1. A. The State ombudsman shall provide, and the local ombudsman shall participate in, the following training for local ombudsman:

   1. (1) At least 14 hours of orientation to provide a working knowledge of the long-term care system and the Statewide Ombudsman Program;
   2. (2) At least quarterly in-service meetings, each at least 1 day in duration;
   3. (3) Technical assistance on a continuing, as-needed basis.

2. B. The local ombudsman shall provide, and the patient advocates shall participate in, the following training for patient advocates:

   1. (1) At least 20 hours of initial training to provide a working knowledge of the long-term care system and the Statewide Ombudsman Program;
   2. (2) At least quarterly in-service meetings, each at least 3 hours in duration;
   3. (3) Technical assistance on a continuing, as-needed basis.

3. C. Training shall cover at least the following subjects:

   1. (1) Physical, mental, and emotional aspects of aging;
   2. (2) History, purpose, objectives of local ombudsman program, and relationship to State Ombudsman Program;
   3. (3) Volunteer policies, procedures, and skills for handling complaints;
   4. (4) Confidentiality;
   5. (5) Overview of nursing home system;
   6. (6) Patients' Bill of Rights—State and federal;
   7. (7) Regulatory system—federal/State/local laws and regulations;
   8. (8) Health care system profile and interrelationships between agencies;
   9. (9) Family/resident council;
   10. (10) Reading and understanding medical records.

Authority: Human Services Article, §10-213, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: May 9, 1983 (10:9 Md. R. 792)

Chapter recodified from COMAR 14.11.05 to COMAR 32.03.02, October 2000

Regulation .10 adopted effective February 26, 2007 (34:4 Md. R. 404)