N.M. Admin. Code § 8.370.18.60 - SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS

In addition to all other requirements contained in these regulations ambulatory surgical centers will provide the following.

A. A covered entrance for pickup of patients after surgery.

B. A medical records room equipped for recording, and retrieval of medical records.

C. At least one examination or treatment room meeting the requirements outlined in Sections 57 and 58 of 8.370.18 NMAC shall be provided for examination and testing of patients prior to surgery.

D. Operating rooms or surgical suites:

(1) Each operating room will have a minimum clear area of at least 250 square feet.

(2) An emergency communication system connected with the surgical control station shall be provided.

(3) At least one x-ray film illuminator shall be provided in each operating room.

(4) Closed storage space for splints and traction equipment shall be provided for orthopedic surgery.

(5) Room(s) for post-anesthesia recovery of outpatient surgical patients shall be provided meeting the following requirements:

(a) at least three feet shall be provided at each side and at the foot of each bed as needed for work or circulation;

(b) if pediatric surgery is part of the services, separation from the adult section and space for parents shall be provided.

(6) A designated supervised recovery lounge shall be provided for patients who do not require post-anesthesia recovery but need additional time for their vital signs to stabilize before safely leaving the facility. This lounge shall contain:

(a) control station;

(b) space for family members;

(c) provisions for privacy; and

(d) convenient patient access to toilets large enough to accommodate patient, wheelchair, and an assistant.

(7) The following shall be provided in the surgical service areas:

(a) a control station located to permit visual surveillance of all traffic entering the operating suite;

(b) a drug distribution station; provision shall be made for storage and preparation of medications administered to patients;

(c) scrub facilities shall be provided near the entrance to each operating room which is arranged to minimize incidental splatter on nearby personnel or supply carts;

(d) a soiled workroom which shall contain a clinical sink or equivalent flushing type fixture, a work counter, a sink for hand washing, and waste receptacle(s);

(e) fluid waste disposal facilities which shall be convenient to the general operating rooms; a clinical sink or equivalent equipment in a soiled workroom shall meet this requirement;

(f) a clean workroom or a clean supply room:

(i) a clean workroom is required when clean materials are assembled within the facility prior to use and shall contain: work counter; sink equipped for hand washing; and, space for clean and sterile supplies;

(ii) a clean supply room may be used when the facility does not assemble the material and has procedures for the storage of sterile and clean supplies;

(g) anesthesia storage facilities which meet the standards as outlined in national fire protection association life safety code pamphlet 99; anesthesia may be stored inside or outside as long as the standards are met;

(h) anesthesia workroom for cleaning, testing, and storing anesthesia equipment which shall contain: work counter and sink;

(i) equipment storage room(s) for equipment and supplies used in the surgical area;

(j) staff clothing change area which shall contain: lockers; showers; toilets; lavatories for hand washing; and, space for donning scrub attire;

(k) outpatient surgery change areas for patients to change from street clothing into hospital gowns and to prepare for surgery which shall have the following: waiting room(s); lockers; clothing change or gowning areas; space for administering medications; and, provisions for securing patients' personal effects;

(l) stretcher storage area which shall be convenient for use and out of the direct line of traffic;

(m) for facilities having three or more operating rooms, a lounge and toilet facilities will be provided for the surgical staff;

(n) a nurse's toilet room shall be provided near the recovery room(s);

(o) a janitor's closet exclusively for the surgical suite which shall have: a floor receptor or service sink, and storage space exclusively for house keeping supplies and equipment for the surgical suite;

(p) space for the temporary storage of wheelchairs; and

(q) provisions for convenient access to and use of emergency crash carts at both the surgical and recovery areas.

E. Toilet rooms in surgery and recovery areas for patient use shall be equipped with doors and hardware that permit access from the outside in emergencies. When such rooms have only one opening or are small, the doors shall open outward.

F. Flammable anesthetics shall not be used in ambulatory surgical centers.

G. Ambulatory surgical centers in the same building as another provider such as hospital or clinic must meet the following:

(1) the ambulatory surgical center is not required to be in a building separate from other health care activities (e.g., hospital, clinic, etc.); it must however, be separated physically by at least semi-permanent walls and doors;

(2) the ambulatory surgical center and another entity must not mix functions and operations in a common space during concurrent or overlapping hours of operation;

(3) sharing of a common space at non-overlapping times is acceptable if the ambulatory surgical center is able to fully function without interruption during its scheduled hours of operation;

(4) use of the ambulatory surgical center space by another entity, or host entity if the ambulatory surgical center is on the premises of another health facility, during the ambulatory surgical center's hours of operation is prohibited.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.370.18.60

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024