3721.026 Nursing facility technical assistance program. - Ohio Statutes

3721.026 Nursing facility technical assistance program.

(A) As used in this section and section 3721.027 of the Revised Code, “nursing facility” and “survey” have the same meanings as in section 5111.35 of the Revised Code.

(B) The director of health shall establish a unit within the department of health to provide advice and technical assistance and to conduct on-site visits to nursing facilities for the purpose of improving resident outcomes. The director shall assign to the unit employees who have training or experience in conducting or supervising surveys, but employees assigned to the unit shall not conduct surveys. The director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section and shall consult with interested parties in developing the rules. Technical assistance reports are not public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be distributed to any person outside the unit except:

(1) The nursing facility that is provided with the technical assistance;

(2) Persons charged with inspecting nursing facilities under section 3721.02 of the Revised Code or with conducting surveys or reviews of nursing facilities under section 3721.022 of the Revised Code whenever any such person finds that there is serious harm to resident health or safety that is more than isolated at the nursing facility.

(C) On or before the last day of December each year, the director shall submit a report to the governor and the general assembly describing the unit’s activities that year and its effectiveness in improving resident outcomes.

Effective Date: 07-01-2000