Okla. Admin. Code § 450:15-3-6

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 450:15-3-6 - Communications and social contacts

(a) Consumers in inpatient settings are encouraged to engage with family and friends. Consumers are entitled to correspondence and visitation when clinically appropriate.

(b) Consumers admitted voluntarily and consumers admitted under emergency detention status are entitled to unimpeded, private and uncensored communication with persons of their choice unless a consumer's treatment team concludes that such communication is not clinically appropriate and documents reasons for this conclusion in the clinical record.

(c) Communication and visitation for all consumers, by phone or face-to-face, with legal counsel or clergy shall not be limited except as requested by individual attorneys or clergy members.

(d) Consumers admitted voluntarily and consumers admitted under emergency detention status shall be allowed to contact one individual immediately upon entry into such place of detention or admission for purposes of notification of the consumer's location (43A O.S. § 5-201).

(e) Each facility shall provide writing materials and reasonable amounts of postage to ensure correspondence can be written and mailed for those consumers who cannot procure these items. The facility director may establish procedures regarding the mailing, delivery and opening of consumer mail if determined necessary for security or safety. A consumer's correspondence may be restricted as determined by the treatment team. Either occurrence shall be documented in the consumer's clinical record.

(f) Each facility shall establish in writing reasonable times and places for the use of telephones and for visitation to consumers and treatment advocates. Each facility shall post hours for visitation. Requests for telephone usage or visitation outside the established hours shall be addressed on an individual basis by the consumer's treatment team.

(g) Telephone usage and visitation may be limited in addition to the provisions in (f) of this Section as determined by the treatment team for therapeutic reasons, which shall be documented in the clinical record. Limitations shall be reviewed at each treatment team meeting and shall not continue longer than clinically necessary. Limitations shall not be implemented for punitive reasons.

(h) Visitation using a HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platform in addition to in- person visitation shall be used to promote consumer engagement with family and friends when clinically appropriate.

Okla. Admin. Code § 450:15-3-6

Amended at 10 Ok Reg 4093, eff 7-26-93; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1478, eff 7-1-99; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1363, eff 7-1-02; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2110, eff 7-1-03; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1726, eff 7-1-04; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1420, eff 7-1-07

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 22, August 1, 2023, eff. 9/15/2023