2023 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 19a - Public Health and Well-Being
Chapter 368v - Health Care Institutions
Section 19a-563. - Nursing homes and dementia special care units. Infection prevention and control specialists. Definitions. Requirements.

(a) As used in this section, sections 19a-563a to 19a-563h, inclusive, and sections 9 and 11 of public act 21-185*:

(1) “Nursing home” means any chronic and convalescent nursing home or any rest home with nursing supervision that provides nursing supervision under a medical director twenty-four hours per day, or any chronic and convalescent nursing home that provides skilled nursing care under medical supervision and direction to carry out nonsurgical treatment and dietary procedures for chronic diseases, convalescent stages, acute diseases or injuries; and

(2) “Dementia special care unit” means the unit of any assisted living facility that locks, secures, segregates or provides a special program or unit for residents with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other similar disorder, in order to prevent or limit access by a resident outside the designated or separated area, or that advertises or markets the facility as providing specialized care or services for persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

(b) Each nursing home and dementia special care unit shall employ a full-time infection prevention and control specialist who shall be responsible for the following:

(1) Ongoing training of all administrators and employees of the nursing home or dementia special care unit on infection prevention and control using multiple training methods, including, but not limited to, in-person training and the provision of written materials in English and Spanish;

(2) The inclusion of information regarding infection prevention and control in the documentation that the nursing home or dementia special care unit provides to residents regarding their rights while in the home or unit and posting of such information in areas visible to residents;

(3) Participation as a member of the infection prevention and control committee of the nursing home or dementia special care unit and reporting to such committee at its regular meetings regarding the training he or she has provided pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection;

(4) The provision of training on infection prevention and control methods to supplemental or replacement staff of the nursing home or dementia special care unit in the event an infectious disease outbreak or other situation reduces the staffing levels of the home or unit; and

(5) Any other duties or responsibilities deemed appropriate for the infection prevention and control specialist, as determined by the nursing home or dementia special care unit.

(c) Each nursing home and dementia special care unit shall require its infection and control specialist to work on a rotating schedule that ensures the specialist covers each eight-hour shift at least once per month for purposes of ensuring compliance with relevant infection control standards.

(P.A. 21-185, S. 1.)

*Note: sections 9 and 11 of public act 21-185 are special in nature and therefore have not been codified but remain in full force and effect according to their terms.