SECTION 130:14-5-3. Least restrictive treatment

(a)   Every effort shall be made to grant each patient the maximum amount of physical freedom within and outside the Center. Physical autonomy shall be limited only as necessary for the patient's safety or to facilitate or enhance the patient's medical or therapeutic treatment course. In situations where mechanisms are utilized for such purposes, the least restrictive means of intervention shall be imposed.

(b)   The range of mechanisms utilized in the Center and scope of appropriate use are as follows:

(1)   Manual powered wheelchairs.

(A)   Both manual and powered wheelchairs are intended to improve a patient's mobility or for facilitating orthopedically functional seating and positioning. In all cases some type of safety restraining mechanism is required, such as a seat belt, chest harness and wheelchair tray.

(B)   Controlling the speed of a powered wheelchair or limiting a patient's independent mobility in a manual chair is required when patient's safety or the safety of others in the area is a concern or when it is necessary to provide medical, therapeutic or educational intervention.

(2)   Corner chairs, adapted desks with seat belts and other types of gross movement limiting seating systems with or without tray tops. These types of seating systems are appropriate for use in the therapeutic and classroom settings to facilitate rehabilitative treatment and educational intervention. They are also appropriate in certain situations to limit mobility if the patient is in a situation where injury may occur due to a failure to be aware of environmental hazards that cannot be mediated.

(3)   Three types of hospital bed (in order from least to restrictive in nature): Standard hospital bed with rail; Youth bed; Pediatric hospital crib . The selection of the type of bed to be utilized by a particular patient shall be determined with specific regard to demonstrated safety needs, the patient's medical status and requirements, developmental and chronological age and physical size. These criteria are set forth to ensure that the patient is afforded the least restrictive sleeping environment in conjunction with the maintenance of good health and physical safety.

(4)   Arm splints, padded gloves, helmets or related devices. Such devices shall be utilized either to facilitate a patient's medical, therapeutic or educational intervention or to prevent the patient from inflicting self-injury or to prevent accidental injury. The least restrictive intervention shall be considered when selecting these devices; however, ensuring the physical safety of the patient shall be the primary objective.

[Source: Added at 19 Ok Reg 2610, eff 7-11-02; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 2467, eff 7-25-10]