When must all room telephones in confined settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, be HAC?
All confined settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, with over 50 beds must have HAC telephones in all patient room at present. Those establishments with less than 50 beds must have HAC telephones in all patient rooms by November 1, 1998. Also, any time a telephone is replaced or newly purchased, the confined setting owner must ensure that the new telephone is HAC. Any time a telephone is replaced or newly purchased after January 1, 2000, the confined setting owner must also ensure that the telephone has volume control. Our hospital/nursing home provided signaling devices in the room or by the bed so patients can summon personnel in the event of an emergency. Can we rely on this rather than installing a HAC telephone? Yes, on the condition that the signaling apparatus is available, working and monitored. For more information regarding HAC/VC regulations visit the Federal Communications Commission website at www.fcc.gov.
