SECTION 317:30-5-133.3. Nursing home ventilator-dependent and tracheostomy care services

(a)   Admission is limited to ventilator-dependent and/or qualified tracheostomy residents.

(b)   The ventilator-dependent resident and/or qualified tracheostomy resident must meet the current nursing facility level of care criteria. (Refer to OAC 317:30-5-123.)

(c)   All criteria must be present in order for a resident to be considered ventilator-dependent:

(1)   The resident is not able to breathe without a volume with a backup.

(2)   The resident must be medically dependent on a ventilator for life support 6 hours per day, seven days per week.

(3)   The resident has a tracheostomy.

(4)   The resident requires daily respiratory therapy intervention (i.e., oxygen therapy, tracheostomy care, physiotherapy or deep suctioning). These services must be available 24 hours a day.

(5)   The resident must be medically stable and not require acute care services. A Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse must be readily available and have primary responsibility of the unit at all times.

(d)   The resident will also be considered ventilator-dependent if all of the above requirements were met at admission but the resident is in the process of being weaned from the ventilator. This excludes residents who are on C-PAP or Bi-PAP devices only.

(e)   All criteria must be present in order for a resident to be considered as tracheostomy care qualified:

(1)   The resident is not able to breathe without the use of a tracheostomy.

(2)   The resident requires daily respiratory therapy intervention (i.e., oxygen therapy, tracheostomy care, chest physiotherapy, or deep suctioning). These services must be available 24 hours a day.

(3)   A Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse must be readily available and have primary responsibility of the unit.

(f)   Not withstanding the foregoing, a ventilator-dependent or qualified tracheostomy resident who is in the process of being weaned from ventilator dependence or requiring qualified tracheostomy treatment shall continue to be considered a qualified resident until the weaning process is completed.

[Source: Added at 31 Ok Reg 1636, eff 9-12-14]