Inspections of Facilities

Each accredited facility will be inspected at least once every two years to verify compliance with Texas laws and administrative rules.

General Facility Requirements

Display of Licenses and Certifications

An accredited facility must display the accreditation certificate in a prominent location in the facility where it is available for inspection by the public.

An accredited facility must prominently display a consumer complaint sign (PDF).

An accredited facility must display the license certificates of its practitioners in a prominent location in the facility where they are available for inspection by patients, and by the public upon request.

Hours of Operation Posted

An accredited facility must display a visible sign with its hours of operation, including:

• Hours of normal business operation
• information regarding temporary closure, including holidays, or for periods during business hours, including specific dates and times of the closure and emergency contact information

Equipment, Tools and Materials

An accredited facility shall have the equipment, tools, and materials to provide casting, measuring, fitting, repairs and adjustments of orthoses and prostheses, as applicable.

No Living Quarters

Facilities shall not be utilized for living or sleeping purposes except as applicable to patients, and may not be used for any other purpose that would tend to make the premises unsanitary, unsafe, or endanger the health and safety of the public.

Facility Cleanliness and Sanitation

Facility Maintenance and Construction

Facilities shall keep the floors, walls, ceilings, shelves, furniture, furnishings, and fixtures clean and in good repair. Any cracks, holes, or other similar disrepair not readily accessible for cleaning shall be repaired or filled in to create a smooth, washable surface.

The facility must be constructed and maintained appropriately to provide safe and sanitary conditions for the protection of the patients and the personnel providing prosthetic and orthotic care.

Hand Washing Requirements

Licensees shall wash their hands with hand sanitizer or soap and water before providing service to each patient.

Hand sanitizer or hand soap and hand towels or hand dryers must be available at the sinks used by employees and patients.

Plumbing Requirements

Plumbing fixtures, including toilets and wash basins, shall be kept clean. Any disrepair not readily accessible for cleaning shall be repaired or filled in to create a smooth, washable surface.

Facilities shall have suitable plumbing that provides an adequate and readily available supply of hot and cold running water at all times and that is connected for drainage of sewage and for potable water supply.

Patient Waiting Area

Patient waiting areas must be separate from other areas.

Chairs with armrests must be provided in waiting rooms. Chairs without armrests or with or without wheels must be provided upon patient request.

Examination and Treatment Rooms

Equipment

Rooms in which patients are seen must maintain privacy and have permanent, floor-to-ceiling walls or dividers and rigid doors that can be closed. Windows must be covered in a way that assures privacy.

At least one set of parallel bars and a mirror that is affixed to the wall or a mirror with a free standing base for patient ambulation trials must be provided in each facility.

At least one chair with armrests shall be available for use in each examination/treatment room. Chairs without armrests or with or without wheels must be provided upon patient request.

Cleanliness

Patient examination and treatment rooms shall be cleaned after each patient.

Exam tables shall either be covered in a material that can be disinfected and shall be cleaned and disinfected after providing service to each patient or the facility must use disposable covers that are one-time use and that are replaced after providing service to each patient.

Appropriate gloves and disinfectants for disease control must be available in examination rooms and treatment areas.

Safety Equipment and Training

Employee Safety

Safety equipment, including safety glasses or goggles and dust masks, shall be available to persons working in an accredited facility.

Proper machine use training shall be provided to staff. The facility shall maintain records documenting training, listing the name of the staff person and the date of training for each machine.

Safety guards on machines shall be in place in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications.

Patient Safety

Laboratory/Fabrication areas must be separated from other areas by walls or rigid doors and have adequate lighting.

If smoking is permitted, policies and procedures to control smoking materials shall be clearly posted.

Facilities shall provide access to at least one accessible restroom with handwashing facilities located on or adjacent to the premises of the facility. Chemical supplies shall not be stored in restrooms or other areas accessible to the public or to patients.

Patient Records

Patient records shall include accurate and current progress notes.

Patient records must be kept private.

Patient records shall not be made available to anyone outside the facility without the patient's signed consent or as required by law.

All patient and facility records that are required to be retained or made available shall be kept for a minimum of five years.