Sec. 10.21.08.07. Determination of Placement

A. Each hearing impaired patient in a facility, regardless of other handicapping conditions, shall be referred for evaluation for transfer to the unit pursuant to this regulation and Regulations .06 and .08A of this chapter. The following apply:

(1) The referring facility's treating physician shall refer any:

(a) Previously diagnosed hearing impaired patient to the unit within 72 hours of admission; or

(b) Patient newly identified as hearing impaired pursuant to this chapter, within 72 hours of identification.

(2) The unit staff, in consultation with the patient's treating physician at the referring facility, shall assess the appropriateness of the transfer, including but not limited to the criteria listed in Regulation .06A of this chapter.

(3) The assessment and decision regarding transfer of the patient shall be documented and sent to the referring facility by the unit's assessment team within 7 working days of referral.

(4) The decision regarding transfer and its rationale shall:

(a) Become a part of the permanent record; and

(b) Include the names and titles of the assessment team members.

(5) If, after referral and assessment, the patient's transfer to the unit is denied, the decision and its rationale shall be documented in the patient's chart by the unit's director or unit director's designee.

B. If the decision is made to transfer the patient to the unit, the transfer shall occur not later than 2 working days after the determination to do so, unless a bed is not available on the unit.

C. The unit shall establish and maintain a waiting list for patients who have been accepted into the unit and are awaiting transfer.

D. The date of entry onto the waiting list shall determine placement on the waiting list, except that priority shall be given to transfer patients from areas of known shortage of resources for mentally ill hearing impaired persons.

E. Decisions related to priority transfers shall be made by the unit director or the unit director's designee.