§ 5200.22. Staffing pattern.
(a) There shall be qualified staff and supporting personnel in sufficient numbers to provide the services included in the psychiatric outpatient clinic’s program as follows:
(1) At least 50% of the treatment staff providing psychotherapy services shall be mental health professionals.
(2) A psychiatric outpatient clinic is required to have 2 hours of psychiatric time per week for each FTE mental health professional and mental health worker providing clinical services.
(3) The psychiatrist must provide 50% of the required psychiatric time at the psychiatric outpatient clinic.
(4) The remaining 50% of the psychiatric time may be provided by:
(i) An advanced practice professional.
(ii) A psychiatrist off-site by the use of tele-behavioral health.
(iii) A combination of subparagraphs (i) and (ii).
(b) All clinical staff shall be supervised by the psychiatrist having the overall responsibility for clinical services provided by the psychiatric outpatient clinic as defined in § 5200.23 (relating to psychiatric supervision).
(c) There shall be sufficient clerical staff to keep correspondence, records and files current and in good order.
(d) The psychiatric outpatient clinic shall recruit and hire staff that is appropriate for the population to be served.
(e) If the psychiatric outpatient clinic serves children, specialized personnel are required, as appropriate, to deliver services to children.
(f) Each psychiatric outpatient clinic shall have a written comprehensive personnel policy.
(g) There shall be a written plan for regular, ongoing staff development and training.
(h) Graduate and undergraduate students in accredited training programs in various mental health disciplines may participate in the treatment of individuals receiving services when under the direct supervision of a mental health professional, but are not to be included for the purpose of defining staffing patterns.
(i) Psychiatric residents with an unrestricted license to practice medicine in this Commonwealth who are under the direct supervision of a psychiatrist are defined as mental health professionals for the purpose of defining staffing patterns.
(j) Volunteers may be used in various support and activity functions of the clinic, but are not considered for the purposes of defining staffing patterns.
Authority The provisions of this § 5200.22 amended under section 1021 of the Human Services Code (62 P.S. § 1021); sections 105 and 112 of the Mental Health Procedures Act (50 P.S. § § 7105 and 7112); and section 201(2) of the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Act of 1966 (50 P.S. § 4201(2)).
Source The provisions of this § 5200.22 amended October 11, 2019, effective October 12, 2019, 49 Pa.B. 5943. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (247793) to (247794).
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