Minnesota Administrative Rules

4640.1700 PATIENT ROOMS.

Subpart 1.

Bedrooms.

All bedrooms used for patients shall be outside rooms, dry, well ventilated, naturally lighted, and otherwise suitable for occupancy. Each bedroom shall have direct access to a corridor. Rooms extending below ground level shall not be used as bedrooms for patients, except that any patient bedroom in use prior to the effective date of these rules may be continued provided it does not extend more than three feet below ground level.

Subp. 2.

Rooms used for patients.

No patient shall at any time be admitted for regular bed care to any room other than one regularly designed as a patient room or ward, except in case of emergency and then only as a temporary measure.

Subp. 3.

Placement of beds.

Patients' beds shall not be placed in corridors nor shall furniture or equipment be kept in corridors except in the process of moving from one room to another. There shall be a space of at least three feet between beds and sufficient space around the bed to facilitate nursing care and to accommodate the necessary equipment for care. Beds shall be located to avoid drafts or other discomforts to patients.

Subp. 4.

Window area.

The window area of each bedroom shall equal at least one-eighth of the total floor area. The minimum floor area shall be at least 100 square feet in single bedrooms and at least 80 square feet per bed in multibed rooms. All hospitals in operation as of the effective date of these rules shall comply with the requirements of this subpart to the extent possible, but nothing contained herein shall be so construed as to require major alterations by such hospitals nor shall a license be suspended or revoked for an inability to comply fully with this subpart.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.55; 144.56

Published Electronically:

November 12, 1997