A. Staff Support. The program director shall assure that the program:
- (1) Has at least one staff person on duty at all times that a resident is present in the RCS facility;
- (2) Has the capacity for and, when required by an individual's ITP, provides 24-hour awake staff support;
- (3) Has the capacity for 1:4 coverage and, when required by an individual's ITP, provides 1:4 coverage; and
- (4) If the program serves children, provides at least one staff member for every three children.
B. Psychiatric Evaluation and Intervention. The program director shall assure that a psychiatrist provides evaluation and prescribed needed treatment interventions, either:
- (1) By consultation with the psychiatrist who is currently treating the individual; or
- (2) Through a written agreement with a provider of mental health treatment, who will provide face-to-face evaluation by a psychiatrist before the development of the ITP.
C. Treatment and Support Services.
(1) The program director shall assign to each individual who is receiving RCS a treatment coordinator who shall assure that the individual receives:
- (a) The care or treatment recommended under Regulation .07A of this chapter;
- (b) Monitoring of the individual's condition;
(c) Supportive counseling focused on:
- (i) Assessment and definition of problems;
- (ii) Planning and goal setting;
- (iii) Development of effective problem-solving techniques; and
- (iv) Evaluation of progress;
- (d) Assistance in accessing community resources, including case management, that are essential to meeting the individual's identified needs; and
- (e) Transition services and discharge planning.
(2) Medication Services.
(a) Monitoring. A member of the treatment team privileged to do so shall provide the following medication monitoring services:
- (i) Supporting the individual's self-administration of medications, including both prescribed and over-the-counter medications;
- (ii) To the extent possible, monitoring compliance with instructions appearing on the label or a more recent physician's order;
- (iii) Reading the label to assure that each container of medication is clearly labeled with the individual's name, the contents, directions for use, and expiration date;
- (iv) Assuring that each individual has secure, appropriate, and accessible space in which to store medications;
- (v) Observing and documenting medications taken and any apparent reactions to the medication, and, either verbally or in writing and in a timely fashion, communicating to the prescribing authority problems that possibly may be related to the medication; and
- (vi) Reinforcing education on the role and effects of medication in symptom management.
- (b) Administration. If an individual's ITP requires that RCS staff administer medication, only an individual authorized to do so under Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, may administer medication.
Authority: Health-General Article, §§10-901 and 10-902, Annotated Code of Maryland
Effective date: December 28, 1998 (25:26 Md. R. 1926)
Regulation .02B amended as an emergency provision effective June 1, 2007 (34:13 Md. R. 1149); amended permanently effective August 13, 2007 (34:16 Md. R. 1432)
Regulation .03C amended as an emergency provision effective June 1, 2007 (34:13 Md. R. 1149); amended permanently effective August 13, 2007 (34:16 Md. R. 1432)