§143B-181.18. Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program/State Ombudsman duties

The State Ombudsman shall:

(1)        Promote community involvement with long-term care providers and residents of long-term care facilities and serve as liaison between residents, residents' families, facility personnel, and facility administration;

(2)        Supervise the Long-Term Care Program pursuant to rules adopted by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to G.S. 143B-10;

(3)        Certify regional ombudsmen. Certification requirements shall include an internship, training in the aging process, complaint resolution, long-term care issues, mediation techniques, recruitment and training of volunteers, and relevant federal, State, and local laws, policies, and standards;

(4)        Attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of individuals who are residents of long-term care facilities, which complaints relate to administrative action that may adversely affect the health, safety, or welfare of residents;

(5)        Provide training and technical assistance to regional ombudsmen;

(6)        Establish procedures for appropriate access by regional ombudsmen to long-term care facilities and residents' records including procedures to protect the confidentiality of these records and to ensure that the identity of any complainant or resident will not be disclosed except as permitted under the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq.;

(7)        Analyze data relating to complaints and conditions in long-term care facilities to identify significant problems and recommend solutions;

(8)        Prepare an annual report containing data and findings regarding the types of problems experienced and complaints reported by residents as well as recommendations for resolutions of identified long-term care issues;

(9)        Prepare findings regarding public education and community involvement efforts and innovative programs being provided in long-term care facilities; and

(10)      Provide information to public agencies, and through the State Ombudsman, to legislators, and others regarding problems encountered by residents or providers as well as recommendations for resolution.

(1989, c. 403, s. 1; 1995, c. 254, s. 3; 1997-443, s. 11A.118(a).)