SECTION 310:675-13-8. Activities personnel

(a)   The facility shall have sufficient, trained activities program staff, on duty, to meet the resident's needs. There shall be at least twenty hours per week of designated activity staff.

(b)   The activities director shall be qualified by training, or experience, under one of the following:

(1)   An associate degree or a baccalaureate from an accredited university or college in art, music, physical education, recreational therapy, education, or similar program.

(2)   A licensed occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant.

(3)   Successful completion of a Department approved training course.

(4)   One year experience in a recreational activity or long term care environment, and is enrolled within 180 days of employment, in a Department approved course for activities directors.

(c)   Department approval of activities director course. Any person or entity seeking to conduct an approved activities director-qualifying course pursuant to 310:675-13-8(b)(3) (pertaining to successful completion of a department approved course) shall make application to the Department.

(1)   Application Content. Applications shall include the following information:

(A)   Name and address of the individual or entity applying

to sponsor the course;

(B)   Contact person and his or her address, telephone number and fax number;

(C)   Course outlines, which list the summarized topics covered in the course and the time allotted for each topic and, upon request, a copy of any course materials;

(D)   Information as to how the proposed course meets the course content standard provided in Section 310:675-13-8(c)(9);

(E)   A sample certificate of completion;

(F)   Procedures for monitoring attendance; and

(G)   Procedures for evaluating successful course completion.

(2)   Application Review. The Department shall complete review of the application within thirty (30) calendar days. If the Department finds the application has not addressed all requirements in 310:675-13-8(c)(1) (relating to application content) written notice shall be provided detailing the requirements not met and providing opportunity for amendment to the application.

(3)   Program affiliation. Training shall be provided through a program sponsored or approved by a nationally affiliated association of providers subject to this chapter, regionally accredited institution of higher learning, Oklahoma career technology center, or nationally recognized professional accrediting body for activity professionals.

(4)   Loss of approval. The Department may, upon notice and right to hearing, withhold or withdraw approval of any course for violation of or non-compliance with any provision of this section.

(5)   Advertisement. No person or entity sponsoring or conducting a course shall advertise that it is endorsed, recommended, or accredited by the Department. Nor shall any person or entity sponsoring or conducting a course advertise or advise program participants that completion of the program grants a certification. Such person or entity may indicate that the Department has approved the course to qualify for employment as an activities director.

(6)   Failure to prepare. The Department may, upon notice and right to hearing, decline to renew, or revoke the approval of, any previously approved course upon a showing or demonstration that the course, instructor or entity has substantially failed to adequately prepare its attendees or participants as activity directors.

(7)   Instructor requirements. Instructors shall have a degree or substantial recent experience in the subject matter being taught, or other educational, teaching, or professional qualifications determined by the course provider.

(8)   Course content. The course shall address the following content:

(A)   The guidance and regulations for activities as detailed in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, State Operations Manual, Appendix PP - Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities and the Code of Federal Regulations at CFR § 483.15(f);

(B)   Oklahoma regulation for activity services as specified at OAC 310:675-9-10.1;

(C)   Resident rights as detailed in state and federal statute and regulation;

(D)   State and federal statute and regulation for resident protection from abuse, neglect and misappropriation;

(E)   Working with volunteers and the community to enhance activity options;

(F)   Specialized programming for Alzheimer's and related dementias;

(G)   Role play or actual experience in leading group and one-on-one activities programming;

(H)   Issues in aging; and,

(I)   Infection Control.

(J)   Where course content is delivered through Internet or other self-directed media, course content shall include not less than twelve (12) hours of role play or actual experience in leading group and one-on-one activities programming.

(9)   Duration. The approved course will consist of not less than twenty-four (24) hours of instruction. A course taught in combination with social services director training may share eight (8) hours of programming.

(10)   Certificate. Participants shall be issued a certificate of attendance indicating the name of the sponsoring entity; participant name; course name; course dates; printed name and signature of official representing the sponsoring entity.

(11)   Course approval expires. Course approval shall be for a period of three (3) years from the date of approval issuance. In the interest of updated curriculum, reflecting the latest best practice, a new application, and curriculum review are required triennially. Currently approved training programs shall apply under this section within twelve (12) months of the effective date of this rule.

(12)   Continuing education. This section creates no obligation for continuing education beyond requirements specified otherwise in this Chapter. The Department will not approve continuing education or update courses for activity directors.

(13)   Records retention. The course sponsor shall maintain course records for at least five (5) years. The Department may order an examination of the records for good cause shown.

(14)   Fee. A non-refundable application fee of one hundred dollars ($100) shall be included with each application for course approval.

[Source: Added at 9 Ok Reg 3163, eff 7-1-92 (emergency); Added at 10 Ok Reg 1639, eff 6-1-93; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2059, eff 6-25-09]