Section 124.35. Additional requirements for particular patient care areas.

 

(1)   Special care units.

(a) In new construction, viewing panels shall be provided in doors and walls of special care units for nursing staff observation of patients. Curtains or other means shall be provided to cover the viewing panels when privacy is desired.

(b) In new construction a sink equipped for handwashing and a toilet shall be provided in each private patient room on special care units. In multi-bed rooms at least one sink and one toilet for each 6 beds shall be provided. Individual wall-hung toilet facilities with privacy curtains or another means of safeguarding privacy may be substituted for a toilet room.

(c)

1. In new construction all special care unit beds shall be arranged to permit visual observation of the patient by the nursing staff from the nursing station.

2. In existing facilities, if visual observation of special care unit beds is not possible from the nursing station, staffing or television monitoring shall permit continuous visual observation of the patient.

(d) In new construction the dimensions and clearances in special care unit patient rooms shall be as follows:

1. Single bed rooms shall have minimum dimensions of 10 feet by 12 feet;

2. Multi-bed rooms shall have a minimum side clearance between beds of at least 7 feet; and

3. In all rooms the clearance at each side of each bed shall be not less than 3 feet 6 inches and the clearance at the foot of each bed shall be not less than 5 feet.

(2)   Psychiatric units. The requirements for patient rooms under s. DHS 124.34 apply to patient rooms in psychiatric nursing units and psychiatric hospitals except as follows:

(a) In new construction and remodeling a staff emergency call system shall be included. Call cords from wall-mounted stations of individual patient rooms may be removed when justified by psychiatric program requirements.

(b) Doors to patient rooms and patient toilet room doors may not be lockable from the inside.

(c) Patients' clothing and personal items may be stored in a separate designated area which is locked.

(d) Moveable hospital beds are not required for ambulatory patients.

(3)   Surgical and recovery facilities.

(a) Facilities within the surgical suite shall include:

1. At least one room equipped for surgery and used exclusively for that purpose.

2. A scrub room or scrub area adjacent to the room used for surgery.

3. A clean-up or utility room.

4. Storage space for sterile supplies.

5. In each operating room, means for calling for assistance in an emergency.

6. Housekeeping facilities adequate to maintain the operating room or rooms.

7. A flash sterilizer, unless sterilization facilities are accessible from the surgery area.

(b) The surgical suite and necessary facilities shall be located and arranged to discourage unrelated traffic through the suite.

(c) The room or rooms for postanesthesia recovery of surgical patients shall at minimum contain a medications storage area, handwashing facilities and sufficient storage space for needed supplies and equipment.

(d) Oxygen and suctioning equipment shall be available in the surgical suite and recovery rooms.

(4)   Labor and delivery units.

(a) The labor and delivery unit shall be located and arranged to discourage unrelated traffic through the unit.

(b) Facilities within the labor and delivery unit shall include:

1. At least one room equipped as a delivery room and used exclusively for obstetrical procedures;

2. A labor room adjacent to or near the delivery room;

3. A scrub-up room adjacent to the delivery room;

4. A clean-up or utility room with a flush-rim clinical sink; and

5. A separate janitor's closet with room for housekeeping supplies for the unit.

(c) A means of calling for assistance in an emergency shall be located in the labor and delivery unit.

(d) Oxygen and suctioning equipment shall be available in the labor and delivery unit.

(e) In new construction, in addition to lighting for general room illumination, adjustable examination and treatment lights shall be provided for each labor bed.

(f) In new construction, if there is a recovery room, the room shall contain at least 2 beds with a minimum clear area of 80 square feet per bed. There shall be a minimum of 4 feet between beds or stretchers and between a bed and wall except at the head of the bed.

(5)   Nursery units. If the hospital has a maternity service, a separate nursery or nurseries for newborn infants shall be provided which shall have:

(a) In new construction, a connecting workroom with a work counter, refrigerator, sink equipped for handwashing and storage area;

(b) In new construction, a nursing station or administrative center located within or adjacent to the nursery;

(c) Size specifications for the nursery, as follows:

1. For a full-term nursery, 24 square feet per bassinet;

2. For an intermediate nursery, 30 square feet per bassinet;

3. For an isolation nursery, 40 square feet per bassinet; and

4. For all nurseries, a minimum of 2 feet between bassinets, except that in new construction the minimum distance between bassinets shall be 3 feet;

(d) The following equipment:

1. An infant sleeping unit for each infant;

2. A clock; and

3. At least one approved isolation-type sleeping unit;

(e) Space for necessary housekeeping equipment in or near the nursery; and

(f) An examination area and work space for each nursery.

(6)   Isolation nursery.

(a) If an isolation nursery is provided in new construction:

1. The isolation nursery shall be within the general nursery area and may not open directly to another nursery; and

2. Access to the isolation nursery shall be through an anteroom which shall have at least a sink equipped for handwashing, gowning facilities, an enclosed storage space for clean linen and equipment, a charting area, a closed hamper for disposal of refuse and a work counter.

(b) A private patient room with handwashing facilities may be used as an isolation nursery.

(7)   Postpartum lounge area. The lounge and dining room when provided for maternity patients shall be separate from other areas.

Emerg. renum. from DHS 124.27 (9), eff. 7-1-96; renum. from DHS 124.27 (9), Register, December, 1996, No. 492 , eff. 1-1-97.