1. (1) The governing body of the general hospital shall be responsible for the overall operation and management of the psychiatric inpatient unit, and may discharge any responsibilities hereinafter stated through any body of delegates which is approved by the commissioner.
2. (2) The governing body shall establish and maintain current a plan of organization for the unit which clearly indicates lines of accountability, the nature of professional responsibility to be exercised according thereto, and the professional qualifications required.
3. (3) The governing body shall develop and revise, as necessary, written policies for the quantity, quality, scope, goals, objectives and evaluation of all programs, policies for the accomplishment of stated purposes, and personnel policies. Personnel policies shall prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, disability, sex, marital status, age, national origin, or sexual orientation. Personnel policies and procedures shall provide for verification of employment history, personal references, work record and qualifications. Such policies shall also provide for securing a signed sworn statement whether, to the best of his/her knowledge, the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime in this State or any other jurisdiction.
4. (4) The governing body shall establish written staff development and training policies which address orientation and ongoing staff development and training which shall include, but not be limited to, behavioral management interventions, techniques and alternative methods of safely handling crisis situations and safety and security procedures. In addition, in those hospitals serving children, staff training shall include the principles of child development, behavioral management interventions, techniques, and alternative methods of safely handling crisis situations, techniques of group and child management, the laws and regulations governing child abuse reporting and the protection of children from child abuse and maltreatment. Such training in those hospitals serving children shall include preemployment orientation and continuing education.
5. (5) The governing body shall establish written volunteer policies and procedures. Such policies and procedures shall provide for screening of volunteers and verification of employment history, personal references and work history; supervision of volunteers; training in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subdivision. Such policies shall also provide for securing a signed sworn statement whether, to the best of his/her knowledge, the volunteer has been convicted of a crime in this State or any other jurisdiction.
6. (6) The governing body shall establish procedures to assure the health and safety of the patients in the program, and shall develop, implement, and regularly monitor clinical risk management programs in order to protect the health and safety of patients and enhance their quality of care.
7. (7) The governing body shall meet as often as necessary to properly execute its functions, and in no event less often than quarterly. Minutes of all official meetings of the governing body shall be maintained as permanent record of the decisions made in relation to the operation of the psychiatric inpatient unit and shall be made available to the office upon request.
8. (8) Ongoing direction and control of the program of the unit shall be delegated by the governing body to a physician whose qualifications in psychiatry are appropriate to the program. For purposes of this Part, this person shall be known as the director.

9. (9) Administrative management of the unit may be delegated by the governing body to an appropriately qualified administrator.

   (b) Administration.

10. (1) The governing body shall cause to be made an annual written evaluation of the total program to assess effectiveness and efficiency and to indicate any required changes in policies or services of the unit.
11. (2) The governing body shall maintain a separate set of financial accounts for the operation of the psychiatric inpatient unit.

12. (3) The governing body shall establish admission policies, including those pertaining to eligibility for service, and a description of available services which shall be written and made available to staff members, persons served and their families, cooperating agencies and the general public.

    1. (i) All admission policies shall prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, creed, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical disability, previous hospitalization in a State-operated psychiatric facility or ability to pay fees, provided, however, nothing in this subparagraph shall be interpreted to prevent a facility from making admission or discharge decisions based upon the functional, clinical and behavioral needs of a patient which are relevant to its program.
    2. (ii) No facility shall deny care and treatment to, or otherwise discriminate against, persons who are non-English speaking, deaf or hard-of hearing, in accordance with section 527.4 of this Title.
    3. (iii) A facility shall not deny access to a person who otherwise meets requisite admission criteria solely on the basis of multiple diagnoses or a diagnosis of HIV infection, AIDS, or AIDS-related complex.
13. (4) The governing body shall cause to be procured and maintained for reference by the governing body and staff members an up-to-date copy of this Part and copies of any guideline instruction or information manuals or other communications as may be prescribed by the office.

14. (5) The governing body shall appoint a special review committee, including members of the professional clinical staff, which shall:

    1. (i) develop a written special review plan subject to approval by the governing body and the office. This plan shall provide for review of all incidents in accordance with Part 524 of this Title and extra-risk procedures administered. Extra-risk procedures may include, but not be limited to, somatic therapies, experimental treatment modalities, and restraint or seclusion;
    2. (ii) review and evaluate incidents and extra-risk procedures in accordance with the plan;
    3. (iii) determine the facts in any incident reviewed, review ongoing practices and procedures in relation to such incidents and extra-risk procedures, and recommend changes in policies, practices or procedures which may be indicated;
    4. (iv) include, either on a regular membership basis or by special arrangement as indicated, the participation of appropriately qualified and experienced physicians; and
    5. (v) meet as often as necessary to properly execute is functions, and in no event less often than quarterly, keeping written minutes of its deliberations and submitting reports to the governing body as necessary.

15. (6) The governing body shall provide for the following in those hospitals which provide services to children:

    1. (i) procedures for notification of the child's parent or guardian of incidents as required by law, including but not limited to Mental Hygiene Law section 33.23; and
    2. (ii) procedures for the proper reporting to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment of suspected child abuse or maltreatment by a guardian, caretaker, or other person over the age of 18 who is responsible for the care of the child.
16. (7) The governing body shall cause to be written, made known to all employees and maintained current a plan for safeguarding all patients in the event of a major natural disaster or civil disturbance.

17. (8) The governing body shall require staff of the facility to participate with the local governmental unit in local planning processes as required by sections 41.05(e) and 41.16 of the Mental Hygiene Law. Such participation must be documented in the approved local services or unified services plan of each local governmental unit served by the facility. At a minimum, facility participation shall include:

    1. (i) provision of budgeting and planning data as requested by the local governmental unit;
    2. (ii) identification of the population being served by the facility;
    3. (iii) identification of the geographic area being served by the facility;
    4. (iv) description of the facility's relationship to other providers of services who serve the same geographic area, including but not limited to, written agreements to ensure expeditious access to programs by persons who need them. At a minimum, these agreements shall provide a process for prompt referral, evaluation and, as necessary, admission to cooperating programs; specify mechanisms for coordinated development of service plans for patients being served by more than one program; provide for access to emergency psychiatric services within the geographic area; and provide a mechanism for sharing information about patients being served; and
    5. (v) attendance at planning meetings as may reasonably be required by the local governmental unit.

(a) Organization.