Conn. Agencies Regs. § 17a-210-1

Current through October 16, 2024

Section 17a-210-1 - Definitions

As used in section 17a-210-1 to section 17a-210-10, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies:

(a) "Administration" means the direct application of a medication by inhalation, ingestion or any other means to the body of a person, other than by injection.

(b) "Authorized licensed practical nurse" means a licensed practical nurse who has successfully completed the department's authorization program and may be delegated responsibility to participate in certain aspects of the medication administration certification process.

(c) "Certified non-licensed personnel" means any person who has successfully completed a training program approved by the department pursuant to section 17a-210-3 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and who has been issued a certificate authorizing him to be delegated the responsibilities to administer medication to consumers in specific programs operated and licensed by the department.

(d) "Certificate" means written authorization issued by the commissioner that establishes the competency of a person to receive further specific training and be delegated the responsibility to administer medications by a registered nurse in accordance with sections 17a-210-1 to 17a-210-10, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(e) "Consumer" means any person receiving services from or funded by the department.

(f) "Community training home" means a private family home licensed by the department to provide residential supports and services pursuant to section 17a-227 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(g) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Developmental Services or his designated representative.

(h) "Controlled medication" means controlled substances, Schedules II-V, as defined in section 21a-240 of the Connecticut General Statutes and regulations adopted pursuant to section 21a-243 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(i) "Day program" means the following programs operated or funded by the department: supported employment, sheltered employment, day support options and similar day programs funded by the department which are site-based or provided to a group of consumers.

(j) "Delegation" means the transfer of responsibility for selected nursing tasks from the licensed nurse who is responsible for the overall plan of care for the consumer to qualified non-licensed personnel.

(k) "Department" means the Department of Developmental Services.

(l) "Dwelling" means any building designed for human habitation.

(m) "Employee" means, solely for the purposes of sections 17a-210-1 to 17a-210-10, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, any individual employed by a residential facility operated, licensed or funded by the department; by a day program operated or funded by the department; or hired directly by a provider, the consumer or the consumer's family or guardian with department funding.

(n) "Endorsed instructor" means a registered nurse who has successfully completed the department's endorsed instructor training program and is granted endorsement by the department to teach the approved curriculum.

(o) "Error" means failure to administer medication to a consumer, failure to administer medication within one hour of the time designated by the licensed prescriber or supervising nurse, failure to administer the specific medication prescribed for a consumer, failure to administer the correct dosage of medication, failure to administer the medication by the correct route or failure to administer the medication according to generally accepted standards of practice.

(p) "Individual and family support" means, solely for the purposes of sections 17a-210-1 to 17a-210-10, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the support services provided or funded by the department through paid staff within a consumer's home, or a consumer's family home, or specialized day services that are self-directed. Such support services shall not include services provided in residential settings licensed or operated by the department or within day programs as defined in this section.

(q) "Individual plan" means the department's document that guides the supports and services provided to a consumer.

(r) "Investigational drug" means any medication which is being scientifically tested and clinically evaluated to determine its efficacy, safety and side effects, and which has not yet received federal Food and Drug Administration approval.

(s) "Licensed personnel" means a physician licensed under chapter 370 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a dentist licensed under chapter 379 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a registered nurse licensed under chapter 378 of the Connecticut General Statutes, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 378 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a licensed practical nurse licensed under chapter 378 of the Connecticut General Statutes practicing under the direction of a registered nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse, a physician's assistant licensed under chapter 370 of the Connecticut General Statutes or a pharmacist licensed under chapter 400j of the Connecticut General Statutes and acting in accordance with section 19a-509d of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(t) "Licensed prescriber" means a physician or other health care practitioner with applicable statutory authority to prescribe medication.

(u) "Medication" means any medicinal preparation including controlled medication as defined in subsection (h) of this section and non-controlled medication as defined in subsection (w) of this section.

(v) "Multiple doses" means the administration of more than one single dose, as defined in subsection (gg) of this section.

(w) "Non-controlled medication" means those medicinal preparations that are available by prescription or over-the-counter that are not included in Schedules II-V, as defined in section 21a-240 of the Connecticut General Statutes and regulations adopted pursuant to section 21a-243 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(x) "Original orders" means the written instructions from the licensed prescriber that provide authorization and direction regarding the administration of medication. The original orders shall either (1) contain the original signature of the licensed prescriber, or (2) be a direct facsimile transmission from the licensed prescriber, or (3) be an order taken by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or a pharmacist that is signed by the licensed prescriber not later than two weeks following the date the order is taken.

(y) "Prohibited practices" means an action or inaction that violates state or federal statute or regulation, or generally accepted standards of practice.

(z) "Provider" means a private agency, organization or individual from whom a consumer, or a consumer's family or guardian, purchases support services and from whom a consumer receives these services.

(aa) "Residential facility" means any campus or community-based dwelling, or respite center, funded or licensed by the department pursuant to section 17a-227 of the Connecticut General Statutes as a residence for the lodging of consumers excluding community training homes. A community-based dwelling, in which 16 or more persons reside, may be included only upon the written approval of the commissioner. Such approval shall be valid for an indefinite period subject to such terms and conditions deemed necessary by the commissioner to protect the health and safety of consumers. A dwelling that is not community-based in which eight or fewer residents reside may be approved by the commissioner for an indefinite period subject to such terms and conditions deemed necessary by the commissioner to protect the health and safety of consumers.

(bb) "Regional director" means that person appointed by the commissioner to be directly responsible for the management of one of the three regions of the department.

(cc) "Regional director of health services" means that person designated by the regional director to be directly responsible for the quality of consumer health services in each of the three regions of the department and quality assurance provisions of the regulations concerning the administration of medication by certified non-licensed personnel and trained non-licensed personnel.

(dd) "Revocation of certificate" means the removal by the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, of the medication administration certification issued to certified non-licensed personnel.

(ee) "Self-administration of medication" means that a consumer is able to identify the appropriate medication by size, color, amount, or other label identification; knows independently, or with the prompting of an employee or adaptive device, the frequency and time of day for which medication is ordered; and takes responsibility for the administration of the medication as prescribed.

(ff) "Serious medication error" means any error made by trained non-licensed personnel that requires a consumer to receive medical care at a physician's office, medical facility or hospital; or that results in the injury or death of a consumer.

(gg) "Single dose" means one or more medications in the prescribed dosages that are scheduled to be administered at the same time, on the same day at a location other than a residential facility.

(hh) "Supervisor" means an employee assigned by a residential facility, respite center or day program to be directly responsible for the management of the specific residential, respite or day program, including other persons employed by such program.

(ii) "Supervising nurse" means a registered nurse assigned by a residential facility, respite center or day program to be directly responsible for the management of medical services provided to the consumer in the specific residential, respite or day program, including the delegation of the task of medication administration to certified non-licensed personnel.

(jj) "Suspension of certificate" means the temporary cessation by the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, of the medication administration certification issued to certified non-licensed personnel.

(kk) " Suspend the delegation" means the measure imposed by the delegating registered nurse to protect the health and safety of the consumer following the identification of a single significant error or multiple errors committed by a certified non-licensed personnel. This measure means that certified non-licensed personnel are not permitted to administer medication until corrective action or sanction actions have been successfully completed and delegation resumed.

(ll) "Trained non-licensed personnel" means any person who:

(1) is a department-funded, paid employee;

(2) is hired by a consumer, the family or guardian of a consumer, or a provider, to provide individual and family support services;

(3) has successfully completed training required by the department, pursuant to section 17a-210-3 a of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies; and

(4) has been approved to administer medication to consumers supported in their own home, family home or specialized day services.

Conn. Agencies Regs. § 17a-210-1

Effective May 31, 1996; Amended December 3, 2009