SECTION 415.264. Restraint Off Facility Premises or for Transportation

(a) All off-premises transport. A registered nurse or physician assistant, as appropriate to the individual's clinical condition and the requirements of this subchapter, shall accompany the staff member(s) transporting an individual off premises when it has been clinically determined that during the time away from the facility the individual may require:

(1) medical attention;

(2) administration of medication; or

(3) restraint.

(b) Excursion off facility premises. A staff member may not restrain an individual being transported off facility premises unless the individual meets the criteria for a behavioral emergency, a physician orders the restraint, and transport is medically necessary with documented clinical justification.

(1) If restraint is required while an individual is on an excursion off facility premises, the staff member initiating the restraint shall contact a registered nurse to assist in obtaining a physician's order for the restraint as soon as feasible within the applicable timeframes prescribed in this subchapter.

(2) The staff members on the excursion shall implement, monitor, document, and report, in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter, any episode of restraint that occurs off premises.

(c) Restraint initiated prior to transportation. A staff member may not restrain an individual being transported prior to departure unless the situation meets the criteria for a behavioral emergency or the individual has been determined and documented manifestly dangerous in accordance with Chapter 415, Subchapter G of this title (relating to Determination of Manifest Dangerousness) within one month prior to transportation, a physician orders the restraint, and transport is medically necessary with documented clinical justification.

(1) If a behavioral emergency exists and a physician orders restraint prior to departure, at least one of the staff members accompanying the individual to the destination facility shall be a registered nurse.

(2) A female staff member shall accompany a female individual.

(3) If the duration of transport exceeds the maximum allowable duration of restraint on the original order, and a behavioral emergency continues to exist, or the person has been determined manifestly dangerous within one month prior to transportation, the registered nurse may either obtain a physician's telephone order to renew the restraint or obtain a new order for restraint, and renewal, as soon as feasible but within the applicable timeframes prescribed in this subchapter.

(4) Staff members accompanying the individual from the originating facility shall implement, monitor, document, and report, in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter, a restraint that is ordered and implemented prior to transportation. If transportation is for the purposes of transfer to another facility, staff members at the originating facility must fax the required documentation to the destination facility on the day of transport. Staff members at the destination facility are responsible for filing the documentation in the individual's medical record at the destination facility.

(d) Restraint initiated during transportation. If restraint is required following departure, a registered nurse shall obtain a physician's order from the originating facility for any restraint as soon as feasible within the applicable timeframes prescribed in this subchapter. If a registered nurse is not present during transportation, the staff member initiating any restraint shall contact a registered nurse to obtain a physician's order for the restraint as soon as possible within the applicable timeframes prescribed in this subchapter.

(1) If an individual is restrained during transportation, the staff member accompanying the individual shall implement, monitor, document, and report the episode of restraint in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter, and shall ensure that all documentation required under this subchapter relating to the restraint, including the physician's order, is transmitted to the destination facility within 24 hours following the time the individual is delivered to the destination facility.

(2) Staff members at the originating facility shall document and report restraint that is ordered and implemented during transportation. Staff members at the destination facility shall maintain documentation of the restraint at the destination facility.

(e) Comfort during transportation. The staff members shall provide an individual in restraint during transport the care required under §415.266(c) of this title (relating to Observation, Monitoring, and Care of the Individual in Restraint or Seclusion Initiated in Response to a Behavioral Emergency).

Source Note: The provisions of this §415.264 adopted to be effective July 22, 2014, 39 TexReg 5581