R523-2-12. Admission to the Hospital and Coordination of Care

  (1) The Division has oversight of the Utah State Hospital as per Subsection 62A-15-103(2)(b)(ii) and shall oversee the Continuity of Care Committees for adult and children/youth patients (when the patient is a child or youth, then patient also refers to the parent and/or legal guardian), as it pertains to Admissions, Coordination of Care, Discharges and Transfers between LMHAs of patients to and from the Utah State Hospital (Hospital). The Division shall conduct monthly Continuity of Care Committee meetings, unless the time for the meetings is postponed or canceled for good cause.

  (2) Each LMHA shall assign a liaison to the Hospital as the identified representative of the LMHA.

  (a) The Liaison shall coordinate patient needs for admission to the Hospital and shall complete the Hospital Pre-admission packet, which includes identifying community discharge and treatment options prior to admission. Any individual or family member independently requesting voluntary Hospital admission shall be referred to the appropriate LMHA geographical area in which the individual currently resides.

  (b) LMHA liaisons are responsible to participate in the coordination of care at the Hospital. This includes participation in clinical staffing, at least monthly. The liaisons and Hospital staff are required to participate in order to coordinate patient treatment, discuss the progress of assigned patients and meet with patients and Hospital staff jointly to formulate patient care.

  (c) Patients admitted to the Forensic units are under the jurisdiction of the criminal court system; if the need arises the LMHA liaison will participate in community discharge placements, and follow up care.

  (d) Hospital staff and liaison shall coordinate discharge plans. As there are multiple factors inherent in determining "readiness for discharge," this decision will be made on an individual basis, with input from the patient, the Hospital, the LMHA and the Division as necessary. Outplacement funds shall be used to resolve financial barriers that delay or complicate patients discharge. Patient's preferences and feedback regarding discharge placements shall be considered. For adult patients the LMHA liaison is required to arrange discharge placement and follow up care once the patient is ready for discharge as indicated by the Division's REDI program (Readiness, Evaluation and Discharge Implementation). The Hospital and LMHAs are required to use the REDI program. REDI information will be distributed monthly to the Hospital, and the LMHAs to track progress toward discharge. The philosophy of the Hospital is to provide short-term inpatient care for the purpose of stabilization with the goal of transition to a less restrictive level of care as soon as possible. If the Hospital and/or the LMHA determine that the patient is ready for discharge and the coordination of the placement is not occurring, the Hospital and/or liaison is required to notify the Division within five business days.

  (e) The Liaison shall follow the Hospital's policies on admission, treatment, discharge, and transfers of all Hospital patients.