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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Chapter 5122-7 | Client Services; Personnel

 
 
 
Rule
Rule 5122-7-02 | Client rights within regional psychiatric hospitals.
 

(A) The purpose of this rule is to promote and protect the rights of patients receiving services in Ohios regional psychiatric hospitals (RPHs).

(B) The provisions of this rule apply to all RPHs providing inpatient services under the managing responsibility of the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services (OhioMHAS).

(C) As used in this rule:

(1) "Interested party" means a parent, spouse, other relative, significant other, or guardian of a patient or an advocacy group or interested citizen.

(2) "Patient" means a person who is currently or has received inpatient or outpatient services at or through an RPH.

(D) The policy of OhioMHAS is to promote and protect the rights of patients receiving services consistent with a concern for human dignity, respect, recovery, and quality clinical care; to respond promptly and effectively to patient and interested party concerns, inquiries, complaints, and grievances; and to promote and evaluate patient satisfaction with services provided.

(E) Organization and responsibilities of OhioMHAS's advocacy program:

(1) An OhioMHAS advocacy services administrator lead for inpatient services is to be appointed for the department.

General responsibilities of the OhioMHAS advocacy services administrator lead include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Providing support for the rights and recovery administrator within each RPH;

(b) Serving as the resource person for patient advocacy issues;

(c) Evaluating and reviewing OhioMHAS policies, procedures, and mechanisms for assurance of individual rights;

(d) Ensuring that alleged patient abuse and neglect cases receive prompt and appropriate action;

(e) Promoting liaison with federal, state, local, community, legal, and civil rights advocacy groups;

(f) Consulting with appropriate OhioMHAS staff, including the executive committee team, regarding complaints, grievances, and grievance appeals, including those having a potential impact on policy development;

(g) Referring matters requiring legal expertise in the area of patient rights to the department's office of legal services;

(h) Investigating and responding to patient grievance appeals;

(i) Meeting with RPH rights and recovery administrators on at least a quarterly basis;

(2) Each RPH is to have at least one full-time rights and recovery administrator for inpatient services, who reports directly to the RPH chief executive officer (CEO) or the CEO's designee.

Each RPH is to have a rights and recovery administrator alternate, appointed by the RPH CEO and who reports to the CEO or the CEO's designee.

(3) Duties for the each RPH rights and recovery administrator include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Planning, implementing, and coordinating RPH advocacy programs, including all of the following:

(i) Developing policies and procedures for the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with state and federal statutes, joint commission guidance, and centers for medicare and medicaid services policy;

(ii) Monitoring and evaluating RPH compliance;

(iii) Establishing mechanisms for resolution of patient advocacy problems;

(iv) Providing consultation, negotiation, training, and technical advice; and

(v) Representing RPH on matters concerning patient rights.

(b) Providing patient advocacy services, including all of the following:

(i) Assuring adequate privacy for patient interviews;

(ii) Being accessible to patients in person and at work locations;

(iii) Representing and assisting patients especially in the areas of rights, abuse and neglect, and fulfillment of recovery and human dignity;

(iv) Investigating and responding to grievances on behalf of patients;

(v) Attending RPH investigatory interviews with patients, as requested by patients;

(vi) Protecting human and civil rights;

(vii) Reviewing unusual incident reports as part of the quality assurance process;

(viii) Ensuring that patients have legal representation at court hearings related to hospital services; and

(ix) Ensuring that patient rights are prominently displayed in writing on every unit.

(c) Attending meetings related to patient advocacy; serving as a member of the executive governing body and other committees to ensure representation of the hospital's advocacy program; preparing reports for RPH or campus administration and central office; maintaining records; and responding in writing to correspondence pertaining to patient advocacy;

(d) Providing input into program and environmental changes to meet the needs identified by patients and assuring protection of patient rights, as well as being involved in administrative decisions affecting patient rights, choice, dignity, and recovery;

(e) Advising all levels of RPH staff and volunteers of patient rights, as well as consulting with appropriate department staff, including legal staff, regarding policy issues and responses to complaints or grievances;

(f) Advocating for patient access to community mental health systems and facilitating access to outside entities, including legal counsel, as needed;

(g) Assuring that equal opportunity is implemented with particular emphasis on advocating that people with disabilities are free from discrimination in the provision of services on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, lifestyle, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental handicap, disability, developmental disability, or inability to pay as prescribed in department policies and rules and state and federal statutes;

(h) Ensuring that each patient understands the functions of and resources available through the Ohio protection and advocacy system and receives a copy of the patient rights in oral and written format in accordance with all of the following:

(i) The written rights are to be furnished to a patient within twenty-four hours after admission;

(ii) If a patient is unable to read or speaks a language other than standard English as a primary means of communication, or has a limitation on their ability to communicate effectively (such as deafness or hearing impairment), the list of rights is to be explained to them by providing interpreters, readers, or appropriate communication devices, or by providing other assistance; and

(iii) The notification and explanation of patient rights is to be documented in the patient's health record.

(4) Compliance with paragraph (D)(3)(h) of this rule will be monitored by the RPH quality assurance programs.

Last updated August 15, 2023 at 8:20 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: R.C. 5122.33
Amplifies: R.C. 5122.29
Five Year Review Date: 8/15/2028
Prior Effective Dates: 6/5/1978
Rule 5122-7-04 | Responsibilities of ODMH regional psychiatric hospital police and firearms restrictions.
 
This is an Internal Management (IM) rule governing the day-to-day staff procedures and operations within an agency.

(A) The purpose of this rule shall be to establish the minimum duties and responsibilities of Ohio department of mental health (ODMH) hospital police, and to establish that no firearms shall be dispensed, carried or discharged in any building or on the grounds of any facility that is operating under the control of ODMH, except as provided below.

(B) The provisions of this rule shall be applicable to all facilities under the managing responsibility of ODMH. The firearms restrictions stated in this rule shall include, but not be restricted to, employees of ODMH hospital police departments.

(C) The following definitions shall apply to this rule in addition to or in place of those appearing in rule 5122-1-01 of the Administrative Code:

(1) "Chief of police" means an individual appointed to supervise ODMH hospital police department personnel, operations, and security functions. This individual is appointed by the hospital chief executive officer, subject to joint selection or approval by the ODMH security consultant (or in his/her absence, the ODMH chief legal counsel) and final approval by the director.

(2) "Police officer" means any special police officer, as defined in section 5119.14 of the Revised Code, who is under the supervision of the hospital chief of police. A police officer has special training and authority, including the power to arrest under section 5119.14 of the Revised Code. Hereinafter, ODMH police officers are referred to collectively as "hospital police."

(3) "Firearm" means any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, or any part of any such weapon (or any ammunition for any such weapon, or any other weapon capable of discharging a projectile or projectiles that can wound, fatally or otherwise, the person of another). This definition includes unloaded firearms and any firearm which is inoperable but which can readily be rendered operable.

(4) "Securing the scene" means taking actions necessary to stabilize all existing factors and conditions which could destroy or disturb evidence at the scene of a death, an alleged patient abuse, or where any other suspected criminal offense has been committed.

(5) "Safety officer" means a hospital employee designated by the chief executive officer to develop, implement, and supervise the hospital's safety program.

(6) "Safety committee" and/or "environment of care committee" means a group of hospital employees responsible for reviewing, advising, and/or promoting the hospital's safety program.

(7) "Stun gun" means a weapon designed to stun or temporarily immobilize a victim, especially by delivering a high-voltage electric shock. This includes the trademark taser device.

(D) Requirements of hospital police

(1) Hospital police shall provide protection and security for the patients , visitors, staff, grounds and buildings under the operating authority of the hospital.

(2) Hospital police shall be aware of and sensitive to the therapeutic needs of patients, and shall participate whenever possible in assisting patients in their recovery.

(3) Hospital police may be required to serve as patient escorts as deemed necessary on a facility-by-facility basis.

(4) All reports, including reports of investigations, shall be properly filed, maintained, and secured to protect the confidentiality of persons involved as required by section 5122.31 of the Revised Code. All reports shall be made using standardized departmental forms or forms approved by the chief of police. Requests for access to, or copies of police reports shall follow ODMH policy L-13, "ODMH Public Records Policy."

(5) All inpatient and CSN incidents of workplace violence shall be reviewed annually by the hospital police department, as required by ODMH policy L-01, "Workplace Violence Policy and Procedure" and shared with the hospital chief executive officer in order to identify trends and learning opportunities.

(E) Responsibilities of hospital police

(1) The chief of police shall be responsible for all police department functions, supervision of all police department personnel, and regular performance of the following duties:

(a) Submission of routine reports to the chief executive officer, security consultant, and/or director as directed. An annual report shall be completed which includes measures to improve the operation of the hospital's police department.

(b) Preparation of a policy and procedure manual, which shall be reviewed and approved by the chief executive officer and used to instruct hospital police with respect to the police department's role in assisting patients in their recovery, police functions, and relationships with other departments and programs of the hospital.

(c) Immediate securing of the scene and notifying the chief executive officer or designee, the ODMH security consultant, and the Ohio state highway patrol of any criminal offense or of any allegation of patient/client abuse occurring on any property under the control of ODMH.

(2) Hospital police shall provide the following services:

(a) Enforce the laws of the state of Ohio and investigate any alleged violation of a state statute or organizational policy (as needed). In general, hospital police shall not manage the activities or behavior of patients unless a violation of state law is evident.

(b) Provide assistance to patients, family members and clinical staff in the ongoing process of recovery from the effects of a severe and persistent mental illness.

(c) Investigate all alleged crimes and report suspected illegal activities by employees to the hospital chief of police, who shall then make certain that the ODMH security consultant and the Ohio state highway patrol are both notified. If the Ohio state highway patrol elects not to handle a case, prosecution of suspected illegal activities will be pursued by the hospital police when the chief executive officer and ODMH security consultant concur.

(d) Investigate incidents, fires, and accidents pursuant to the applicable administrative rules promulgated by the department. A safety officer may be assigned to handle certain of these designated duties.

(e) Patrol the hospital's property and buildings in order to identify and report security, fire and safety hazards found and to request corrective maintenance action. Damaged property or conditions which are potentially dangerous to life or property and which are to be reported include defective fire or first aid equipment or unavailability of equipment.

(f) Remove or cause to be removed nuisances or obstructions from the hospital's property.

(g) Assist in the evacuation of patients, staff members and visitors in the event of an emergency and also to assist in providing security and shelter for those persons evacuated.

(h) Provide security, as needed, for public meetings on the property.

(i) Assist consumers, employees, or visitors by rendering emergency first aid, requesting medical assistance, or assisting in their transportation in emergencies.

(j) As an emergency intervention at the request of a clinical supervisor, assist in the control of a patient's behavior when such behavior presents a danger of physical harm to himself/herself and/or others.

(k) Investigate and file reports of vehicle accidents occurring on hospital property.

(l) Investigate employee accidents and complete police reports of these accidents; complete necessary documentation for possible workers' compensation claims in accordance with the hospital's written policies and procedures.

(m) Unless handled by the hospital's safety officer or safety/environment of care committee, develop and implement procedures for emergency evacuations and fire drills pursuant to the applicable rules promulgated by the department.

(n) Actively participate on the hospital's safety/environment of care committee, as appointed.

(o) Control the flow of vehicle traffic and parking on hospital property in accordance with hospital directives and the applicable administrative rules and state statutes.

(p) Maintain a daily radio/telephone log and make written reports of all activities.

(q) In addition to the aforementioned duties, hospital police shall observe the powers and duties as provided in section 5119.14 of the Revised Code.

(3) Training and expectations

(a) Training in job functions shall be available to all hospital BHO police and shall follow guidelines established by the training component of the appropriate division, including at least the minimum number of hours of training as mandated by the Ohio peace officers training council and provided by an academy which is recognized and accredited by the Ohio peace officers training council.

(b) First aid classes shall be mandatory for all hospital police.

(c) Hospital police shall not be expected to place their lives or the lives of other persons in jeopardy in order to discharge their duties.

(d) Hospital police shall not be expected to violate administrative rules or policies in the discharge of their duties.

(e) If the chief executive officer or any member of his or her administrative staff directs or orders the chief of police or a police officer to cease or not initiate an investigation of a reported or suspected violation of any state statute or administrative rule, such order shall not be carried out without first consulting the department security consultant. The order shall then be placed in writing with a copy to the director.

(F) Firearms restrictions

(1) Firearms shall not be stored, dispensed, carried or discharged in any building or on the grounds of any facility under the operating control of ODMH, except when a visiting police agency needs to lock its gun(s) in a safe area.

(2) No patient, visitor, hospital employee, including police officers, shall possess, store, dispense, carry or discharge a personally-owned firearm on the grounds of a facility under the operating control of ODMH.

(3) Ohio state highway patrol officers, local law enforcement authorities, or other persons duly authorized to carry firearms may not carry such weapons into patient contact areas of the facility unless a special request has been made by the chief executive officer in the event of a life-threatening emergency situation which could require the use of deadly force.

(4) Special requests granted by the chief executive officer, which are exceptions to the rule stated in paragraph (F)(1) of this rule, shall be reported immediately to the director of ODMH, or designee, and a written report of such incident shall be made to the director within twenty-four hours explaining the need for such actions.

(5) Any person who violates this policy shall have committed an action which may be cause for removal, as well as, arrest and prosecution under section 2921.36 of the Revised Code.

(G) Stun gun restrictions

(1) Except as authorized in ODMH policy L-14, "ODMH Hospital Police Use of Electronic Control Device" and when a visiting policy agency needs to lock its stun gun(s) in a safe area, stun guns shall not be stored, dispensed, carried or discharged in any building or on the grounds of any facility under the operating control of ODMH.

(2) No person, including police officers and other hospital employees, shall possess, store, dispense, carry or discharge a personally-owned stun gun on the grounds of a facility under the operating control of ODMH.

(3) Ohio state highway patrol officers, local law enforcement authorities, or other persons duly authorized to carry stun guns may not carry such weapons into patient contact areas of the facility unless a special request has been made by the chief executive officer in the event of a life-threatening emergency situation which could require the use of deadly force.

(4) Special requests granted by the chief executive officer, which are exceptions to the rule stated in paragraph (G)(1) of this rule shall be reported immediately to the director of ODMH, or designee, and a written report of such incident shall be made to the director within twenty-four hours explaining the need for such actions.

(5) Any person who violates this policy shall have committed an action which may be cause for removal.

(H) Equipment

(1) A night stick or riot baton may be carried by hospital police only when patrolling outside of buildings, and then only with prior approval of the chief executive officer. The use of a blackjack, slapjack, or similar type of weapon is prohibited.

(2) Equipment which discharges chemical gases, such as chemical mace, may be carried with prior approval of the chief executive officer, but only for patrolling outside of buildings. Such equipment shall not be used to control or subdue a patient.

(I) Implementation. The chief executive officer of each hospital shall be responsible for prescribing guidelines for implementation of this rule.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 111.15, 2921.36, 5119.01, 5119.14, 5122.31, 5503.02
Amplifies: 2921.36, 5119.01, 5119.14, 5122.31, 5503.02
Five Year Review Date:
Prior Effective Dates: 3/8/2009
Rule 5122-7-21 | Background check on applicants.
 

(A) The purpose of this rule is to establish policy and procedures for the conducting of background checks on prospective employees of the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services as mandated in section 5119.181 of the Revised Code. The purpose of the background checks will be to determine the fitness of applicants to serve in the positions sought whether in the classified or unclassified service. This rule also outlines the criteria to be applied in evaluating applicants based on information obtained from background checks.

(B)

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (B)(2) of this rule, this rule applies to all regional psychiatric hospitals (RPHs) or community support networks (CSNs) of the department and the central office.

(2) This rule does not apply to an applicant who seeks employment with a community support network and the applicant's intended work site is a residential facility as defined in section 5119.34 of the Revised Code. Instead, such an applicant is subject to a background investigation under rule 5122-30-31 of the Administrative Code.

(C) The following definitions shall apply to this rule in addition to or in place of those appearing in rule 5122-1-01 of the Administrative Code.

(1) "Applicant" means any person who is under final consideration for appointment to a position in the classified or unclassified service of the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services.

(D) The following paragraph pertains to crimes bearing a direct and substantial relationship to the position being filled.

(1) In accordance with section 5119.181 of the Revised Code, no appointing authority shall appoint a person to fill a position in the classified or unclassified service if the person has been convicted or has pleaded guilty to a violation of the following:

(a) Any felony contained in the Revised Code, if the felony bears a direct and substantial relationship to the position being filled; or

(b) Any crime contained in the Revised Code constituting a misdemeanor of the first degree and a felony on subsequent offenses if the crime bears a direct and substantial relationship to the position being filled; or

(c) An existing or former law of this state or of any other state or the United States if the law violated is substantially equivalent of any of the offenses described in paragraph (D)(1)(a) or (D)(1)(b) of this rule.

(2) The appointing authority shall determine what constitutes a direct and substantial relationship to the position being filled based on the following factors:

(a) Nature and gravity of the offense. For example, any conviction for a crime during which force was used or implied against another person, such as assault or armed robbery, would have a direct and substantial relationship to any position involving direct client contact;

(b) The length of time since the conviction. For example, convictions occurring more than ten years prior to the application carry less weight than more recent convictions; and

(c) The job duties of the position in question.

(3) Each applicant must be assessed on an individual basis based on the factors listed above.

(E) Procedure prior to hiring

(1) At the time of a conditional offer, the applicant shall be informed that a background check will be conducted.

(2) The following background checks are to be conducted on applicants prior to employment:

(a) For any position involving direct client contact, all previous employers who employed applicant in a similar position shall be contacted;

(b) The applicant's current and immediate prior employers shall be contacted as to work habits and reasons for leaving the employment;

(c) A request for information regarding prior criminal convictions shall be submitted to the law enforcement agency which has jurisdiction in the applicant's current or last area of residence;

(d) Personal references submitted by the applicant should be contacted as to their knowledge of the applicant; and

(e) An applicant shall be fingerprinted via electronic fingerprinting or other approved method, and shall be transmitted to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation (BCI&I) and the federal bureau of investigation (FBI).

The BCI&I's or FBI's response as to any felony convictions or pending criminal charges shall be compared to the information on the application signed by the applicant.

(3) Any falsification on the application which is disclosed by the background checks shall cause the applicant to be removed from further consideration for employment or, if already employed, shall cause the employee to be removed from employment.

(F) If, upon review by the appointing authority or their designee, the background check discloses information that the applicant has displayed character traits which would be detrimental to successful performance in the position sought, or that the applicant has been dismissed for good cause from any public or private service for a reason bearing a direct relationship to the position being filled, or that the applicant has been convicted of a crime bearing a direct and substantial relationship to the position, such applicant shall be precluded from further employment consideration.

(G) The applicable EEO officer shall be kept aware of specific reasons for hiring, or not hiring, an applicant under the provisions of this rule.

(H) All information obtained in the background checks shall be considered confidential. It is not a public record for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person, except the applicant, the appointing authority or their designee, or any hearing officer or court involved in a case denying employment.

(I) Notwithstanding the provisions of this rule, the Ohio department of mental health and addiction services shall conduct a separate criminal background investigation on all applicants for unclassified positions as described by section 124.11 of the Revised Code. All offers of employment to prospective (new) employees shall be made contingent on the successful completion of the background check, including a review of state tax issues.

Last updated January 3, 2022 at 10:49 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: R.C. 5119.10
Amplifies: R.C. 5119.10, 5119.181
Five Year Review Date: 1/3/2027
Prior Effective Dates: 4/4/1985, 12/1/2014