements shall be met:

(i) The nursing facility shall be equipped with a system that records activated calls.

(ii) A signal unanswered for a designated period of time, but not more than every three minutes, shall repeat and also be sent to another workstation or to staff that were not designated to receive the original call.

(iii) Each wireless system shall utilize radio frequencies that do not interfere with or disrupt pacemakers, defib-rillators, and any other medical equipment and that receive only signals initiated from the manufacturer's system.

(H) The nursing facility's preventative maintenance program shall include the testing of the call system at least weekly to verify operation of the system.

(I) If the building was constructed before May 1, 1982 and licensed as a nursing facility on the effective date of this regulation, the call system shall be required to meet the following requirements:

(i) Each resident bed shall have a call button that, when activated, registers at the nurses' work area with an audible and visual signal.

(ii) The call system shall produce a visual signal at the resident room corridor door.

(iii) The nursing facility shall have an emergency call button or pull cord next to each resident-use toilet, shower, and bathtub accessible to residents that, when activated, registers at the nurses' work area with an audible and visual signal.

(iv) All emergency and nonemergency call signals shall continue to operate until manually reset at the site of origin.

(2) Door monitoring system. The nursing facility shall have an electrical monitoring system on each door that exits the nursing facility and is available to residents. The monitoring system shall alert staff when the door has been opened by a resident who should not leave the nursing facility unless accompanied by staff or other responsible person.

(A) Each door to the following areas that is available to residents shall be electronically monitored:

(i) The exterior of the nursing facility, including enclosed outdoor areas;

(ii) interior doors of the nursing facility that open into another type of adult care home if the exit doors from that adult care home are not monitored; and

(iii) any area of the building that is not licensed as an adult care home.

(B) The electrical monitoring system on each door shall remain activated until manually reset by nursing facility staff.

(C) The electrical monitoring system on a door may be disabled during daylight hours if nursing facility staff has continuous visual control of the door.

(i) Nursing facility maintenance and waste processing services.

(1) Maintenance, equipment, and storage areas. Each nursing facility constructed after February 15, 1977 and licensed on the effective date of this regulation shall have areas for repair, service, and maintenance functions that include the following:

(A) A maintenance office and shop;

(B) a storage room for building maintenance supplies. The storage room may be a part of the maintenance shop in nursing facilities with 120 or fewer beds;

(C) an equipment room or separate building for boilers, mechanical equipment, and electrical equipment.

(2) Waste processing services. The nursing facility shall have space and equipment for the sanitary storage and disposal of waste by incineration, mechanical destruction, compaction, containerization, or removal, or by a combination of these techniques.

Notes

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 26-40-303

Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 39-932; effective Jan. 7, 2011.