The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality
Division of Health Care Quality
99 Chauncy Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02111
617-753-8000 

DEVAL L. PATRICK
GOVERNOR
TIMOTHY P. MURRAY
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
JUDYANN BIGBY, MD
SECRETARY
JOHN AUERBACH
COMMISSIONER	

Circular Letter:  DHCQ 08-05-488

TO:         Massachusetts Nursing Home Administrators

FROM:   Paul I. Dreyer, Ph.D.
               Bureau Director

DATE:     May 2, 2008

RE:          Advisory ruling on the initiation and withholding of 
                Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Long Term Care facilities
                with 24 hours skilled nursing staff on duty

At its meeting on January 9, 2008, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing issued the enclosed advisory ruling. Long Term Care facilities with 24/7 skilled staff must develop policies and procedures, along with the appropriate training, to incorporate the ruling into acceptable standards of practice. Documentation of the event and the physical assessment of the resident are critical in determining compliance with both the Code of Massachusetts regulations and the Code of Federal regulations. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Jill Mazzola at 617-753-8106.

Enclosures:  Advisory ruling
                    Work force panel