(a) Have private and unimpeded access to residential facilities and residents at any time considered necessary and reasonable by the ombudsman or the designee for the purpose of:
(A) Investigating and resolving complaints made by or on behalf of residents, including by subpoenaing any person to appear and give sworn testimony or to produce documentary or other evidence that is reasonably material to the matter under investigation;
(B) Offering the services of the ombudsman or the designee to any resident, in private;
(C) Interviewing residents, with their consent, in private;
(D) Interviewing employees or agents of the facility;
(E) Consulting regularly with the facility administration; and
(F) Providing other services authorized by law or by rule.
(b) Notwithstanding ORS 192.553 to 192.581, have access to all of the following if necessary to investigate a complaint:
(A) Residents’ records, including medical records with the consent of a resident or a resident’s representative.
(B) For a resident who is unable to communicate consent and the resident’s legal representative denies consent, access to the resident’s records without consent if the ombudsman has reasonable cause to believe that the legal representative is not acting in the resident’s best interests.
(C) For a resident who is unable to communicate consent and does not have a legal representative, access to the resident’s records, including medical records, without consent if the ombudsman or designee believes that the information is necessary for the investigation of the complaint.
(D) Records of any public agency, including abuse reports maintained under ORS 430.757.
(c) Have access to, upon request, copies of all licensing and certification records, including records of corrective actions, maintained by the Department of Human Services or the Oregon Health Authority with respect to residential facilities.
(d) Have access to the administrative records, policies and documents of residential facilities to which residents or the general public has access.
(e) Conduct each investigation in a manner that does not significantly disrupt the provision of residential care or treatment to residents.
(f) Show identification to the person in charge of a facility prior to entering the facility.
(2) The Residential Facilities Ombudsman shall enter into confidentiality agreements with the department and with the authority permitting the ombudsman and each designee to have access to electronic records of the department and the authority that are necessary to carry out the duties of the ombudsman. The agreement must ensure that records obtained by the ombudsman from the department or the authority that are confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure are not further disclosed, except as permitted by state and federal law. [2017 c.441 §5]
Note: See note under 443.380.
Structure 2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Chapter 443 - Residential Care; Adult Foster Homes; Hospice Programs
Section 443.001 - Quality Care Fund; rules.
Section 443.002 - Providers with multiple facilities.
Section 443.006 - Criminal background check registry; rules.
Section 443.007 - Disqualification of individuals found to have committed abuse; rules.
Section 443.008 - Fitness determinations; rules.
Section 443.011 - Training requirements for in-home care service providers; rules.
Section 443.012 - Disease outbreak and infection control training and protocols; rules.
Section 443.014 - Definitions for ORS 443.014 to 443.105.
Section 443.019 - Requirement for in-person site inspection.
Section 443.035 - License fees; renewal; disposition of funds.
Section 443.045 - Denial, suspension and revocation of licenses; penalties.
Section 443.065 - General requirements for home health agencies.
Section 443.085 - Home health services; rules.
Section 443.090 - Exemption from in-home care agency licensing requirements.
Section 443.105 - Caregiver registries; rules.
Section 443.225 - Location and capacity of domiciliary care facilities.
Section 443.305 - Definitions for ORS 443.305 to 443.350.
Section 443.315 - License required; application; rules; fees.
Section 443.325 - Grounds for denial, suspension or revocation of license; penalties.
Section 443.327 - Injunctive relief; attorney fees and costs; notice to clients.
Section 443.345 - Disposition of moneys.
Section 443.350 - Applicability.
Section 443.355 - Complaint procedures; rules.
Section 443.370 - Definitions for ORS 443.370 to 443.376.
Section 443.373 - Registration to provide long term care referrals; rules; fee.
Section 443.376 - Duties of referral agents; violation as unlawful practice.
Section 443.378 - Housing with services projects.
Section 443.380 - Definitions for ORS 443.380 to 443.394.
Section 443.382 - Residential Facilities Ombudsman; duties.
Section 443.384 - Agencies to provide information and support.
Section 443.386 - Designees of ombudsman; training; contract.
Section 443.388 - Authority of ombudsman and designees; confidentiality agreements.
Section 443.392 - Notice of complaint procedures; posting requirement.
Section 443.394 - Procedures to maintain confidentiality.
Section 443.396 - Gifts, grants and donations.
Section 443.400 - Definitions for ORS 443.400 to 443.455.
Section 443.405 - Exclusions from definition of "residential facility."
Section 443.410 - Single license required.
Section 443.416 - Inspection of facilities.
Section 443.417 - Annual kitchen inspection; fees.
Section 443.419 - License revocations, suspensions or conditions; rules.
Section 443.420 - Qualifications for license.
Section 443.421 - Revocation and suspension of licenses; procedure.
Section 443.422 - Siting of licensed residential facilities.
Section 443.425 - License term; contents; renewal; fee.
Section 443.430 - Transferability of license; disposition of license fees.
Section 443.431 - Conversion facilities; fee; rules.
Section 443.432 - Acuity-based staffing tool.
Section 443.433 - Direct care staff training in dementia care; rules.
Section 443.436 - Enhanced oversight and supervision program.
Section 443.439 - Increases in compensation of direct support professionals; legislative intent.
Section 443.441 - Assessment of sufficient numbers of direct care staff; complaint investigations.
Section 443.443 - Information provided upon application for admission.
Section 443.446 - Residential Care Quality Measurement Program.
Section 443.447 - Quality Measurement Council.
Section 443.448 - Choice of prescription and nonprescription drugs and supplies.
Section 443.449 - Prescription drug packaging.
Section 443.452 - Waiver procedure.
Section 443.455 - Civil penalties; rules.
Section 443.465 - Secure residential treatment homes and facilities; rules.
Section 443.480 - Definitions for ORS 443.480 to 443.500.
Section 443.490 - Waiver of registration.
Section 443.500 - Investigation of registered facilities; access to facilities.
Section 443.705 - Definitions for ORS 443.705 to 443.825.
Section 443.715 - Exclusions from definition of "adult foster home."
Section 443.720 - Findings of Legislative Assembly.
Section 443.725 - License required; on-site provider required; exception; rules.
Section 443.733 - Collective bargaining.
Section 443.734 - Adult foster home license classifications; rules.
Section 443.735 - Issuance of license; fee; standards; renewal; burden of proof; rules.
Section 443.739 - Rights of residents.
Section 443.740 - Information on licensed adult foster homes; availability; content.
Section 443.742 - Annual continuing education requirements; rules.
Section 443.743 - Training in dementia care.
Section 443.745 - Denial, suspension or revocation; conditional license; review.
Section 443.762 - Information provided upon admission.
Section 443.767 - Investigation of complaint; rules.
Section 443.769 - Public disclosure of investigatory information.
Section 443.777 - Prescription drug packaging.
Section 443.780 - Exemption where county has licensing and inspection program.
Section 443.790 - Authority to impose civil penalty; factors to be considered; rules.
Section 443.795 - Civil penalty; notice; hearing.
Section 443.825 - Disposition of penalties recovered.
Section 443.830 - Definitions for ORS 443.830 and 443.835.
Section 443.835 - Certificate required; rules.
Section 443.850 - Definitions for ORS 443.850 to 443.869.
Section 443.860 - License required; rules; fees.
Section 443.869 - Civil penalties.
Section 443.875 - Notice of substantiated abuse.
Section 443.878 - Psychotropic medications; rules.
Section 443.880 - Responsibilities of residential facility regarding property of resident.
Section 443.881 - Transfer of property; undue influence.
Section 443.886 - Memory care endorsement required; standards; fees; rules.
Section 443.887 - Definitions.
Section 443.895 - Exemption from ad valorem property taxation for certain facilities; certification.