Institutions

The Forsyth County Environmental Health Department ensures the proper sanitation of various types of institutions. These include hospitals, nursing homes, adult care homes, residential care facilities, adult daycares, local confinements and tattoo parlors.

Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Adult Care Homes

Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Adult Care Homes are inspected by this division once each 6 months. The scoring systems for these institutions are based on a letter and number grading system. Facilities that receive 90 to 100 are awarded an A, 80 to 89.5 are awarded a B and 70 to 79.5 are awarded a C. Any facility receiving less than a number grade of 70 shall be reported to the licensing agency within 24 hours. Inspections are performed in accordance with the state Rules Governing the Sanitation of Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Adult Care Homes and Other Institutions. Food service facilities within these institutions, such as cafeterias or kitchens, shall be graded at least once quarterly in accordance with the Rules Governing the Sanitation of Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Adult Care Homes & Other Institutions.

Residential Care Facilities

Residential Care Facilities are establishments that are licensed to provide room or board to less than 13 persons. The facilities are inspected on a yearly basis at the request of the operator of the facility and must be completed prior to the expiration of the license. These facilities are graded on a demerit score basis. An approved status is awarded if the demerit score is 20 or less with no 6 demerit violations, a provisional is awarded if any 6 demerit violation is found or if the demerit score is greater than 21 but not more than 40. A disapproved is awarded if the score is more than 40 demerits, if the conditions found are dangerous to the health of the residents or if the conditions resulting in the provisional classification have not been corrected within a specified time period. Inspections are performed in accordance with the Rules Governing the Sanitation of Residential Care Facilities.

Adult Daycares

Adult Daycares are establishments which provide an organized program of services including a meal, for adults during the day in a community group setting and for which a license or certificate for payment is required from the Department of Health and Human Services. Inspections are performed at these establishments at least once per year. If the Environmental Health Specialist determines that conditions found at the adult day care are dangerous to the health of the participants, the Specialist shall notify the licensing or certifying agency within 24 hours by verbal contact. There is no grading system for the establishments; however the Environmental Health Specialist may conduct inspections as frequently as necessary to ensure compliance with the rules governing adult daycares. Inspections are performed in accordance with the Rules Governing the Sanitation of Adult Daycare Facilities.

Local Confinements

Local Confinements are any county or municipal confinement facility, local lockup, regional or district confinement facility, any detention facility for children or adults, any county or municipal workhouse or house of correction, and any other confinement facility operated by any local government for confinement of person awaiting trial or sentences. These facilities are inspected once per year. The grading system is on a demerit system. A facility is approved if it receives a demerit score of 20 or less and no 6 demerit item is deducted. It is provisional if it receives 21 to 40 demerits or has a 6 demerit deduction and a facility may only remain on a provisional status for no more than 7 days. A disapproved is issued if the demerit score is greater than 40, the conditions found are dangerous to the health of the persons confined, or if the conditions resulting in the provisional classification have not been corrected within the specified time period. Inspections are performed in accordance with the Rules Governing the Sanitation of Local Confinement Facilities.

Websites with More Information on Institutions

Tattoo Parlors

Tattoo Parlors are regulated through an inspection and permitting process. Tattoo permits are issued to an artist at a specific place of operation and are not transferable to other artists or addresses. If the artist moves to a new establishment, then the prior permit is invalid and the artist must obtain a new permit at the new place of practice. The permit can not be issued before an inspection has occurred. Each permit expires after one year and a new permit must be issued. The permit must be posted and visible to the public. The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that all sanitation requirements are being met in accordance with the state Tattooing rules. This program also regulates permanent make-up artists.
Rules Governing Tattooing
Application for Tattooing Permit