SECTION 568.67. Protection of a Patient

(a) Modifying the environment and monitoring the patient. A hospital shall protect a patient by taking the following measures:

(1) modifying the hospital environment based on the patient's needs, including:

(A) providing furnishings that do not present safety hazards to the patient;

(B) securing or removing objects that are hazardous to the patient; and

(C) installing any necessary safety devices;

(2) monitoring the patient at the level of monitoring most recently specified in the patient's medical record; and

(3) making roommate assignments and other decisions affecting the interaction of the patient with other patients, based on patient needs and vulnerabilities.

(b) Levels of monitoring. A hospital shall:

(1) define each level of monitoring in the hospital's policies and procedures, including a description of the responsibilities of staff members for each level of monitoring;

(2) implement the level of monitoring ordered by the physician, or physician-delegated physician's assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, based on the individual's needs; and

(3) document the clinical justification for any level of monitoring.

(c) Separation of patients by age. A provider that delivers mental health community services to children and adolescents in group settings (e.g., residential, day programs, group therapy, partial hospitalization, and inpatient) shall separate children and adolescents from adults. The provider shall further separate children from adolescents according to age and developmental needs, unless there is a clinical or developmental justification in the medical record.

Source Note: The provisions of this §568.67 adopted to be effective May 27, 2021, 46 TexReg 3276