Rule 111-8-62-.07 - Governing Body(1) The governing body is responsible for providing the oversight necessary to ensure that the home operates in compliance with applicable requirements: Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, administrative rules and regulations of the Department of Community Health, Chapters 111-8-25, 111-8-62 and 111-8-100, and all other statutes, rules and regulations.(2) The governing body must ensure that the Department has current contact information consisting of name, e-mail address for departmental notifications to the home, physical addresses, and phone numbers for the governing body and the administrator or on-site manager of the home. The governing body must ensure that staff is held accountable for delivering any notices provided to the governing body at the listed addresses to the governing body.(3) The governing body is responsible for implementing policies, procedures and practices in the home that support the core values of dignity, respect, choice, independence and privacy of the residents in a safe environment and in accordance with these rules. At a minimum, the policies and procedures that are developed must provide direction for the staff and residents on the following: (a) The services available in the home, including, personal services, memory care services/centers and any other specialized services such as designated proxy caregivers.(b) Admissions, discharges and immediate transfers which ensure that the home does not admit or retain residents who need more care than the home is authorized or capable of providing.(c) Refunds when a resident is transferred or discharged.(d) Training and ongoing evaluation of staff, including specialized training if designated proxy caregivers are provided or memory care is offered.(e) House rules and their enforcement.(f) Protecting the rights of the residents as set forth in these rules;(g) Medication management, procurement and the professional oversight provided for such services.(h) Health and hygiene issues for residents and staff relating to infection control, work policies and return to work policies, food borne illnesses and reportable diseases.(i) The investigation and reporting of abuse, neglect, exploitation of residents, residents' wandering away from the community, accidents, injuries and changes in residents' conditions to required parties.(j) Discipline procedures for handling conduct which is inconsistent with the policies of the home committed by staff.(k) Emergency preparedness, drills and evacuation requirements.(l) Quality assurance and peer review mechanisms to determine opportunities for improving care utilizing information acquired from reports and investigations of serious incidents, including resident and family feedback.(m) The use of volunteers, who have unsupervised access to the residents and their orientation regarding resident's rights and basic safety precautions.(n) The specific use of proxy caregivers allowed within the home and the oversight of proxy caregivers the home requires or provides in accordance with Georgia law, these rules and the rules for proxy caregivers, Chapter 111-8-100.(o) The safety and security precautions that will be employed by the home to protect residents from harm by other residents, designated proxy caregivers and other individuals, not employed by the home who routinely come into the home.(p) The staffing plan which takes into account the specific needs of the residents and also includes arrangements for staffing in the absence of regularly scheduled staff.(4) The governing body must not permit any person who is a member of the governing body, administration or staff to serve as the representative of a resident of the home.(5) Where a member of the governing body, administration or staff serves as the representative payee of the resident, the home must use the funds received for the exclusive use and benefit and in the best interest of the resident and maintain necessary records to support such use.(6) The governing body must ensure that staff accepts certified mail from the Department when sent to the licensed home.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-62-.07
O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2-7, 31-7-1, 31-7-2.1, 31-7-3, 31-7-12.
Original Rule entitled "Provisional Permits" adopted. F. Nov. 19, 2009; eff. Dec. 9, 2009.Amended: New title "Governing Body." F. Dec. 19, 2012; eff. Jan. 8, 2013.Note: Correction of non-substantive typographical error in Rule History, "Amended: Dec. 19, 2012; eff. Jan. 8, 2013." corrected to "Amended: New title "Governing Body." F. Dec. 19, 2012; eff. Jan. 8, 2013." to cite title change omitted in 2012. Effective Sep. 13, 2021.Amended: F. Aug. 24, 2021; eff. Sept. 13, 2021.