Utah Admin. Code R523-2-11 - Admission to the Hospital and Coordination of Care

(1) The Division has oversight of the Hospital as per Subsection 62A-15-103(2)(b)(ii) and shall oversee the Continuity of Care Committees for adult and children, youths and their patients. When the patient is a child or youth, then patient also refers to the parent or legal guardian as it pertains to admissions, coordination of care, discharges and transfers between LMHAs of patients to and from the Hospital.

(2) The Division and Hospital shall conduct Continuity of Care Committee meetings regularly according to need, unless the time for the meetings is postponed or canceled for good cause.

(3) Each LMHA shall assign a liaison to the Hospital as the identified representative of the LMHA.

(4) The liaison shall coordinate patient needs for admission to the Hospital and shall complete the Hospital Pre-admission packet, which includes identifying community discharge and treatment options prior to admission. Any individual or family member independently requesting voluntary Hospital admission shall be referred to the appropriate LMHA geographical area in which the individual currently resides.

(5) LMHA liaisons are responsible to participate in the coordination of care at the Hospital. This includes participation in clinical staffing in person when possible, when the LMHA has a patient in the Hospital, and when the Continuity of Care Committee is meeting. The liaisons and Hospital staff are required to participate in order to coordinate patient treatment, discuss the progress of assigned patients and meet with patients and Hospital staff jointly to formulate patient care. On occasion in exceptional circumstances, liaisons may attend a Continuity of Care Committee meeting, and to coordinate patient treatment via teleconference, preferably video conference, if circumstances make travel unreasonable. Liaisons will inform the Division and Hospital staff in advance if this is the case.

(6) Patients admitted to the forensic units are under the jurisdiction of the criminal court system; if the need arises the LMHA liaison will participate in community discharge placements, and follow up care.

(7) Hospital staff and liaison shall coordinate discharge plans. As there are multiple factors inherent in determining "readiness for discharge," this decision will be made:

(a) on an individual basis, with input from the patient, the Hospital, the LMHA and the Division as necessary; and

(b) with patient's preferences and feedback regarding discharge placements as a consideration.

(8) Outplacement funds shall be used to resolve financial barriers that delay or complicate patients discharge.

(9) For adult patients the LMHA liaison is required to arrange discharge placement and follow up care once the patient is ready for discharge as indicated by the Division's designated electronic discharge program.

(10) The Hospital and LMHAs are required to use the designated program consistently, and:

(a) LMHAs are required to have at least two designated individuals with access to the electronic program to ensure uninterrupted coverage; and

(b) information from the designated program will be distributed monthly to the Hospital, and the LMHAs to track progress toward discharge.

(11) The philosophy of the Hospital is to provide short-term inpatient care for the purpose of stabilization with the goal of transition to a less restrictive level of care as soon as possible. If the Hospital or the LMHA determine that the patient is clinically ready for discharge, and the coordination of the placement is not occurring, the Hospital and liaison are required to notify the Division within five business days.

(12) If the LMHA does not agree the patient is clinically ready for discharge then the LMHA shall indicate disagreement, including a note in the coordination software system, within 5 business days of the Hospital indicating readiness for discharge.

(13) The liaison shall follow the Hospital's policies on admission, treatment, discharge, and transfers of each Hospital patient.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R523-2-11

Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2016-2, effective 12/22/2015 Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2021-06, effective 2/26/2021