N.M. Admin. Code § 8.370.17.23 - QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM, INTERNAL QUALITY COMMITTEE, EXTERNAL QUALITY COMMITTEE AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Each facility shall establish and maintain policies and procedures for quality assurance and quality improvement systems, as well as an internal quality committee and an external quality committee.

A. Policies and procedures: The administrator shall establish written policies and procedures which govern the facility's complete operation. The facility shall ensure that these policies are adopted, administered and enforced to provide quality health services in a safe environment. At a minimum, the facility's written policies and procedures shall include how the facility intends to comply with all requirements of these regulations and address:

(1) the facility organization including the legal entity or organization which owns the facility, any management companies or managers which manage the facility, the identity and credentials of the administrator responsible for establishing lines of responsibility and accountability for both licensed and non-licensed staff, and the administrator's responsibility to direct employees or contractually retain qualified individuals providing fiscal management and all operations in the facility, as well as maintaining records of disclosure of conflicts of interest and all ownership interests and controlling parties;

(2) the facility administration including designation of an administrator with authority, responsibility, and accountability for overall administration and operation, including plans for the administrator's absence;

(3) the maintenance of the facility, equipment and supplies including sterilization and disinfection of supplies, equipment and instruments; cleaning of birthing room after each use; inspection and maintenance of emergency equipment; maintenance of emergency supplies; maintenance, upkeep and cleaning of the building(s) and equipment; fire and emergency evacuation procedures; and proper disposal of waste liquids used for cleaning contaminated areas;

(4) quality of care and services including appropriate and inappropriate admission criteria; client rights; client risk assessment; administration and preparation of drugs; quality assurance and performance improvement programs; referral of clients for additional services including, but not limited to,, laboratory and sonography; transfer of clients to a hospital; ambulance transfer services; emergency procedures and resuscitative techniques; aseptic techniques; infectious waste and biohazard disposal in accordance with all applicable statutes and regulations; and safe handling of the placenta for families requesting to keep the placenta;

(5) staffing and personnel including written job descriptions for all staff with necessary qualifications consistent with these rules; minimum staffing and staff qualifications; and staff development and evaluation;

(6) maintenance of the client health record including protection of client confidentiality and privacy as required by law; secure release of medical information and records; and safe handling and storage of client records including appropriate document destruction procedures; and

(7) research procedures for any research being conducted at the facility in compliance with these regulations.

B. Internal quality committee: The internal quality committee is comprised at a minimum of the administrator and clinical director. If the administrator and the clinical director are the same person, another staff person with clinical experience shall be made a member of this committee. This committee shall establish and implement quality assurance and quality improvement systems monitoring and promoting quality care to clients through reviews that include chart review, data collection, client satisfaction surveys, and other program monitoring processes; data analyses; identification of areas for improvement; intervention plans, including action steps, responsible parties, and response time; and, evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions. The internal quality committee shall at a minimum, implement a thorough chart review process, as defined in these regulations, which considers and reviews outcome data analysis, targeted concern and improvement areas, client satisfaction surveys, and evidence based research to identify necessary quality improvement areas and processes. When areas of concern or potential problems are identified by the committee, the facility shall act as soon as possible to avoid and prevent risks to clients. The internal quality committee shall take and maintain meeting minutes. The internal quality committee shall, at a minimum, meet or convene:

(1) within 72 hours of every emergent or sentinel event to conduct an initial review and follow-up; if the internal quality committee consists of less than three people, the external quality committee shall convene to review emergent and sentinel events;

(2) monthly to document any significant events and any necessary quality care improvement steps to be applied to future events;

(3) quarterly for a detailed chart review, as provided in these regulations, of a minimum of five charts consisting of a minimum of one chart for each midwife and physician practicing at the facility; charts of all labor, postpartum, and newborn transfers; Apgar scores less than seven at five minutes; hemorrhage greater than 1000 ml; and any other significant problems encountered within the quarter;

(4) annually for review of policies and procedures, including, but not limited to:

(a) environment of care;

(b) testing and maintenance of equipment according to manufacturer's recommendations;

(c) housekeeping procedures;

(d) infection control procedures;

(e) privacy and security processes;

(f) compliance with policies and procedures for all emergency drills, including, but not limited to,,, fire, maternal/newborn emergencies, power failures, and natural disasters;

(g) evaluation of maintenance policies and procedures for heat, ventilation, emergency lighting, waste disposal, water supply, laundry, and nourishment station;

(h) annual employee performance evaluations;

(i) clinical practice guidelines; and

(5) submission of an annual quality report to the external quality committee.

C. External quality committee: The facility shall establish an external quality committee which includes the members of the internal quality committee, an external peer reviewer or a clinical consultant and other healthcare partners, if available. The external quality committee shall meet at least quarterly and perform an in-depth peer review case study on a minimum of five charts which include at a minimum one case for each midwife and physician practicing at the facility. The external quality committee shall also review the care of individual clients, targeted types of clients, and appropriateness of the clinical practitioner's judgment and management of the case under the facility's standards of care and policies, and make recommendations for care improvements. The external quality committee shall also discuss relevant evidence based research and make recommendations relating to clinical practice guidelines to improve quality of care.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.370.17.23

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024