Transfer Criteria. To be transferred to the unit, each patient shall: Meet the statutory criteria for admission as set forth in Health-General Article, §10-609 — 10-619, Annotated Code of Maryland, and other applicable regulations related to the involuntary and voluntary admissions to facilities. Have documentation of deafness or a hearing impairment. Currently be using visual, manual, or tactile modes of communication which include but are not limited to American sign language, finger spelling, or speech reading, or be capable of being trained in the use of those methods. Be 14 years old or older. Patients 14 to 18 years old shall reside in: A separate inpatient residence designated for minors and attend the day program of the hearing-impaired unit if the: Treatment teams of the unit and of the minor's inpatient residence approve; Approval is documented in the progress notes and the Individual Treatment Plan; and Individual Treatment Plan is not in conflict with the Individual Educational Plan; The unit if the: Unit treatment team approves; and Individual plan for treatment indicates the need for placement on the unit. Be capable, with auxiliary aids, if necessary, of participating in professionally developed and supervised therapies, experiences, and activities provided by the unit. Have documentation in that patient's record that the patient does not object to participation on the unit, based on information necessary to make an informed judgment. Referral Procedures to the Unit After a Patient is Admitted to a Facility. Referral procedures for facilities shall be established by the Administration. Unit staff, in consultation with the treating physician, shall: Follow the Administration's referral procedures; and Within 7 days of a determination of hearing impairment by history or pure tone audiometric screening, determine the appropriateness of transfer of that patient to the unit. Unit Personnel and Training. The unit shall be directed by and include a complement of professional staff who have training or experience, or both, in working with hearing impaired mentally ill persons. Unit staff shall develop and maintain skills relevant to the provision of services for hearing impaired persons which include, but are not limited to, training in the psychosocial needs of hearing impaired persons and instruction in American sign language. A credentialing process to review the continuing education program for unit staff shall be determined by the Administration. Certified interpreters for hearing impaired patients, or other staff who possess equivalent qualifications as determined by a certified interpreter designated by the facility for that purpose, shall be on duty on the unit 24 hours a day. Facility staff may not be scheduled to provide interpreter services and any other services at the same time.