The purpose of the new construction regulations is to
provide minimum standards for the construction, maintenance and operation of
ambulatory surgical facilities and the establishment of a safe and adequate
care and treatment environment. These rules are consistent with other
accrediting organizations and federal agency rules and regulations without
redundancy and contradictory requirements. Compliance with these new
construction regulations does not relieve an ambulatory surgical facility of
the need to comply with applicable state and local building and zoning
codes.
(1) These regulations apply to
ambulatory surgical facilities as defined in
RCW
70.230.010:
(a) New buildings to be licensed as an
ambulatory surgical facility;
(b)
Conversion of an existing building or portion thereof for use as an ambulatory
surgical facility;
(c) Additions to
an existing ambulatory surgical facility;
(d) Alterations to an existing ambulatory
surgical facility.
(2)
This requirement does not apply to:
(a) Any
ambulatory surgical facility existing and operating prior to July 1, 2009, that
is certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or accredited by
the Joint Commission, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care,
or the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
that is not doing any of the things described in subsection (1)(b) through (d)
of this section after July 1, 2009;
(b) Any minor alteration to an ambulatory
surgical facility; or
(c) Any area
of an ambulatory surgical facility unaffected by an alteration of that
ambulatory surgical facility.
(3) The requirements of this chapter in
effect at the time the application, fee, and construction documents are
submitted to the department for review will apply for the duration of the
construction project.
(4) The new
construction regulations apply only to facilities submitted to the construction
review program after July 1, 2009.
(5) Facilities participating in the
medicare/medicaid program prior to July 1, 2009, must be able to show
compliance with the federal requirements for existing facilities.
(6) Facilities participating in
medicare/medicaid submitted after July 1, 2009, must comply with the federal
requirements for new facilities.
