52:27G-11 - Patients, residents or clients; communications with office; written notice about office; informing about rights and entitlements
52:27G-11. Patients, residents or clients; communications with office; written notice about office; informing about rights and entitlements
a. Any correspondence or written communication from any patient, resident or client of a facility to the office shall, if delivered to or received by the facility, be promptly forwarded, unopened, by the facility to the office. Any correspondence or written communication from the office to any patient, resident or client of a facility shall, if delivered to or received by the facility, be promptly forwarded, unopened, by the facility to such patient, resident, or client.
b. The office shall prepare and distribute to each facility written notices which set forth the address and telephone number of the office, a brief explanation of the function of the office, the procedure to follow in filing a complaint and other pertinent information.
The administrator of each facility shall ensure that such written notice is given to every patient, resident or client or his guardian upon admission to the facility and to every person already in residence or his guardian. The administrator shall also post such written notice in a conspicuous, public place in the facility in the number and manner set forth in the guidelines adopted by the office.
c. The office shall inform patients, residents or clients, their guardians or their families, of their rights and entitlements under State and Federal laws and rules and regulations by means of the distribution of educational materials and group meetings.
d. The office shall facilitate the filing of complaints with the office concerning matters within the authority of the office. The measures taken in connection therewith shall include, but need not be limited to, maintenance of a toll-free telephone, either by the office or in conjunction with the Division on Aging, at least during regular working hours of the office for the filing of complaints.
L.1977, c. 239, s. 11, eff. Sept. 29, 1977.