Emergencies
Effective Oct 27, 2025Ark. R. 2025-27 (eff. October 27, 2025).Arkansas Code § 20-76-201; Arkansas Code § 25-10-129
(a) Emergency call data.
- (1) Emergency call data shall be posted in a conspicuous place and shall include at least the telephone numbers of local fire and police departments, ambulance service, and the poison control center.
- (2) The administrator shall be responsible for ensuring that emergency call information is posted in a conspicuous place so as to be immediately available to all personnel of the psychiatric residential treatment facility.
(3) Emergency call data shall include at least the following:
- (A) Telephone number of fire and police departments;
- (B) Names, addresses, and telephone numbers for emergency supplies, ambulance, minister, advisory dentist, American Red Cross, and poison control center;
- (C) Name, address, and telephone number of all personnel to be called in case of fire or emergency (to include the administrator and the director of nursing services); and
- (D) Name, address, and telephone number of an available physician to furnish necessary medical care in case of emergency.
(b) Emergency preparedness.
- (1) A psychiatric residential treatment facility must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness plan that must be reviewed and updated at least annually in compliance with 42 C.F.R. § 483.73 (2019).
- (2) A psychiatric residential treatment facility must develop and implement emergency preparedness policies and procedures, based on the emergency plan, a risk assessment, and a communication plan that must be reviewed and updated at least annually.
(3) The policies and procedures, at a minimum, must address:
- (A) Subsistence needs for staff and residents, whether they evacuate or shelter in place;
- (B) Medical and food supplies;
- (C) Alternate sources of energy to maintain temperature, emergency lighting, fire detection, extinguishing and alarm systems, sewage and waste disposal;
- (D) A system to track the location of on-duty staff and sheltered residents;
- (E) Safe evacuation plan including transportation and alternate means of communication with external sources of assistance; and
- (F) A system of medical documentation that preserves resident information and protects and secures records.
- (4) A psychiatric residential treatment facility must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness training and testing program.