Sec. 7410.18. Special diagnostic and therapeutic services

(a) OCFS shall provide access to special diagnostic and therapeutic services provided by a qualified medical specialist to all residents as ordered by the facility medical director.

(b) OCFS shall require that:

(1) residents requiring emergency surgery are presented to an appropriate medical facility for such surgery immediately;

(2) residents requiring diagnostic surgery are presented to a appropriate medical facility for such surgery in a timely manner; and

(3) residents requiring elective surgery approved by the medical director to correct conditions determined by the medical director to be progressively deteriorating are presented to an appropriate medical facility for such surgery within a time span recommended by the medical director in each case, but in no event more than 120 days after completion of such pre-surgical approval in each case.

(c) At the discretion of the facility medical director, in consultation with the agency medical director, each resident who has completed a pre-surgical evaluation, or who is scheduled for surgery, shall be placed on a medical hold status.

(d) OCFS shall provide access to hemodialysis treatment for all residents the facility medical director determines require such treatment. Except during emergencies, residents shall be provided hemodialysis treatment only in hemodialysis centers which meet DOH operating standards.

(e) OCFS shall provide all residents access to optometrist services, including the provision of properly fabricated and fitted prescription eyeglasses for each resident the facility medical director determines is in need of such eyeglasses.

(f) OCFS shall provide access to medical prosthetic services, devices, and equipment to all residents who the facility medical director determines need such services, devices, and equipment.

(g) Scheduled trips by residents outside the confines of a secure facility for the purpose of health care treatment shall not be cancelled except as directed or approved by the facility director, or person acting that capacity, and only after consultation with a health care professional. A written explanation of the circumstances surrounding all such cancellations shall be recorded in the resident’s medical record.