7 AAC 12.435 - Physical environment

(a) A birth center must have at least one birth room that is adequate to provide for the equipment, staff, supplies, and emergency procedures required for the physical and emotional care of a client, her support person, and the newborn during birth, labor, and the recovery period. A birth room must

(1) be located so as to provide unimpeded, rapid access to an exit of the building that opens to an area that will accommodate an emergency transportation vehicle;

(2) have a minimum room area, exclusive of a toilet room, closet, locker, wardrobe, alcove, or vestibule, of 100 square feet in a single-bed room, and 80 square feet for each bed in a multi-bed room;

(3) have adequate fixed or portable work surface areas; and

(4) have a toilet and lavatory in its vicinity.

(b) A birth center must have available for its clients

(1) one shower for every six clients;

(2) one toilet and lavatory for every six clients;

(3) secure storage for a client's personal belongings and valuables; and

(4) visual privacy for each client and her support person.

(c) All floor and wall surfaces, water closets, lavatories, tubs, and showers must be kept clean and in good condition.

(d) A birth center must provide safe emergency lighting if it does not have automatic emergency lighting.

(e) All sewage, garbage, refuse, and liquid waste must be collected and disposed of in a manner to prevent the creation of an unsafe or unsanitary condition.

(f) A birth center must have an electric or gas refrigerator capable of maintaining a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

(g) Vehicle parking must be provided at the ratio of two spaces for each birth room plus sufficient parking spaces to accommodate the maximum number of staff on duty at one time. On-street parking, if available, may be considered as meeting part of this requirement. Exceptions may be made with approval of the department for a center located in an area with a high population density if adequate public parking is available or if the center is accessible to a public transportation system.

(h) The birth center must protect clients, their families, and others from any environmental hazard that might cause injury, including injury from a fall, electrical shock, poisoning, or burns. The birth center shall ensure that

(1) electrical outlets are covered;

(2) any toys provided by the birth center are safe for the children who will play with them;

(3) access by children to stairways is prevented;

(4) storage cabinets are kept locked;

(5) walkways, parking lots, and outside play areas are safe;

(6) ventilation and lighting are adequate;

(7) privacy is provided for clients and their families;

(8) clients, their families, and birth center personnel have adequate space, including space allotted for

(A) business operations;

(B) secure medical records storage;

(C) a waiting room and reception area;

(D) examination rooms;

(E) family rooms and play areas for children;

(F) bath and toilet facilities;

(G) birth rooms;

(H) staff areas;

(I) utility and work areas;

(J) storage;

(K) emergency care areas;

(L) office and laboratory areas; and

(M) coats, boots, and umbrellas.

(i) The birth center must provide

(1) adequate handwashing facilities for clients, their families, and birth center personnel;

(2) adequate and sanitary trash storage;

(3) for the safe storage and removal of waste, including biomedical waste; in this paragraph, "biomedical waste" means any solid or liquid waste that may present a threat of infection to humans, including non-liquid human tissue and body parts, discarded sharps, human blood, human blood products, and any waste that contains human disease-causing agents or body fluids; and

(4) equipment, or a contract, for snow removal.

Notes

7 AAC 12.435

Eff. 5/14/82, Register 82; am 11/19/83, Register 88; am 9/30/2007, Register 183

Authority:AS 47.32.010

AS 47.32.030