N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-17A.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 8:43G-17A.3 - Information required to be posted; retention

(a) For each inpatient unit, a general hospital shall count the number of patients and the number of staff based on hours worked for each category of direct patient care staff, excluding other licensed health care professionals, one hour before the end of each shift on each day of each month.

1. The results, including the ratio with the numerator as the number of staff for each category of direct patient care staff and the denominator as the number of patients, shall be posted in accordance with subsection (a) above.

(b) For the emergency department, a general hospital shall count the number of patients registered during the shift and the number of staff, based on hours worked for each category of direct patient care staff, excluding other licensed health care professionals, one hour before the end of the shift on each day of each month.

(c) For the post-anesthesia care unit, a general hospital shall count the number of patients that were in the post-anesthesia care unit during the shift and the number of staff, based on hours worked for each category of direct patient care staff, excluding other licensed health care professionals, one hour before the end of the shift on each day of each month.

(d) A general hospital shall count the number of staff for each category of other licensed health care professionals that were providing direct patient care during the shift one hour before the end of the shift on each day of each month.

(e) In counting the number of staff in (a) through (d) above, a general hospital shall include only staff that were actually present and providing direct patient care.

(f) Each posting shall include a brief description of the methods used by the general hospital for determining and adjusting direct patient care staffing levels.

(g) The general hospital shall post the required information described in (a) through (f) above for inpatient units, for all other types of general hospital units, and for other licensed health care professionals on a daily basis no later than one hour after the beginning of the next shift with respect to each shift.

(h) If a language other than English is the exclusive language spoken by at least 10 percent of a general hospital's patients, the staff posting forms shall be translated into that language and the forms shall be posted in English and the other language.

(i) All general hospitals shall establish procedures to provide a copy of the daily postings at no charge to any member of the public upon request.

(j) Each general hospital shall retain and store the daily postings as described in 8:43G-17A.3(a) through (g) for a period of three years.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-17A.3