Post Office Box 9005
Austin, TX 78766-9005
Telephone: (512) 338-1223
Email: sidrich@austin.rr.com
Nursing Home Care
Nursing home care is established in the statutes under Section 242 of the Health and Safety Code, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes. In the statute, nursing home care is defined as furnishing: "in one or more facilities, food and shelter to four or more persons who are unrelated to the proprietor of the establishment; and provides minor treatment under the direction and supervision of a physician licensed by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, or other services that meet some need beyond the basic provision of food, shelter, and laundry." Nursing home facilities are licensed and regulated by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.
Unlike personal care and independent living, nursing homes are medical facilities providing medical care to chronically ill individuals. All patients are admitted by physicians and their care continues under the supervision of the attending physician. All nursing homes must have a director of nursing service and nursing personnel are on duty around the clock. The ratio of nurses to patients depends on the number of patients in the facility. Nurse aides and orderlies are also utilized by nursing home facilities, and these individuals must be trained and certified.
The nursing home of today cares for much sicker individuals than in the past. They are like small hospitals except that they do not perform surgical procedures. Operating under very extensive rules and regulations, these facilities have many other types of practitioners like medical directors, dietitians, dietary consultants, pharmacy consultants, therapists, and the like.
Unlike the assisted living facility or the retirement community, administrators of nursing homes must be licensed. They must complete an extensive course of study which includes an internship in an actual facility, and pass a state-administered licensure examination. To retain their license, they must take additional courses each year for which continuing education credits are offered.