A facility shall provide a staff call system for resident use to summon assistance from staff. The system must be capable of being easily activated by the resident and must register both visually and audibly at the staff station. In a multicorridor nursing unit, additional visible signals must be installed at each corridor intersection. The system must be utilized and maintained in a way that ensures the system is a consistent and effective means for a resident to alert staff of the need for assistance. A call station convenient for resident use must be provided at each bed, resident toilet, and bathing or shower facility used by the resident. A staff call system that provides two-way voice communication must be equipped with an indicating light at each calling station and the indicating light must remain lighted as long as the voice circuit is operating. The call system must also meet at least one of the following requirements:

1. (1) The call system utilizes fixed call stations that are convenient for resident use and activated by a pull cord or other approved device. The fixed system must actuate a visual signal at the resident room door, and in the clean workroom, soiled workroom, and nourishment station of the nursing unit. In a multicorridor nursing unit, additional visible signals must be installed at each corridor intersection. For the purpose of this subdivision, the term "nursing unit" means a unit that is limited to one floor of a health care facility and has all resident room entrances and exits within sight or control of nursing personnel;
2. (2) The call system utilizes wireless devices that are convenient for resident use and activated by a pull cord or other approved device. The wireless system must actuate a visual and audible signal at the staff station and on pocket paging devices carried by all direct care staff. Wireless devices must be fully supervised, capable of alarm reset at the source, and transmit low battery alert. Wireless devices must utilize batteries that are readily available; or

3. (3) For any other call system, the system must be submitted for review and approved by the department.

   A call station or device is not required in the resident room of a cognitively impaired resident, if a nursing assessment determines the resident would not benefit from the availability of a call station or device. The staff call system must include a method for staff to summon assistance if needed. For the purpose of this section, the term "cognitively impaired" means a deficiency that results in a diminished ability to solve problems, to exercise good judgement in the context of a value system, to remember, and to be aware of and respond to a safety hazard.

Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 4 SDR 14, effective September 14, 1977; 6 SDR 93, effective July 1, 1980; 14 SDR 81, effective December 10, 1987; 22 SDR 70, effective November 19, 1995; transferred from § 44:04:13:44 , 42 SDR 51, effective October 13, 2015 ; 51 SDR 53, effective November 11, 2024 .

General Authority: SDCL 34-12-13 .

Law Implemented: SDCL 34-12-13 .

Prior versions effective: 2015-10-13.