Rule 3701-17-24 | Temperature regulation in homes.
(A) For the purposes of this rule:
(1) "Resident area" means any area within a nursing home that is occupied at any time by a resident except for an area, such as a greenhouse, that is specifically designed to be kept a higher temperature.
(2) "Temperature range" means between seventy-one degrees fahrenheit and eighty-one degrees fahrenheit.
(B) Each nursing home shall maintain the temperature within the temperature range and the humidity in resident areas at a safe and comfortable level.
(C) Residents in rooms containing separate heating and cooling systems who are capable of controlling them may maintain the temperature of their rooms at any level they desire except the nursing home shall take appropriate intervention if a resident's desired temperature level adversely affects or has potential for adversely affecting the health and safety of the resident or the health, safety and comfort of any other resident sharing the resident room.
(D) Each nursing home in consultation with its medical director, shall develop written policies and procedures for responding to temperatures in resident areas that are outside the temperature range as defined in paragraph (A) of this rule. The policies and procedures shall be signed by the medical director and shall include at least the following:
(1) An identification of available sites within or outside the nursing home to which residents can be relocated temporarily and of other suitable health care facilities that will be available to receive transfers of residents if the temperature level adversely affects or has potential for adversely affecting the health and safety of residents;
(2) Measures to be taken to assure the health, safety and comfort of residents who remain in the nursing home when temperatures are outside the temperature range as defined in paragraph (A)(2) of this rule; and
(3) Identification of the circumstances that require notification of the medical director or a resident's attending physician or that require medical examinations or other medical intervention and appropriate time frames for these actions.
(E) Whenever the temperature in any resident area is outside the temperature range as defined in paragraph (A)(2) of this rule, the nursing home shall immediately evaluate the situation and monitor residents at risk and take appropriate action to ensure the health, safety and comfort of its residents, including but not limited to implementation of the policies and procedures developed under paragraph (D) of this rule. The nursing home shall document all action taken under this paragraph and shall maintain, on site, documentation of action taken during the current calendar year and during the preceding calendar year.
(F) Each nursing home shall maintain appropriate arrangements with qualified persons that provide for emergency service in the event of an electrical, heating, ventilation or air conditioning failure or malfunction and shall maintain documentation of the arrangements such as employment or other written agreements. The nursing home shall ensure that all necessary repairs are completed within forty-eight hours or less. If, for reasons beyond the nursing home's control, repairs cannot be completed timely, the nursing home shall take any necessary action, as specified in paragraph (E) of this rule, and shall provide for the repairs to be completed as soon as possible.
Supplemental Information