7 AAC 12.258. Use of restraints or psychoactive drugs

(a) In addition to the rights of patients specified in 7 AAC 12.890, residents of nursing facilities have the right to be free from physical restraints imposed or psychoactive drugs administered for purposes of discipline or convenience and that are not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms.

(b) A resident's medical records must contain evidence of consultation with appropriate health professionals, such as occupational or physical therapists, in the use of less restrictive supportive devices before using physical restraints. The record must also contain evidence of an interdisciplinary team's identification of less restrictive approaches to be used before or in conjunction with the use of psychoactive drugs.

(c) If, after a trial period of less restrictive measures, a nursing facility decides that a physical restraint or psychoactive drug would enable and promote greater functional or social independence, the nursing facility must explain the use of the restraint or psychoactive drug to the resident, before its use. If the resident has a legal representative, the explanation must also be given to the resident's legal representative, before its use. The explanation must include a description of the risks and benefits of the use of the restraint or drug.

(d) Approval of the use of a restraint or psychoactive drug by a resident, or legal representative must precede its use, except in the case of a medical emergency in which there is a risk of harm to the resident or others. The approval, or the circumstances of the emergency, must be documented in the resident's medical records at the nursing facility.

(e) A resident's medical records must contain evidence of an interdisciplinary team's periodic reassessment of the restraint or psychoactive drug to determine its effectiveness and appropriateness for continued use.

(f) A nursing home must also meet the requirements at 42 C.F.R. 483.10, 483.12, 483.13, and 483.15, as amended July 1, 1991, regardless of whether the nursing home is certified to receive medicaid payments under 7 AAC 43.170.

History: Eff. 5/28/92, Register 122; am 8/15/92, Register 123

Authority: AS 18.20.010

AS 18.20.060

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