Section 5320.3. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

Act—The Mental Health Procedures Act (50 P. S. § § 7101—7503).

CPR—Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation.

County administrator—The person appointed or designated to carry out the duties specified in section 305 of the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1966 (50 P. S. § 4305).

Department—The Department of Human Services of the Commonwealth.

Designated person—A person chosen by the resident and documented in the resident’s record to act, on behalf of the resident or be notified in case of emergency, termination of service, LTSR closure or other situations as indicated by the resident or as required by this chapter. The designated person could be the resident’s family, next-of-kin, legal or personal guardian, executor, appropriate other person or agency.

Direct-care staff—A mental health professional or mental health worker employed by the LTSR provider either directly or under contract, who through education and experience is qualified to oversee or directly provide mental and social services to adults under this chapter. The term does not include support staff such as clerical, dietary, maintenance or fiscal personnel.

Immobile resident—An individual who is unable to move from one location to another or has difficulty in understanding and carrying out instructions without the continual and full assistance of other persons, or is incapable of independently operating a device, such as a wheelchair, prosthesis, walker or cane to exit a building.

LTSR—long-term structured residence—A highly structured therapeutic residential mental health treatment facility for adults.

License—A certificate of compliance issued under Chapter 20 (relating to licensure or approval of facilities and agencies).

Provider—The legal entity to which the license is issued.

Referring entity—The individual or organization referring a person for admission to an LTSR. Referrals can come from self, family, friends, emergency rooms, other residential facilities, psychiatric hospitals, physicians, mental health centers, and the like.

Support staff—A nonmental health professional or mental health worker employed by the LTSR provider either directly or under contract, who does not oversee or directly provide mental and social services to adults under this chapter. The term includes staff such as clerical, dietary, maintenance or fiscal personnel.

Therapeutic environment—A treatment milieu designed to facilitate the acquisition of behaviors necessary for the resident to function with as much self-determination and independence as possible and to prevent or decelerate regression or loss of optimal functioning.