Section 630.80  Standards

The MCH Program is designed to assure provision of comprehensive medical care and continuity in the health management and supervision of care to meet the health needs of mothers, infants, and children.  Maintenance of standards prescribed herein and in the project plan may exceed state guidelines but may not be less, except as permitted by the Department.

a)         Personnel Staffing and Facilities

1)         The qualifications of each person employed by the Projects shall meet, as a minimum, the Illinois Merit System Standards.

2)         Each project shall have a full-time project director.  However, the state agency may give prior approval for the appointment of a project director who is employed less than full time where the state agency finds that such an appointment is consistent with the purposes of the program.  Situations in which this could be the case include, but are not limited to, areas in which there were not adequately trained persons available on a full-time basis or if a project's scope or focus was of such a limited nature that utilization of a full-time director would not be practical.

3)         Staffing for projects shall be reflective of the services to be provided; i.e., medical, dental, nursing, nutrition, social work, psychology, speech and hearing, physical therapy, and administration.  The extent of staffing in the projects shall depend upon the project size and availability of personnel.

4)         Project plans shall give assurance that the services will be provided by or supervised by qualified personnel.  Qualifications shall be determined by reference to a merit system, established minimum qualifications, occupational standards, state and local licensing laws and specialty board requirements.  Such standards, laws and requirements, shall be incorporated by reference in the application for a grant.

5)         Standards for each project shall meet state and local licensing laws and regulations and be in accord with national and state standards such as:

A)        Hospital Accreditation References The Joint Commission

B)        Hospital Care of Children and Youth

            American Academy of Pediatrics

C)        Guidelines for Perinatal Care

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

March of Dimes

D)        Towards Improving the Outcome of Pregnancy

The National Foundation − March of Dimes Committee on Perinatal Health

E)        Standards for Obstetric − Gynecologic Services

American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists

6^th edition 1985

F)         Standards of Child Health Care Council on Pediatric Practice American Academy of Pediatrics

G)        School Health:  A Guide for Health Professionals

American Academy of Pediatrics

H)        Standard of Maternal and Child Health Nursing Practice,

American Nurses Association

I)         A Statement on the Scope of Maternal and Child Health

Nursing Practice, ANA

J)         Standard of Practice for the Perinatal Nurse Specialist, ANA

K)        Standards of Community Health Nursing Practice, ANA

L)        Definition and Role of Public Health Nursing in the Delivery of Health Care, APHA.

6)         If a project is planned for an area in which it is not possible to meet these standards, the best available resources shall be used.  In such case, the application shall include a description of proposed remedial actions.

7)         Projects are encouraged to use outpatient and inpatient facilities appropriate to the needs of the area to be served.  Arrangements for provision of services must be made in advance of implementing the project. Special consideration shall be given to the provision of space for:  counseling to assure privacy and dignity for the patient; intake interviewing and physical examinations; the projected patient load giving consideration to waiting room, babysitting services, dental facilities, records, bathroom, laboratory and for other necessary services.  Space should assure privacy and efficient patient flow.

8)         Projects shall utilize authorized Perinatal Centers for hospitalization of high risk maternity and newborn patients, and specialty services recognized by the Division of Specialized Care for Children, when applicable.

b)         Nondiscrimination

1)         Projects are to be conducted in such a manner that no persons shall be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under such programs on the grounds of age, handicap, race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin pursuant to the provision of Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.); Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.); Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.); Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).

2)         Affirmative action shall be taken to ensure equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.

3)         Periodic reviews of operating procedures shall be made to assure that operating practice continues to be in conformity with the above requirements.

4)         Any person has the right to file a complaint with the Department, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or both, if he believes that discrimination on the grounds of age, handicap, race, color, creed, religion, sex or national origin is being practiced.  If filed with the Department the complaint shall be routed to the Director's office where it shall be reviewed and investigated by a special committee appointed by the Director.  A report of final disposition shall be sent to the complainant and to the appropriate federal agency.

(Source:  Amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 11219, effective July 1, 1990)