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Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-495-5

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Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-495-5 active

Hospice (facility)

Jurisdiction: CT Agency: CT Department of Public Health
HOSPICE (100%)
Plain-English summary

This Connecticut regulation establishes licensing and operating standards for short-term hospitals classified as hospice facilities, including both free-standing hospice facilities and distinct hospice units. It covers detailed physical plant requirements (construction, nursing units, service areas, mechanical and electrical systems), governance and administration, and medical staff composition. Operators must comply with these standards upon initial licensure or upon conversion from a previously licensed hospice program, and must surrender any pre-existing hospice license upon issuance of a hospice inpatient facility license.

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Regulation text
Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 

SHORT-TERM HOSPITALS, SPECIAL, HOSPICE 
 
Section 19a-495-5a. Applicability 
(a) Any person, group of persons, association, organization, corporation, institution or 
agency, public or private, initially licensed prior to the effective date of this section 
under Connecticut General Statutes section 19a-495 to operate a hospice as defined 
in section 19-13-D1(b)(1)(c) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies shall 
comply with the requirements set forth in section 19a-495-5b of the Regulations of 
Connecticut State Agencies. Any such person or entity operating a hospice under 
said regulations may file an application with the Department of Public Health for an 
initial license to operate a hospice inpatient facility in accordance with section 19a-
495-6b of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. Upon issuance of said 
license, the hospice inpatient facility shall comply with sections 19a-495-6a to 19a-
495-6m, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and shall 
immediately surrender its pre-existing license to operate a hospice. 
(b) Any person, group of persons, association, organization, corporation, institution or 
agency, public or private applying for licensure to operate a hospice inpatient facility 
on or after the effective date of this section shall comply with sections 19a-495-6a to 
19a-495-6m, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. 
 
Section 19a-495-5b. Short-term hospitals, special, hospice 
(a) Physical plant: 
(1) General 
(A) A free-standing hospice facility or a distinct hospice unit shall provide all 
the elements described in this section and shall be built in accordance 
with the construction requirements described in this section. 
Appropriate modifications or deletions in space and other physical 
requirements may be made to these requirements when services are 
permitted by the Department of Public Health to be shared or 
purchased, or waived because of a distinct unit's size. Distinct units of 
hospice facilities, including outpatient, in-patient and hospice-based 
care programs, shall meet the requirements described in this section, 
provided that the structure physically permits, the relevant services are 
provided at the facility and each facility’s hospice program requirements 
are met. Services provided by a short-term hospital, general shall not 
be considered to constitute a hospice program of care unless such 
hospital establishes a free-standing or distinct hospice unit to provide 
such services in which case the requirements of this section shall apply 
only to such free-standing or distinct hospice units. 
(B) Construction plans and specifications, as well as program details, shall 
be submitted to and approved by the Department of Public Health prior 
to the start of construction. 
(C) The facilities and distinct hospice units shall be of sound construction. 
(D) Each application for license or renewal thereof shall be accompanied by 
a certificate of satisfactory inspection by the local fire marshal. 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
(E) Areas in which medical gases are used, shall meet the requirements of 
the National Fire Protection Association Standards 56A, 56B, 56F and 
such other rules, regulations, or standards which may apply. 
(F) Equipment and furnishings shall be maintained in good condition, 
properly functioning and repaired or replaced when necessary. 
(G) A short-term hospital, special, hospice shall secure licenses and any 
other required government authorization to provide hospice care 
services for terminally ill persons on a twenty-four hour basis in all 
settings including, but not limited to, a private home, nursing home and 
residential care home or specialized residence that provides supportive 
services and shall present to the department satisfactory evidence that 
the organization that provides the hospice services has the necessary 
qualified personnel to provide services in such settings. 
(2) Site. 
(A) The site of new hospice facilities shall be away from uses detrimental to 
hospice patients such as industrial development and facilities that 
produce noise, air pollution, obnoxious odors, or toxic fumes. 
(B) Adequate roads and walks shall be provided within the property lines to 
the appropriate entrances to serve patients, visitors, staff and for 
receiving goods and produce. The walks and roads shall be maintained 
in a clear and safe condition. 
(3) Access for persons who have a physical disability. Facilities should be 
accessible to and usable by persons who have a physical disability. 
(4) Design. The design of a hospice facility shall provide comfort, warmth and 
safety, privacy and dignity for the patients. Every possible accommodation 
shall be made to avoid creating an institutional atmosphere. The facility shall 
provide as homelike an atmosphere as practicable. 
(5) Waivers. Each service provided by a hospice facility shall conform to the 
appropriate requirements set forth in this section and each service shall be 
provided unless a written waiver is obtained from the Department of Public 
Health for good cause. A request for a waiver shall be in written form and 
accompanied by a narrative description of the hospice program. The waiver 
request shall identify the facility's needs and the rationale for such request. 
(6) Nursing unit. 
(A) A nursing unit shall consist of not more than thirty beds. 
(B) Each patient room shall meet the following requirements: 
(i) No patient room entrance shall be located more than one 
hundred twenty feet from the nurses' station, clean workroom and 
soiled workroom; 
(ii) Maximum room capacity shall be four patients; 
(iii) To provide ample room for patients, families and visitors; the 
minimum room area exclusive of toilet rooms, closets, lockers, 
wardrobes, alcoves, or vestibules shall be one hundred twenty 
square feet in single-bedrooms and one hundred square feet per 
bed in multibedrooms. In multibedrooms, a clearance of three 
feet, ten inches shall be available at the foot of each bed and six 
feet between the beds to permit the passage of beds; 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
(iv) Each room shall have a window which can be opened without 
the use of tools. The windowsill shall not be higher than three 
feet above the finished floor. If insulated glass windows are not 
used, storm windows shall be installed. All windows used for 
ventilation shall be provided with screens; 
(v) Each room shall be located on an outside wall of the facility or 
hospice unit; 
(vi) A nurse calling button shall be provided within easy access of 
each bed; 
(vii) Room furnishings for each patient shall include an adjustable 
hospital bed with gatch spring, side rails, an enclosed bedside 
stand, an overbed table, an overbed light and a comfortable 
chair; 
(viii) All floors shall be above the outside grade at the outside wall; 
(ix) Each patient shall have a lockable wardrobe, locker or closet that 
is suitable for hanging full length garments and for storing 
personal effects; 
(x) Each patient shall have access to a toilet room without entering 
the general corridor area. One toilet room shall serve no more 
than four beds and no more than two patient rooms. The toilet 
room shall contain a water closet, a lavatory, grab bar and an 
emergency call station; and 
(xi) Cubicle curtains shall be installed for each bed in a 
multibedroom. 
(7) Service area requirements for each nursing unit shall provide: 
(A) Storage space for office supplies; 
(B) Hand washing facilities conveniently located to each nurses' station and 
drug distribution station; 
(C) Charting facilities for nurses and doctors at each nurses' station; 
(D) Individual closets or compartments for the safekeeping of personal 
effects of nursing personnel at each nurse's station; 
(E) A multipurpose room for conference and consultation with a minimum 
floor space of one hundred square feet; 
(F) A clean workroom that contains a work counter, hand washing sink, 
locked storage facilities, covered waste receptacles and ready access 
to an autoclave; 
(G) A soiled workroom for receiving and cleanup of equipment which 
contains a clinical sink or equivalent flushing rim fixture, sink equipped 
for hand washing, work counter, covered waste receptacle, covered 
linen receptacles and locked storage facilities; 
(H) A drug distribution station with a locked room for the storage of drugs 
and biological products. The drug storage room shall be located so as 
to be under the visual control of the nursing or pharmacy staff. The drug 
storage and preparation area shall be of adequate size for proper 
storage, handling, preparation, and record keeping of all drugs and 
shall contain a work counter, refrigerator, hand sink with hot water, and 
necessary equipment such as a locked cabinet containers or drug carts; 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
(I) Clean linen storage in a separate closet or room sized to meet the 
needs of the unit. If a closed cart system is used, storage may be in an 
alcove; 
(J) A nourishment station in a room which contains a stove, sink, 
equipment for serving nourishment between scheduled meals, 
refrigerator, storage cabinets, counter space and an icemaker-
dispenser unit to provide ice for patients' service and treatment. This 
area is for patient, family and staff use and provisions shall be made for 
small appliance use and storage; 
(K) An equipment storage room for I.V. stands, inhalators, air mattresses, 
walkers, and other patient equipment; 
(L) An area out of the path of normal traffic that is adequate to 
accommodate two wheelchairs and one stretcher for the purpose of 
parking stretchers and wheelchairs; 
(M) At least one bathtub or shower for each fifteen beds and one bathtub 
per nursing unit shall be of the free standing type with a clearance of 
three feet on three sides. Each tub or shower shall be located in an 
individual room or enclosure which provides space for a wheelchair and 
an attendant as well as dressing; 
(N) A janitor's closet with a minimum size of twenty square feet which 
contains a floor receptor or service sink and locked storage space for 
housekeeping equipment and supplies; 
(O) An isolation room for isolation medical treatment and control within the 
facility or through equivalent services in connection with a hospital. An 
isolation room located in a facility may be utilized as a regular patient 
room when not required for isolation purposes. Each such isolation 
room shall be a single patient room except as follows: 
(i) Entrance shall be through a vestibule that contains a lavatory or 
sink equipped for hand washing, storage spaces for clean and 
soiled materials, and gowning facilities; 
(ii) Provision shall be made for nursing observation of the patient 
from the vestibule; 
(iii) A private toilet room containing a water closet and a bathtub or 
shower shall be provided for the exclusive use of the patient with 
direct entry from the patient bed area without passing through 
the vestibule; 
(iv) A lavatory shall be provided for the exclusive use of the patient 
either in the patient room or in the private toilet room. 
(P) A room for the examination of patients with a minimum floor area of one 
hundred ten square feet with a minimum dimension of nine feet 
excluding space for the vestibule, toilet, closets, and work counters, 
whether fixed or movable. The room shall contain a sink equipped for 
hand washing, work counter, storage facilities and a desk, counter or 
shelf space for writing; 
(Q) A sitting room with not less than two hundred twenty-five square feet for 
every thirty beds; 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
(R) A patient dining area with fifteen square feet per patient to 
accommodate the total patient capacity of the facility which may be 
combined with the recreation area; 
(S) A single recreation area of fifteen square feet per patient, an office for 
the director of arts and provisions for storage; 
(T) An office for clergy and a chapel or space for religious purposes that 
shall be appropriately equipped and furnished; 
(U) A separate room for the viewing of a deceased patient's body during 
bereavement until released to the responsible agent; 
(V) A separate locked room or rooms for use as a pharmacy. This area 
shall be of adequate size to allow for efficient performance of all 
functions necessary for the provision of proper pharmaceutical services 
in the facility. The pharmacy shall be constructed so that it is not 
necessary to enter the pharmacy area to get to areas not directly 
related to the provision of pharmaceutical services. Proper lighting, a 
hand sink with hot water, refrigeration, humidity and separate 
temperature control in the pharmacy area shall be installed. Adequate 
space to accommodate specialized functions such as I.V. additive 
preparation, unit dose dispensing, drug information, manufacturing, as 
well as adequate storage space for bulk supplies, and office space for 
administrative functions shall be provided. Drug storage equipment 
such as a completely enclosed masonry room with a vault-type steel 
door, alarm system, safe, or locked cabinets as may be required to 
secure controlled substances and other drugs and biological products in 
compliance with applicable federal and state drug regulations, shall be 
located in the pharmacy area; 
(W) A physical therapy area that includes a sink, cubicle curtains around 
treatment areas, storage space for supplies and equipment, a separate 
toilet room and office space; 
(X) A dietary service area of adequate size that includes a breakdown and 
receiving area, storage space for four days food supply including cold 
storage, food preparation facilities with a lavatory, meal service 
facilities, dishwashing space in a room or alcove separate from food 
preparation and serving areas with commercial-type dishwashing 
equipment and space for receiving, scraping, sorting, and stacking 
soiled tableware, potwashing facilities, storage areas for supplies and 
equipment, waste storage facilities in a separate room easily accessible 
to the outside for direct pickup or disposal, office space(s) for dietitian 
and the food service manager, an icemaker-dispenser unit and a 
janitor's closet which contains a floor receptor or service sink and 
locked storage space for housekeeping equipment and supplies; 
(Y) An entrance at grade level, sheltered from the weather, and able to 
accommodate wheelchairs; 
(Z) A lobby with a reception and information counter or desk, waiting 
space, public toilet facilities, public telephones and a drinking fountain; 
(AA) Offices for general business and storage, medical and financial records, 
and administrative and professional staffs with individual offices for 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
administration, director of nursing, social services, and the medical 
director and separate spaces for private interviews relating to credit and 
admissions; 
(BB) A medical records librarian's office or space, record review and 
dictating space, work area for sorting and recording, and a locked 
storage area for records; 
(CC) A laundry area may be located either on the site of the facility or off the 
site of the facility for processing of linen; 
(i) On-site processing requires the following: 
(I) A laundry processing room with commercial-type 
equipment; 
(II) A soiled linen receiving, holding and sorting room with 
hand washing facilities; 
(III) Storage for laundry supplies; 
(IV) Deep sink for soaking clothes; 
(V) Clean linen storage, holding room and ironing area; and 
(VI) Janitor's closet containing a floor receptor or service sink 
and locked storage space for housekeeping equipment 
and supplies. 
(ii) Off-site processing requires the following: 
(I) A soiled linen holding room with hand washing facilities; 
and 
(II) A clean linen receiving, holding, inspection and storage 
room. 
(iii) Each facility shall have a domestic type washer and dryer, 
located in a separate room, for patients' personal use. 
(DD) A separate room or building for furnaces, boilers, electrical and 
mechanical equipment and building maintenance supplies; 
(EE) A separate toilet room for employees of each sex with one water closet 
and one lavatory for each twenty employees of each sex; 
(FF) Separate locker rooms for each sex containing individual lockers of 
adequate size for employee clothing and personal effects. The lockers 
shall be in an area divided from the water closets and lavatories; and 
(GG) Separate employee dining space in the ratio of fifteen square feet per 
employee dining at one time that shall not be included in the space 
requirement for any other area. 
(8) Construction requirements. 
(A) Fixtures such as drinking fountains, telephone booths, vending 
machines, and portable equipment shall be located so as not to restrict 
corridor traffic or reduce the corridor width. 
(B) Room's containing bathtubs, showers, and water closets, for use by 
patients, shall be equipped with doors and hardware that provide 
access from the outside in any emergency. 
(C) The minimum width of all doors to rooms needing access for beds or 
stretchers shall be three feet, eight inches. Doors to patients' toilet 
rooms and other rooms needing access for wheelchairs shall have a 
minimum width of two feet, ten inches. 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
(D) Doors on all openings between corridors and rooms or spaces subject 
to occupancy, except elevator doors, shall be of the swing type. 
Openings to showers, baths, patient toilets and other small wet-type 
areas not subject to fire hazard are exempt from this requirement. 
(E) Doors, except those to spaces such as small closets that are not 
subject to occupancy, shall not swing into corridors in a manner that 
might obstruct traffic flow or reduce the corridor width. 
(F) Windows and outer doors shall be provided with insect screens. 
Windows shall either be designed to prevent accidental falls when they 
are open, or shall be provided with security screens. 
(G) Dumbwaiters, conveyors, and material handling systems shall not open 
directly into a corridor or exitway but shall open into a room enclosed by 
construction having a fire-resistance of not less than two hours and 
provided with class B one and one-half hour labeled fire doors. Service 
entrance doors to vertical shafts containing dumbwaiters, conveyors, 
and material handling systems shall be not less than class B one and 
one-half hour labeled fire doors. Where horizontal conveyors and 
material handling systems penetrate fire-rated walls or smoke 
partitions, such openings shall be provided with class D one and one-
half hour labeled fire doors for two hour walls. 
(H) Thresholds and expansion joint covers shall be made flush with the 
floor surface to facilitate use of wheelchairs and carts. 
(I) Grab bars shall be provided at all patient toilets, showers, and tubs. The 
bars shall have one and one-half inch clearance to walls and shall have 
sufficient strength and anchorage to sustain a load of two-hundred fifty 
pounds. 
(J) Recessed soap dishes or an adequate soap dispensing system shall be 
provided at showers and bath tubs. 
(K) Mirrors shall not be installed at hand washing fixtures in food 
preparation areas or in clean and sterile supply areas. 
(L) Paper towel and soap dispensers and covered waste receptacles shall 
be provided at all hand washing facilities used by patients, medical, 
nursing or food handling staff. 
(M) Lavatories and hand washing facilities shall be securely anchored to 
withstand an applied vertical load of not less than two hundred and fifty 
pounds on the front of the fixture. 
(N) Handrails shall be provided on both sides of the corridor in patient 
occupied areas at a height of thirty-two inches above the floor; 
(O) Ceiling heights shall be as follows: 
(i) Rooms shall be at least eight feet in height except that storage 
rooms, toilet rooms, and other minor rooms shall be at least 
seven feet, eight inches in height. Suspended tracks, rails, and 
pipes located in the path of normal traffic shall be at least six 
feet, eight inches above the floor; 
(ii) Corridors shall be at least eight feet in height. 
(P) Enclosures for stairways, elevator shafts and vestibules, chutes and 
other vertical shafts, boiler rooms, and storage rooms of one hundred 
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Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
square feet or greater area shall be of a construction having a fire-
resistance rating of not less than two hours. 
(Q) Interior finish materials shall comply with the flame spread limitations 
and the smoke production limitations of the State Fire Safety Code. If a 
separate underlayment is used with any floor finish materials, the 
underlayment and finish materials shall be tested as a unit or equivalent 
provisions made to determine the effect of the underlayment on the 
flammability characteristics of the floor finish material. 
(R) Facility or hospice unit insulation materials, unless sealed on all sides 
and edges, shall have a flame spread rating of twenty-five or less and a 
smoke developed rating of one hundred and fifty or less when tested in 
accordance with ASTM Standard E 84. 
(S) Toxicity of materials. Materials that do not generate toxic products of 
combustion shall be given preference in selecting insulation and 
furnishings. 
(T) Elevators: 
(i) All floors within the facility, other than the main entrance floor 
shall be accessible by elevator: 
(I) At least one hospital-type elevator shall be installed where 
one to sixty patient beds are located on any floor other 
than the main entrance floor; 
(II) At least two hospital-type elevators shall be installed 
where sixty-one to two hundred patient beds are located 
on any floor other than the main entrance floor, or where 
the major inpatient services are located on a floor other 
than those containing patient beds. 
(ii) The cars of hospital-type elevators shall have inside dimensions 
that shall accommodate a patient bed and attendants. 
(9) Mechanical system requirements. 
(A) General. Prior to the opening of the facility, all mechanical systems 
shall be tested, balanced and operated to ensure that the installation 
and performance of these systems conform to the requirements of the 
plans and specifications and are safe for patients and staff. 
(B) Steam and hot water systems. 
(i) Boilers shall have the capacity, based upon the net ratings 
published by the Institute of Boiler and Radiator Manufacturers, 
to supply the normal requirements of all systems and equipment. 
The number and arrangement of boilers shall be such that when 
one boiler breaks down or routine maintenance requires that one 
boiler be temporarily taken out of service, the capacity of the 
system shall be sufficient to provide hot water service for clinical, 
dietary, and patient use. 
(ii) Boiler feed pumps, heating circulating pumps, condensate return 
pumps, and fuel oil pumps shall be connected and installed to 
provide normal and standby service. 
(C) Air conditioning, heating and ventilating systems. 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
(i) All occupied areas shall be maintained at an inside temperature 
of seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit (twenty-four degrees Celsius) 
by heating and eighty degrees Fahrenheit (twenty-seven 
degrees Celsius) by cooling. 
(ii) All air-supply and air-exhaust systems shall be mechanically 
operated. Fans serving exhaust systems shall be located at the 
discharge end of the system. The ventilation rates shown in table 
I are the minimum acceptable rates and shall not be construed 
as precluding the use of higher ventilation rates. 
(iii) Outdoor intakes shall be located as far as practical from exhaust 
outlets of ventilating systems, combustion equipment stack, 
medical-surgical vacuum systems, plumbing vents stacks, or 
areas that may collect vehicular exhaust and other noxious 
fumes. The bottom of outdoor air intakes serving central systems 
shall be located as high as practical. 
(iv) Corridor plenums shall not be used to supply air to or exhaust air 
from any room. 
 
TABLE I 
General Pressure Relationships and Ventilation 
Of Certain Hospice Areas 
Area 
Designation 
Pressure 
Relationship to 
Adjacent Areas 
Minimum Air 
Changes of 
Outdoor Air per 
Hour Supplied to 
Room 
Minimum Total 
Air Changes Per 
Hour Supplied to 
Room 
All Air Exhausted 
Directly to 
Outdoors 
Recirculated 
Within Room 
units 
Patient Room E 2 2 Optional Optional 
Patient Room 
Corridor 
E 2 4 Optional Optional 
Isolation Room E 2 6 Yes Yes 
Isolation Room 
Alcove or 
Anteroom 
E 2 10 Yes No 
Examination 
Room 
E 2 6 Optional Optional 
Medication 
Room 
P 2 4 Optional Optional 
Pharmacy P 2 4 Optional Optional 
Treatment Room E 2 6 Optional Optional 
X-Ray, 
Treatment Room 
E 2 6 Optional Optional 
Physical 
Therapy 
N 2 6 Optional Optional 
Soiled 
Workroom 
N 2 10 Yes No 
Clean Workroom P 2 4 Optional Optional 
Workroom N 2 10 Yes No 
Viewing Room N Optional 10 Yes No 
Toilet Room N Optional 10 Yes No 
Bedpan Room N Optional 10 Yes No 
Bathroom N Optional 10 Yes No 
Janitor’s closet N Optional 10 Yes No 
Sterilizer 
Equipment 
N Optional 10 Yes No 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
Room 
Linen and Trash N Optional 10 Yes No 
P=Positive 
N=Negative 
E=Equal 
(D) Plumbing and other piping systems. 
(i) Plumbing fixtures. 
(I) The water supply spout for lavatories and sinks in patient 
care areas shall be mounted so that its discharge point is 
a minimum distance of five inches above the rim of the 
fixture. All fixtures used by medical and nursing staff and 
all lavatories used by food handlers shall be trimmed with 
valves that can be operated without the use of hands. 
(II) Shower bases and tubs shall provide nonslip surfaces for 
standing patients. 
(ii) Water supply systems. 
(I) Systems shall be designed to supply water at sufficient 
pressure to operate all fixtures and equipment during 
maximum demand periods. 
(II) Each water service main, branch main, riser, and branch 
to a group fixture shall be valved. Stop valves shall be 
provided at each fixture. 
(III) Backflow preventers shall be installed on hose bibbs, 
laboratory sinks, janitors' sinks, bedpan flushing 
attachments, equipment that can be directly piped, and on 
all other fixtures to which hoses or tubing can be attached. 
(IV) Water distribution systems shall be arranged to provide 
hot water at each hot water outlet at all times. Hot water at 
shower, bathing and hand washing facilities personal use 
shall not exceed one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit 
(forty-nine degrees Celsius.) 
(iii) Hot water heaters and tanks. 
(I) The hot water heating equipment shall have sufficient 
capacity to supply water at the temperatures and amounts 
indicated below. Water temperatures to be taken at hot 
water point of use or inlet to processing equipment. 
 
Use Clinical Dietary Laundry 
Gallons (per hour 
Per Bed) 
6 ½ 4 4 ½ 
Temperature °(F) 110-120° Wash 160° 180° 
°(C) 43-49° 71° 82° 
°(F) Rinse 180° 
°(C) 82° 
(E) Medical gas and vacuum systems. 
(i) Nonflammable medical gas systems. Nonflammable medical gas 
system installations shall be in accordance with the requirements 
of National Fire Protection Association Standards 56 F and such 
other rules, regulations or standards that may apply. 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
(ii) Clinical vacuum (suction) systems. Clinical vacuum system 
installations shall be in accordance with the requirements of 
National Fire Protection Association Standards 56 F and such 
other rules, regulations or standards that may apply. The 
vacuum system may either be a central system or a portable 
system. 
(iii) One outlet of oxygen and one of vacuum of each bed shall be 
provided in each patient room. 
(10) Electrical system requirements. 
(A) General. All material including equipment, conductors, controls, and 
signaling devices shall be installed to provide a complete electrical 
system and shall comply with most recent available standards of 
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., or other nationally recognized 
standards that may apply. 
(B) Switchboards and power panels. Circuit breakers or fusible switches 
that provide disconnecting means and overcurrent protection for 
conductors connected to switchboard's and panelboards shall be 
enclosed or guarded to provide a dead-front type of assembly. The 
main switchboard shall be located in a separate enclosure accessible 
only to authorized persons. The switchboards shall be convenient for 
use, readily accessible for maintenance, clear of traffic lanes, and in a 
dry ventilated space free of corrosive fumes or gases. Overload 
protective devices shall be suitable for operating properly in the ambient 
temperature conditions. 
(C) Panelboards. Panelboards serving lighting and appliance circuits shall 
be located on the same floor as the circuits the panelboards serve. This 
requirement does not apply to emergency system circuits. 
(D) Lighting. 
(i) All spaces occupied by people, machinery, and equipment within 
buildings, approaches to buildings, and parking lots shall have 
lighting. 
(ii) Patients' rooms shall have general lighting and night lighting. A 
reading light shall be provided for each patient. General room 
illuminaries shall be switched at the entrance to the patient room. 
All switches for control of lighting in patient areas shall be of the 
quiet operating type. Night light circuits for each nursing unit 
shall be controlled at the nurses' stations. 
(E) Receptacles or outlets. 
(i) Patients' rooms. Each patient room shall have duplex grounding 
type receptacles as follows: Three duplex for each bed; two on 
one side and one on opposite side of the head of each bed; one 
for television and one on another wall. 
(ii) Corridors. Duplex receptacles for general use shall be installed 
approximately fifty feet apart in all corridors and within twenty-
five feet of ends of corridors. 
 Connecticut Department of Public Health 
 
Short-term Hospitals, Special, Hospice 
 
(F) Nurses' calling system. In general patient areas, each room shall be 
served by at least one calling station and each bed shall be provided 
with a call button. Two call buttons serving adjacent beds may be 
served by one calling station. Calls shall register with floor staff and 
shall actuate a visible signal in the corridor at the patient's door, in the 
clean workroom, the soiled workroom, and the nourishment station of 
the nursing unit. In multi-corridor nursing units, additional visible signals 
shall be installed at corridor intersections. In rooms containing two or 
more calling stations, indicating lights shall be provided at each station. 
Nurses' calling systems shall be audio visual and provide two-way voice 
communication and shall be equipped with an indicating light at each 
calling station, which lights and remains lighted as long as the voice 
circuit is operating. A nurses' call emergency button shall be provided at 
each patient's toilet, bath, shower room, dining room and sitting room. 
(G) Emergency electric service. 
(i) To provide electricity during an interruption of the normal electric 
supply, an emergency source of electricity shall be provided and 
connected to certain circuits for lighting and power. The source 
of this emergency electric service shall be an emergency 
generating set including the prime mover and generator which is 
located on the premises and shall be reserved exclusively for 
supplying the emergency electrical system. 
(ii) The emergency generating set shall provide electricity: 
(I) To illuminate means of egress and exit signs and 
directional signs; 
(II) To operate all essential alarm systems including fire 
alarms activated at manual stations, water flow alarm 
devices of sprinkler system if electrically operated, fire 
and smoke detecting systems, and alarms required for 
non-flammable medical gas systems; 
(III) To operate paging or speaker systems intended for 
communication during emergency; 
(IV) For the general illumination and selected receptacles in 
the vicinity of the generator set; 
(V) For specific task illumination and selected receptacles in 
medicine dispensing areas; treatment rooms; and nurses' 
stations; 
(VI) To one duplex receptacle at each patient bed; 
(VII) To the nurses' calling system; 
(VIII) To operate equipment necessary for maintaining 
telephone service; 
(IX) To the fire pump, if any; and 
(X) To circuits that serve necessary equipment as follows: 
(a) Equipment for heating patient occupied rooms, 
except that service for heating of general patient 
rooms shall not be required if the facility is served 
by two or more electrical services supplied from 
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separate generators or a utility distribution network 
having multiple power input sources and arranged 
to provide mechanical and electrical separation so 
that a fault between the facility and the generating 
sources shall not likely cause an interruption of the 
facility service feeders; 
(b) Elevator service shall reach every patient floor. 
Transfer devices shall be provided to allow 
temporary operation of any elevator for the release 
of persons who may be trapped between floors. 
(c) Central suction systems serving medical functions; 
(d) Laboratory fume hoods. 
(H) The connection to the emergency electric services shall be of the 
delayed automatic type except for heating, ventilation, and elevators 
which may be either delayed automatic or manual. 
(i) The emergency electrical system shall ensure that after 
interruption of the normal electric power supply the generator is 
brought to full voltage and frequency and connected within ten 
seconds through one or more primary automatic transfer 
switches to emergency lighting systems, alarm systems, blood 
banks, nurses' calling systems, equipment necessary for 
maintaining telephone service, and task illumination and 
receptacles in operating, delivery, emergency, recovery, and 
cardiac catherization rooms, intensive care nursing areas, 
nurseries, and other critical patient areas. All other lighting and 
equipment required to be connected to the emergency system 
shall either be connected through the primary automatic transfer 
switches, as described in this subparagraph, or through other 
automatic or manual transfer switches. Receptacles connected 
to the emergency system shall be distinctively marked. Storage-
battery-powered lights, provided to augment the emergency 
lighting or for continuity of lighting during the interim of transfer 
switching immediately following an interruption of the normal 
service supply, shall not be used as a substitute for the 
requirement of a generator. Where stored fuel is required for 
emergency generator operation, the storage capacity shall be 
sufficient for not less than forty-eight hour continuous operation. 
When the generator is operated by fuel which is normally piped 
underground to the site from a utility distribution system, fuel 
storage facilities on the site shall not be required. 
(11) Maintenance of systems and equipment. All electrical, gas, life safety, life 
support and critical systems shall be tested to ensure satisfactory performance 
prior to placing them into service and tested annually thereafter. Permanent 
records of all tests shall be maintained. 
(b) Administration. 
(1) The hospice shall be managed by a governing board with full legal authority 
and responsibility for the conduct of the hospice and the quality of medical 
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care provided at the facility. Duties of the governing board shall include, but 
not be limited to: 
(A) Adoption of the following in writing and upon adoption enforcing 
compliance with: 
(i) admission criteria defining eligibility for hospice services; 
(ii) guidelines for community relations; 
(iii) a patient bill of rights; 
(iv) medical by-laws after considering the recommendations, if any, 
of the medical staff; 
(v) rules and by-laws which include the following: 
(I) the purpose of the hospice; 
(II) annual review of the rules and by-laws, which shall be 
dated and signed by the chairperson of the board; 
(III) the powers and duties of the officers and committees of 
the governing body; 
(IV) the qualifications, method of selection and terms of office 
of members and chairpersons of committees; 
(V) a mechanism for approval of the appointments to the 
medical staff; 
(VI) qualifications for appointment to the medical staff based 
upon background, competence, and adherence to the 
ethics of the profession; 
(VII) a schedule of at least ten regular meetings per calendar 
year; and 
(VIII) a specific policy governing conflict of interest of members. 
(B) Establishment of a joint practice committee composed of 
representatives of medical staff, nursing staff, pharmacy staff, social 
work staff, arts and pastoral care staff, volunteer staff and the 
administrator or the administrator’s designee. 
(C) Appointment of the administrator who shall have one of the following: 
(i) completed postgraduate training approved by the Association of 
University Programs in hospital administration; 
(ii) attained three years experience as an assistant administrator; 
(iii) served three years as a hospice administrator under a state 
approved hospice program; or 
(iv) qualified by other experience approved by the Department of 
Public Health upon written application to the commissioner. 
(2) The administrator shall be responsible to the governing board for the 
management and operation of the hospice and for the employment of 
personnel. The administrator shall attend meetings of the governing board and 
of the medical staff, employ personnel of good character and suitable 
temperament in sufficient numbers to provide satisfactory care for the patients. 
(3) Outside services or resources as required by the facility or ordered by the 
physician shall be utilized only pursuant to written agreements. The 
responsibilities, function and terms of each agreement, including financial 
arrangements and charges, shall be specified therein and signed and dated by 
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the chairperson of the board, or administrator of the hospice and the person or 
duly authorized official of the agency providing the service or resource. 
(4) Any person may request hospice in-patient, out-patient and hospice-based 
home care services with the concurrence of a member of the medical staff of 
the facility. 
(c) Medical staff. 
(1) There shall be a medical staff of not fewer than five physicians, one of whom 
shall serve as a chief, president, or medical director of the medical staff and all 
of whom shall be licensed to practice medicine and surgery in Connecticut. 
The medical staff shall be composed of active medical staff, associate medical 
staff, courtesy medical staff, consulting medical staff and honorary medical 
staff. 
(2) The medical staff shall adopt written by-laws and rules governing its own 
activities not inconsistent with any rule, regulation, or policy of the governing 
board, which by-laws and rules shall not become effective until approved by 
the governing board and shall be subject to rescission by the governing board, 
which shall include: 
(A) requirements for admission to staff and for the delineation and retention 
of clinical privileges; 
(B) method of control of clinical work, including written consultations for all 
clinical services that shall be properly entered in the patient's chart; 
(C) analysis, review and evaluation of clinical practices within hospice in-
patient, out-patient and hospice-based home care programs, to 
promote and maintain high quality care; 
(D) a framework to ensure twenty-four hour, seven-day-a-week on-call 
availability, including physician home visits, and eight-hour-a-day on-
site medical staff coverage; 
(E) provision for monthly staff conferences unless clinical groups hold 
departmental or service conferences at least monthly, then general staff 
conferences shall be held at least four times each year, and each active 
staff member shall attend not less than ten departmental or general 
staff meetings or a combination thereof each year; 
(F) establishment of committees including infection control, safety, quality 
assurance, pharmacy and therapeutics, medical record audit, patient 
care, and others as necessary; and 
(G) procedures for recommending appointments to the medical staff, 
hearing complaints regarding the conduct of members and referring the 
same, with recommendations, to the governing board. 
(3) Any patient's primary care community physician who is not a member of the 
hospice medical staff may request hospice services for the patient with the 
concurrence of a hospice medical staff member. 
(4) Medical staff and departmental meetings shall be attended by at least fifty 
percent of the active staff members to be counted toward the mandatory 
meeting quotas. Minutes and a record of attendance shall be kept. 
(5) There shall be a department of medicine under the direction of a physician 
licensed to practice medicine and surgery in Connecticut, who shall be 
responsible for supervising the quality of medical service. 
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(6) The chief, president, or medical director of the medical staff shall supervise the 
bereavement team which shall consist of himself, a consulting psychiatrist and 
one representative from each of the following services: volunteer, pastoral 
care, arts, social work and nursing. 
(7) The medical staff shall provide and participate in a continuing program of 
professional education which shall include hospice-based home care 
programs scheduled on a regular basis with appropriate documentation of 
these activities. 
(d) Medical records. 
(1) There shall be a medical record department with adequate space, equipment 
and qualified personnel including a medical record librarian or a person with 
training, experience and consultation from a medical record librarian. 
(2) A medical record shall be maintained for every individual who is evaluated or 
treated as a hospice in-patient, out-patient or who received patient services in 
a hospice-based home care program. 
(3) An in-patient record shall be started at the time of admission with identification, 
date, and a nurse's notation of condition on admission. To the in-patient record 
shall be added immediately an admission note and orders by the attending 
member of the active medical staff. A complete history and physical 
examination shall be recorded by a staff physician within twenty-four hours of 
admission, unless the patient is being followed by a primary physician who 
performed the patient's last history and physical examination within forty-eight 
hours and the referral to the hospice program is made within the same 
institution. A problem oriented medical record shall be completed by the 
primary care nurse within twenty-four hours of admission. 
(4) All medical records shall be prepared accurately and physicians' entries 
completed promptly with sufficient information and progress notes to justify the 
diagnosis and warrant the treatment and palliation. Doctors' orders, nurses' 
notes and notes from other disciplines, shall be kept current in a professional 
manner and all entries shall be signed with a legally acceptable signature by 
the person responsible for making the order or note. 
(5) The medical records shall be kept confidential and secured. Written consent of 
the patient or the patient’s legally appointed representative shall be required 
for release of medical information except as provided in subsection (t) of this 
section. 
(6) The medical records shall be filed and stored in a manner providing easy 
retrievability and shall be kept for not less than twenty-five years after 
discharge of patients, except that original medical records may be destroyed 
sooner if they are microfilmed by a process approved by the Department of 
Public Health. 
(7) Completion of the medical records shall be accomplished within one day after 
discharge to a hospice-based home care program or within seven days of 
death. 
(8) Persistent failure by a physician to maintain proper records of the physician’s 
patients, promptly prepared and completed, shall constitute grounds for 
suspending or withdrawing the physician’s medical staff privileges. 
(e) Nursing Service. 
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(1) The nursing service shall be directed by the director of hospice patient care 
services who shall be a licensed registered nurse with baccalaureate degree 
in nursing and an active Connecticut license, and who is further qualified by 
one of the following: 
(A) a master's degree from a program approved by the National League of 
Nursing or the American Public Health Association with not less than 
two years' full-time clinical experience under qualified supervision, in a 
hospice or home health care agency related community health program 
that included care of the sick; and 
(B) not less than four years of full-time clinical experience in nursing, at 
least two of which were under qualified supervision in a hospice or 
home health care agency or community health program that included 
care of the sick. 
(2) A registered nurse with a baccalaureate degree in nursing and an active 
Connecticut license and one of the following shall serve as a supervisor of 
hospice in-patient, out-patient and hospice-based home care program under 
the direction of the director of hospice patient care services: 
(A) a master's degree from a program approved by the National League for 
Nursing or the American Public Health Association with not less than 
two full-time clinical experience under qualified supervision, one of 
which shall be in a health care institution and one of which shall be in a 
hospice or home health care agency or a related community health 
program; and 
(B) not less than four years' full-time clinical experience in nursing under 
qualified supervision, one of which shall be in a health care institution 
and one of which shall be in a hospice or home health care agency or 
related community health program. 
 (3) The ratio of patients to registered nurses in the hospice shall not be less than 
one nurse to six patients per eight hour shift. 
(4) The ratio of all nursing staff and nurses aides to patients shall not be less than 
one nurse or nurse aide to three patients. 
(5) An organizational plan of the nursing service shall be established that shall 
delineate its mechanism for cooperative planning and decision making. 
(6) Written nursing care and administrative policies and procedures shall be 
developed to provide the nursing staff with practical methods of meeting its 
responsibilities and achieving projected goals. Policies shall include, but not 
be limited to, the following: 
(A) assigning the nursing care of patients to a primary care provider who 
develops a written pertinent care plan; 
(B) standardized procedures for evaluation and study; 
(C) a program of systematic professional and administrative review and 
evaluation of the services’ effectiveness in relation to stated objectives; 
(D) patient and family teaching programs; 
(E) the development and implementation of staffing patterns that shall 
ensure efficient performance of departmental activities; and 
(F) participation in the joint practice committee for the improvement of 
patient care including equal representation of practicing nurses and 
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physicians, and continuous redefining of the scope of medical and 
nursing practice in the light of experience and patient care needs. 
(7) There shall be staff development programs and educational opportunities for 
nursing personnel that include orientation and in-service education. 
(f) Pharmaceutical service. 
(1) The facility shall maintain an organized pharmaceutical service that is 
conducted in accordance with current standards of practice and all applicable 
laws and regulations. 
(2) The pharmaceutical service shall be directed by a licensed pharmacist trained 
in the specialized functions of institutional pharmacy who shall serve the 
institution: 
(A) on a full-time basis in a free-standing facility; and 
(B) in a distinct unit identified as hospice on a part-time basis consonant 
with the size and scope of services of the institution. 
(3) The scope of pharmaceutical services shall be consistent with the drug 
therapy needs of the patients as determined by the medical staff. 
(4) There shall be an active medical staff committee, composed of a physician, 
the director of pharmacy, the director of patient care services, and a 
representative from administration that shall serve in an advisory capacity to 
the professional staff on matters relating to drugs and drug practices. Specific 
functions of this committee, which shall meet at least quarterly, shall include: 
(A) development of board professional policies regarding the evaluation, 
selection, procurement, distribution, use, safe-practices and other 
matters pertinent to drugs and biological products in the facilities; 
(B) development of basic formulary system of drugs for use in the facilities; 
(C) monitoring and reporting adverse drug reactions in the facility, and 
introducing proper measures to minimize their incidence; 
(D) reviewing and analyzing errors in the administration of drugs and 
biological products in the facility and taking appropriate action to 
minimize the recurrence of such incidents; and 
(E) determining drug-use patterns and assisting in the setting of drug-use 
criteria relative to the facility's drug utilization review program. 
(5) There shall be a current, written policy and procedures manual approved by 
the medical staff, pertaining to the drug and biological control system in the 
facility. 
(g) Social work service. 
(1) There shall be a written plan with clearly defined written policies governing the 
delivery of social work services in the hospice in-patient, out-patient and 
hospice-based home care program which shall include a procedure for 
reporting problem areas to the administrator, recommended solutions, and 
identifying actions taken. These policies shall incorporate the current 
standards, guidelines, and code of ethics determined by the National 
Association of Social Workers. The person having responsibility for the 
direction and supervision of the delivery of such services shall be a social 
worker with a master's degree from a school accredited by the Council of 
Social Work Education, who has not less than four years social work 
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experience in a health care setting including one year in a supervisory 
capacity. 
(2) The social work staff may include baccalaureate social workers with at least 
one year of social work experience in a health care setting. 
(3) There shall be a social work department with an adequate staff to meet the 
medically related social and emotional needs of the patient and family. 
(4) Social work services shall be provided in accordance with the plan for 
treatment. The social worker shall assist and work with the interdisciplinary 
team in identifying significant social and emotional factors related to care. The 
scope of social work services shall include: assisting in pre-admission and 
discharge planning; conducting medico-social assessment; counseling the 
patient and family on an individual and group basis; identifying, utilizing, and 
working to develop appropriate community resources; and maintaining 
adequate records relating to social work services that shall be included in the 
patient's medical record. 
(5) There shall be continuing staff development programs and educational 
opportunities for social work personnel that include orientation and in-service 
education. 
(h) Pastoral care service. 
(1) The hospice shall have adequate pastoral care services in the in-patient, 
outpatient and hospice-bed home care program, twenty-four hour on-call 
availability, and a well defined written plan and policies for pastoral care 
services available at the request of the patient. 
(2) The plan for pastoral care services shall ensure the supervision of the delivery 
of such services by an ordained and a qualified individual with a graduate 
theological degree and at least five years pastoral and clinical experience. The 
method for providing pastoral care to a patient or family shall be planned and 
developed in consultation with representatives of administration, medical staff, 
nursing staff, other departments and services that are involved in direct patient 
care, and representatives of the community. The director of pastoral care 
services shall be considered a member of the health care team, and may 
participate in all staff meetings. 
(3) There shall be continuing staff development programs and educational 
opportunities for the pastoral care staff including orientation and in-service 
education. 
(i) The arts. 
(1) The hospice shall provide extensive opportunities for experiences in the arts to 
the patients and families and for staff consultation as appropriate. The arts 
shall be available to hospice patients both on a scheduled and intermittent 
basis. Designated arts staff members who are providing such experiences 
shall be available on a scheduled on-call basis. 
(2) These artistic experiences shall be directed and coordinated by a qualified 
representative of the arts with a graduate degree and clinical experience in a 
hospital based setting in the arts or pastoral care and not less than five years 
supervisory experience in the arts and education who, in consultation with 
hospice staff members and community artist representatives, shall define the 
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need, choose an appropriate art form and select the artist or means to provide 
this experience. 
(3) The director of the arts shall be considered a full-fledged member of the health 
care team, with participation in all staff meetings. Written policies for the arts 
shall be developed and reviewed at least annually. Adequate records relating 
to artistic services rendered shall be included in the patient's medical record. 
(4) The arts staff shall complete a program of orientation to hospice and shall 
have appropriate in-service education programs on a quarterly basis. 
(j) Volunteer service. 
(1) A director of volunteers shall be employed full-time to plan, organize and direct 
a comprehensive volunteer services program for the in-patient, out-patient and 
hospice-based home care program. The director shall have a bachelor's 
degree in psychology, sociology, therapeutic recreation, or a related field and 
one year of employment in a supervisory capacity in a volunteer services 
program or an associate's degree and three years of supervisory experience 
in a volunteer services program. 
(2) The director shall: 
(A) Plan, direct and implement the recruitment of volunteers; 
(B) orient and provide for a program of training which includes, direct 
involvement, on-call service and staff support; 
(C) evaluate performances and effectiveness of each volunteer annually; 
(D) periodically review and revise policies and procedures; and 
(E) coordinate the utilization of volunteers with other directors as 
appropriate. 
(3) There shall be continuing staff development programs and educational 
opportunities for the volunteer services staff to include at least the following: 
orientation and in-service education. 
(k) Diagnostic and palliative services. Services, under competent medical supervision, 
shall be provided for necessary diagnostic and palliative procedures to meet the 
needs of the hospice in-patient, out-patient, and hospice-based home care program. 
This shall include the services of a clinical laboratory and radiological services which 
shall meet all applicable standards of the Department of Public Health. In addition 
there may be written agreements for other services including blood bank and 
pathological services as determined by patient needs. All contracts shall specify 
twenty-four hour on-call availability. 
(l) Respiratory care services. There shall be a written plan with clearly defined written 
policies and procedures governing the delivery of respiratory care services that shall 
include a procedure for reporting problem areas to the administrator, 
recommendations, solutions, and identifying action taken. Services, under direct 
medical supervision, shall be provided as necessary to meet the needs of the 
hospice programs, which shall meet all applicable standards of the Department of 
Public Health. Any contract for such services shall specify twenty-four hour on-call 
availability for hospice in-patient, out-patient, and hospice-based home care 
programs. 
(m) Specialized rehabilitative services. There shall be a written plan with clearly defined 
written policies and procedures governing the delivery of rehabilitative services that 
shall include a procedure for reporting problem areas to the administrator, 
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recommendations, solutions, and identifying action taken. Any contracts for such 
services shall specify twenty-four hour on-call availability for hospice in-patient, out-
patient, and hospice-based home care programs. 
(n) Dietary service. 
(1) There shall be an organized dietetic service, directed by a full-time food 
service supervisor. The food service supervisor shall be an experienced cook 
knowledgeable in food service administration and therapeutic diets. The 
service shall employ an adequate number of individuals to perform its duties 
and responsibilities. 
(2) There shall be written policies and procedures governing all dietetic activities. 
(3) The service shall have at least one qualified part-time certified dietitian-
nutritionist, with a baccalaureate degree and major studies in food and 
nutrition who is qualified for membership in and registration by the Academy of 
Nutrition and Dietetics’ Commission on Dietetic Registration. The 
administration of the nutritional aspects of patient care shall be under the 
direction of the dietitian whose duties shall include: 
(A) recording nutritional histories of in-patients; 
(B) interviewing patients regarding their food habits and preferences; 
(C) counseling patient and family concerning normal or modified diets and 
encouraging patients to participate in planning their own modified diets 
and instructing patient and family in food preparation; and 
(D) participating in appropriate hospice rounds and medical conferences; 
(E) coordinating activities with the food service supervisor. 
(4) Educational programs shall be offered to dietetic service employees including 
orientation, on-the-job training, personal hygiene, the inspection, handling, 
preparation, and serving of food, and the proper cleaning and safe operation 
of equipment. 
(o) Hospice-based home care program. 
(1) The health care services of the hospice-based home care program shall be in 
accordance with accepted standards of practice, applicable law and hospice 
policies and shall be provided by the interdisciplinary team as defined in 
section 19a-495-6a(a)(21) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. 
The program of care shall provide medical and health care services for the 
palliative and supportive care and treatment only for the terminally ill and their 
families. The hospice-based home care program encompasses the physical, 
social, psychological and spiritual needs of the patient and family and consists 
of services on a twenty-four hour basis, seven days per week. The services of 
hospice-based home care program shall include bereavement service, 
medical nursing, homemaker home health aide, pharmaceutical, dietary, 
pastoral care, arts, volunteers, diagnostic and palliative, social work, 
respiratory care, specialized rehabilitative, infection control and, as needed, in-
patient and out-patient hospice services shall be available to hospice-based 
home care patients and their families. 
(2) An organizational structure designed to effectively implement the requirements 
as described in subdivision (1) of this subsection. The medical director and the 
director of patient care services shall be vested with the overall coordination of 
the hospice-based home care program. The hospice-based home care 
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program shall have a supervisor who shall meet the requirements of 
subparagraphs (e)(2)(A) or (B) of this section. 
(3) The patient's primary care community physician, who is not a member of the 
hospice medical staff, shall be granted the privilege of requesting services 
provided by the hospice-based home care program in concurrence with a 
member of the hospice medical staff and on condition that the physician shall 
continue to be the primary care provider for the patient while the patient is at 
home under the auspices of the home care program. 
(4) There shall be twenty-four hour, seven-day-a-week on-call availability of the 
hospice medical director or the hospice medical director’s designee designee 
and the hospice home care nurse whether or not community service agency 
nurses are available. All physicians who provide medical services to patients 
in the hospice-based home care program, whether or not such physicians are 
members of the hospice medical staff, shall be evaluated as part of the regular 
hospice medical care evaluation program. 
(5) There shall be a written policy and procedure manual implementing the 
objectives of the hospice-based home care program that shall include a 
description of the scope of services, criteria for admission and discharge, 
follow-up policies, and uniform standards to be adopted by the patient's 
primary care community physician. 
(6) The hospice-based home care program shall have necessary personnel to 
meet the needs of patients, including: licensed registered nurses, licensed 
practical nurses, and homemaker-home health aides. Personnel assigned by 
community service agencies to provide services to the program's patients shall 
meet qualification standards equivalent to those required by hospice for 
employees in its home care program. When volunteer services are used, 
volunteers shall be trained and supervised by the hospice director of 
volunteers or other appropriate hospice directors, and those who provide 
professional services shall meet the requirements of qualification and 
performance applied to paid staff and functions. Hospice-based home care 
program personnel shall be involved in educational programs relating to their 
activities, including orientation, regularly-scheduled, in-service training 
programs, workshops, institutes, or continuing education courses to the same 
extent as other hospice personnel. 
(7) There shall be a program of systematic, professional and administrative review 
and evaluation of the program's effectiveness in relation to its stated 
objectives. 
(8) An accurate medical record shall be maintained for every patient receiving 
services provided through the home care program. 
(9) Arrangements for the provision of basic or major services by a participating 
community agency or individual provider shall be documented by means of a 
written agreement or contract. All hospice services available to patients in the 
in-patient and out-patient program shall be readily available to the home care 
program patients. 
(p) Infection control. 
(1) Each hospice shall develop an infection prevention, surveillance and control 
program that shall have as its purpose the protection of patient, family and 
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personnel from hospice or community associated infections in patients 
admitted to the hospice in-patient, out-patient, and home care program. 
(2) The infection prevention, surveillance, and control program of each hospice 
shall be approved by the medical staff and adopted by the governing board. 
The program shall become part of the by-laws of the medical staff. 
(3) A hospice infection control committee shall be established to supervise 
infection control and report on its activities with recommendations on a regular 
basis to the medical director. The membership of the committee shall include a 
physician who shall be the chairperson, a representative from nursing service, 
hospital administration, pharmacy, dietary service, laundry, housekeeping and 
the local health director. 
(4) The infection control committee shall: 
(A) adopt working definitions of hospice-associated infections; 
(B) develop standards for surveillance of incidents of hospice-related 
infection and conditions predisposing patients to infection; 
(C) monitor and report infections in all patients, including patients in the 
home care program, and environmental conditions with infection 
potential; 
(D) evaluate the potential for environmental infection, including 
identification whenever possible of hospice-associated infections and 
periodic review of the clinical use of antibiotics in patient care; and 
(E) develop preventive measures including aseptic techniques, isolation 
policy, and a personnel health program. 
(5) There shall be an individual employed by the hospice who is qualified by 
education or experience in infection prevention, surveillance, and control to 
conduct these aspects of the program as directed by the infection control 
committee. The employee shall be directly responsible to, and be a member 
of, the infection control committee. The employee shall make a monthly written 
report to the committee at its monthly meeting. 
(6) The infections control committee shall meet at least monthly and: 
(A) review information obtained from day-to-day surveillance activities of 
the program; 
(B) review and revise existing standards; and 
(C) report to the medical director. 
(7) There shall be regular in-service education programs regarding infection 
prevention, surveillance and control for hospice personnel. Documentation of 
these programs shall be available to the Department of Public Health for 
review. 
(q) General. 
(1) The hospice shall have an adequate laundry service, housekeeping and 
maintenance services. 
(2) Proper heat, hot water, lighting and ventilation shall be maintained at all times. 
(3) The hospice shall ensure the health, comfort and safety of the patients at all 
times. 
(4) When a patient ceases to breathe and has no detectable pulse or blood 
pressure, the body shall be moved to the bereavement room in the same 
institution pending completion of the medical certification portion of the death 
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certificate by a person authorized to complete such medical certification in 
accordance with section 7-62b of the Connecticut General Statutes. The 
facility shall make available a room that shall provide for the dignified holding 
of the body of the deceased person where the body of the deceased person 
shall not be exposed to the view of patients or visitors, but where the family 
and friends of the deceased may view the body. 
(r) Out-patient services. 
(1) The hospice out-patient service shall meet the same standards of quality as 
applied to in-patient care, considering the inherent differences between in-
patients and out-patients with respect to their needs and modes of treatment. 
(2) The out-patient service shall be provided with services and personnel 
necessary to meet the needs of patient and family. 
(3) There shall be a policy and procedure manual developed for the effective 
implementation of the objectives of the out-patient service including criteria for 
eligibility for out-patient care. 
(4) There shall be a program of systematic professional and administrative review 
and evaluation of the service's effectiveness. 
(5) Facilities for the out-patient service shall be conducive to the effective care of 
the patient. 
(6) An accurate medical record shall be maintained for every patient receiving 
care provided by the out-patient service. 
(s) Emergencies: Provision shall be made to maintain essential services during 
emergency situations. 
(t) Record availability: It is an explicit condition for the initial issuance of or the retention 
or renewal of a license to any person to operate and maintain a hospice that all 
records, memos and reports, medical or otherwise be maintained on the premises of 
the facility and that said records shall be subject to inspection review and copying by 
the Department of Public Health upon demand, including personnel and payroll 
records. Failure to grant access to the Department of Public Health shall result in the 
denial of, revocation of, or a determination not to renew the license.