1. (1) For the purpose of these rules, the terms listed below shall be interpreted as follows:

   1. (a) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or his/her authorized representative.
   2. (b) “Department” means the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services;
   3. (c) “Chief officer” means the person with overall authority for a public or private hospital or treatment resource, or the person’s designee.
   4. (d) “Mandatory pre-screening agent” means a person meeting the qualifications for a qualified mental health professional as defined in T.C.A. § 33-1-101 and specified training criteria under T.C.A. § 33-6-427 and who is designated by the Commissioner to perform mandatory pre-screening of individuals presenting for voluntary or emergency involuntary admission.

   5. (e) “Severe impairment” means a condition in which an adult or an emancipated child:

      1. 1. As a result of a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance:
   6. (i) Is in danger of serious physical harm resulting from the person’s failure to provide for the person’s essential human needs of health or safety, or

   7. (ii) Manifests severe deterioration in routine functioning evidenced by repeated and escalating loss of cognitive or volitional control over the person’s actions, and

      1. 2. Is not receiving care that is essential for the person’s health or safety.
   8. (f) “24 hour crisis services” means mental health services that are available twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, and are intended to stabilize the individual to prevent the crisis from escalating.
   9. (g) “Triage and referral” means a service that provides preliminary diagnosis, assessment and evaluation for the purpose of directing the service recipient to services that will appropriately address his or her needs.
   10. (h) “Supervised observation bed” means a bed in the designated facility which provides, for up to 72 continuous hours, a safe environment for a service recipient who, in the opinion of the examining physicians, requires care, observation, and treatment of the service recipient’s psychiatric symptoms.
   11. (i) “Continuum of care” means an array of mental health services and supports, which range from least restrictive to most restrictive.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 33-1-302, 33-1-305, 33-1-309, 33-2-301, 33-2-302, and 33-6-3. Administrative History: Original rule filed October 3, 2002; effective December 17, 2002. Administrative corrections made to agency names in December 2022 pursuant to Public Chapter 575 of 2012.