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OHCA Policies and Rules

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

[Issued 09-12-14]

(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.

Disclaimer. The OHCA rules found on this Web site are unofficial. The official rules are published by the Oklahoma Secretary of State Office of Administrative Rules as Title 317 of the Oklahoma Administrative Code. To order an official copy of these rules, contact the Office of Administrative Rules at (405) 521-4911.