Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 71611 - Patient Rooms

(a) Patients shall be accommodated only in rooms with the following minimum floor area:

(1) Single rooms: 10.2 square meters (110 square feet) of floor area except for private rooms in pediatric units which shall have at least 9.3 square meters (100 square feet).

(2) Multipatient rooms: 7.4 square meters (80 square feet) of floor area per bed with one meter (three feet) between beds, except in specialized units.

(b) Each patient room shall be labeled with a number, letter or combination of the two for identification.

(c) Patient rooms which are approved for ambulatory patients only shall not accommodate nonambulatory patients. Before patients are accommodated in ambulatory sections, they shall demonstrate that they are ambulatory, and this shall be noted in the patient's medical record. The hospital shall transfer patients from the ambulatory section when their condition becomes nonambulatory. The ambulatory status of patients shall be demonstrated upon request of the Department.

(d) Patient rooms approved for use by ambulatory patients only shall be identified as follows: the words reserved for ambulatory patients, in letters at least one and one-half centimeters (one-half inch) high, shall be posted on the outside of the door or on the wall alongside the door where they are visible to persons entering the room.

(e) Except for rooms approved by the Department for detention of psychiatric patients, patients' rooms shall not be kept locked when occupied.

(f) The decision of maintaining locked wards shall be made by the staff, depending upon the needs of the patient(s).

(g) Where patients are kept in locked wards or rooms, adequate staff must be available to assure safe and quick egress of the patients.

(h) Where the safety of the patient and others are of appropriate concern because of the condition of the patient, windows shall either be inaccessible to the patient or glazed with unbreakable materials.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 71611