The department shall promote quality of care and quality of life for residents, clients, and patients in long-term health care facility services through specific activities that include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a)  Research and evaluation of innovative facility resident care models.

(b)  (1)  Provision of statewide training on effective facility practices.

(2)  Training also shall include topics related to the provision of quality of care and quality of life for facility residents. The topics for training shall be identified by the department through a periodic survey. The curriculum for the training provided under this paragraph shall be developed in consultation with representatives from provider associations, consumer associations, and others, as deemed appropriate by the state department.

(c)  The establishment of separate units to respond to facility requests for technical assistance regarding licensing and certification requirements, compliance with federal and state standards, and related operational issues.

(d)  State employees providing technical assistance to facilities pursuant to this section are only required to report violations they discover during the provision of the assistance to the appropriate district office if the violations constitute an immediate and serious threat to the health and welfare of, or have resulted in actual harm to, patients, residents, or clients of the facility.

(e)  The state department shall measure facility satisfaction and the effectiveness of the technical assistance provided pursuant to subdivision (c).

(f)  No person employed in the technical assistance or training units under subdivisions (b) and (c) shall also participate in the licensing, surveying, or direct regulation of facilities.

(g)  This section shall not diminish the department’s ongoing survey and enforcement process.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 685, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2002.)