Staffing

Staffing The Division of Medicaid requires Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF) have the following staff: A. The governing body of the PRTF must appoint an administrator to be responsible for the overall management of the facility. The administrator must have appropriate academic credentials and administrative experience in child/adolescent psychiatric treatment. The administrator must be responsible for the fiscal and administrative support of the facility's clinical program. B. The facility must appoint a medical director to be responsible for coordinating medical services and directing resident treatment. The medical director must be a board-certified child/adolescent psychiatrist or a psychiatrist who has successfully completed an approved residency in child/adolescent psychiatry. C. The facility must appoint a full-time clinical director to be responsible for coordinating clinical services and implementing patient treatment. The clinical director must be one of the following: 1. A board-certified child/adolescent psychiatrist, 2. A psychiatrist who has successfully completed an approved residency in child/adolescent psychiatry, 3. A licensed psychologist who is experienced in child/adolescent mental health treatment, 4. A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) who is experienced in child/adolescent mental health treatment, or 5. A licensed certified social worker who is experienced in child/adolescent mental health treatment. D. A board-certified child/adolescent psychiatrist or a psychiatrist who has successfully completed an approved residency in child/adolescent psychiatry may serve as both medical director and clinical director provided that he/she is a full-time employee. E. The facility must employ sufficient full-time professional staff to provide clinical assessments, therapeutic interventions, ongoing program evaluations, and adequate resident supervision twenty-four (24) hours a day. At least fifty percent (50%) of the professional staff hours must be provided by full-time employees. Professional staff must be appropriately licensed and trained/experienced in providing mental health treatment. These staff members will include, but not be limited to, the following: 1. A board-certified child/adolescent psychiatrist or a psychiatrist who has successfully completed an approved residency in child/adolescent psychiatry, 2. A licensed psychologist, 3. A registered nurse, 4. A licensed certified social worker, 5. A certified teacher, and 6. A recreation specialist. F. The PRTF must have access, through full/part-time or contract employment, the services of each of the following: 1. A licensed occupational therapist or credentialed creative arts therapist, 2. A rehabilitation counselor, and 3. A licensed speech-language pathologist. G. The PRTF must provide an adequate staff-to-resident ratio on all shifts to provide for resident and staff safety. H. The PRTF must notify the Division of Medicaid of changes in the Administrator, Medical Director or Clinical Director. Division of Medicaid must receive the notification in writing within seventy-two (72) hours of the effective change.