Written patient care policies and procedures shall be established and implemented to ensure that patient related goals and facility objectives are achieved as is established by California Administrative Code Title 22 Section 72523.
(b) All policies and procedures required of these regulations shall be in writing, made available upon request to physicians and other involved health professionals, patients or their representatives, employees and the public shall be carried out as written. Policies and procedures shall be reviewed at least annually, revised as needed and approved in writing by the patient care policy committee.
(c) Each facility shall establish and implement policies and procedures, including but not limited to:
(1) Physician services policies and procedures which include:
(A) Orientation of new physicians to the facility and changes in physician services and/or policies.
(B) Patient evaluation visits by the attending physician and documentation of alternate schedules for such visits.
(2) Nursing services policies and procedures which include:
A) A current nursing procedure manual.
(B) Provision for the inventory and identification of patients’ personal possessions, equipment and valuables.
(C) Screening of all patients for tuberculosis upon admission. These procedures shall be determined by the patient care policy committee. A tuberculosis screening procedure may not be required if there is satisfactory written evidence available that a tuberculosis screening procedure has been completed within 90 days of the date of admission to the facility. Subsequent tuberculosis screening procedures shall be determined by the attending physician.
(D) Notification of physician regarding sudden or marked adverse change in a patient’s condition.
(E) Conditions under which restraints are used, the application of restraints, and the mechanism used for monitoring and controlling their use.
(3) Infection control policies and procedures.
(4) Dietary services policies and procedures which include:
(A) Provision for safe, nutritious food preparation and service.
(B) A provision for maintaining a current dietetic service procedure manual.
(5) Pharmaceutical services policies and procedures.
(6) Activity program policies and procedures.
(7) Housekeeping services policies and procedures which include provision for maintenance of a safe, clean environment for patients, employees and the public.
Contact Steven Peck’s Premier Legal toll free at 1-866-999-9085 or visit us at www.premierlegal.org to talk to an experienced California Nursing Home and Abuse lawyer.

About the Author

Attorney Steven Peck has been practicing law since 1981. A former successful business owner, Mr. Peck initially focused his legal career on business law. Within the first three years, after some colleagues and friend’s parents endured nursing home neglect and elder abuse, he continued his education to begin practicing elder law and nursing home abuse law.