10A NCAC 28F .0208. GENERAL CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION

(a)  Admission staff shall evaluate the individual to determine that:

(1)           there is the presence of mental illness;

(2)           the individual is in need of treatment or further evaluation at the facility; and

(3)           admitting the individual to the hospital is an appropriate treatment modality.

(b)  The individual shall currently reside in the region served by the hospital unless one or more of these exceptions occurs:

(1)           A transient resident of another state who requires hospitalization shall be admitted to the hospital serving the region in which the client is found.

(2)           A defendant who is ordered to a state mental health facility for determination of capacity to proceed to trial (G.S. 15A‑1002) may be admitted to the Forensic Unit at Dorothea Dix Hospital.

(3)           An individual whose treatment needs have necessitated a cross regional admission from the hospital in his region may be admitted as arranged by the Division's Chief of Mental Health Services or his designee.

(4)           In case of emergency, a client may be admitted to a hospital outside of the region of residence.  Subsequent transfer may include transfer to the appropriate regional hospital and such transfer shall be in accordance with G.S. 122C-206.

(5)           A client from any catchment area of the state may be considered for admission to the Clinical Research Unit of Dorothy Dix Hospital.  In the case of a client of another regional hospital, application shall be made in accordance with G.S. 122C-206.

(c)  An individual shall not be admitted to a hospital if the:

(1)           primary need is custodial care pending rest home or nursing home placement;

(2)           treatment needs can be met locally;

(3)           admission is sought primarily because of a lack of living space or financial support; or

(4)           primary medical or surgical problem can be more appropriately treated in a general hospital.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 122C‑3; 122C-132; 122C-206; 122C‑221; 122C-261; 122C-262; 122C-263;

122C-264;

Eff. February 1, 1989;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1996.