Section 43-7-57 - Duties of officeThe duties of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Facilities Ombudsman, as created under Section 43-7-53, shall be:
(a) The establishment of a procedure to have regular and timely access to the services provided by the State Ombudsman Program and to receive, investigate and resolve complaints filed by residents or sponsors or organizations or long-term care facilities on behalf of residents of long-term care facilities relating to the health, safety, welfare and rights of such residents and to represent the interests of residents before governmental agencies;(b) The monitoring of the development and implementation of federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies with respect to long-term care facilities and to analyze, comment on and recommend any changes in such laws, regulations and policies as the Office of the State Long-Term Care Facilities Ombudsman deems appropriate;(c) The establishment of a training program for both the state and community ombudsmen;(d) To provide public forums, including the holding of public hearings, sponsorships of conferences and workshops, and the holding of other meetings to seek information concerning the needs and problems of residents in long-term care facilities;(e) The establishment and maintenance of a statewide uniform reporting system to collect and analyze data relating to complaints and conditions in long-term care facilities for the purpose of identifying and resolving significant problems faced by residents as a group;(f) The submission of an annual report to the State Department of Health, the United States Assistant Secretary for Aging (ACL/AOA), Executive Director of the Council and the State Legislature, which shall include statistical information about the state and community long-term care facilities ombudsman programs, shall identify systemic problems in long-term care facilities that cannot be adequately addressed by state and local agencies, and shall include recommendations for legislative or executive action to alleviate any systemic problems;(g) The testing and designation of the representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Facilities Ombudsman;(h) The development of an ongoing program of publicizing programs designated by the Office of the State Long-Term Care Facilities Ombudsman and by the community long-term care facilities ombudsman through contact with the media and civic organizations;(i) The development of policies and regulations related to the use of volunteers in the program; and(j) Other duties as mandated by the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended.Laws, 1988, ch. 592, § 4, eff. 7/1/1988.Amended by Laws, 2017, ch. 344, HB 492, 4, eff. 7/1/2017.