Minnesota Administrative Rules

4640.2400 SURGICAL DEPARTMENT.

Subpart 1.

Areas to be provided.

All hospitals providing for the surgical care of patients shall have an operating room or rooms, scrub-up facilities, it is recommended that these be located just outside the operating room, cleanup facilities, and space for the storage of surgical supplies and instruments. The surgical suite shall be located to prevent routine traffic through it to any other part of the hospital. It is recommended that the surgical and obstetrical suites be entirely separate.

Subp. 2.

Operating room.

The operating room shall be of sufficient size to accommodate the personnel and equipment needed.

Subp. 3.

Illumination.

There shall be satisfactory illumination of the operative field as well as general illumination.

Subp. 4.

Sterilizing facilities.

Adequate work space, sterilizing space, and sterile storage space shall be provided. Sterilizers and autoclaves of the proper type and necessary capacity for the sterilization of utensils, instruments, dressings, water, and other solutions shall be provided and maintained in an operating condition. Special precautions shall be taken so that sterile supplies are readily identifiable as such and are completely separated from unsterile supplies. A central sterilizing and supply room is recommended.

Provision of sterile water in flasks is recommended.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.55; 144.56

Published Electronically:

November 12, 1997