Minnesota Administrative Rules

4640.2600 OBSTETRICAL DEPARTMENT.

Subpart 1.

Areas to be provided.

Hospitals providing for the obstetrical care of maternity patients shall have a delivery room or rooms, in the ratio of one for each 20 maternity beds, scrub-up facilities, cleanup facilities, and space for the storage of obstetrical supplies and instruments. The obstetrical suite shall be located to prevent routine traffic through it to any other part of the hospital.

It is recommended that these be located just outside the delivery room.

An exception is made for those hospitals, which on the effective date of these rules, provide a single room which is used for both surgery and delivery purposes. Scrub-up facilities, cleanup facilities, and space for the storage of supplies and instruments shall be provided in such hospitals. Precautions shall be taken to avoid cross-infection.

Subp. 2.

Delivery room.

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

Subp. 3.

Illumination.

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

Subp. 4.

Labor beds.

One labor bed for each ten maternity beds or fraction thereof shall be provided in a labor room or rooms adjacent to or in the delivery suite unless the patient's own room is used for labor. It is recommended that the labor room be acoustically treated and provided with a toilet and lavatory.

Subp. 5.

Accommodations.

Maternity patients shall not be placed in rooms with other than maternity patients.

Subp. 6.

Minimum equipment requirements for delivery room.

The following shall be provided in the delivery room:

A.

equipment for anesthesia and for the administration of oxygen to the mother;

B.

a source of oxygen with a mechanism for controlling the concentration of oxygen and with a suitable device for administering oxygen to the infant;

C.

a safe and suitable type of suction device for cleaning the infant's upper respiratory tract of mucus and other fluid;

D.

a properly heated bassinet for reception of the newborn infant. This shall include no hazardous electrical equipment;

E.

sterile equipment suitable for clamping, cutting, tying, and dressing the umbilical cord;

F.

provision for prophylactic treatment of the infant's eyes;

G.

a device as well as an established procedure for easy and positive identification of the infant before removal from the delivery room. This shall be of a type which cannot be inadvertently removed during routine care of the infant; and

H.

sterile supplies and equipment for the administration of blood and intravenous or subcutaneous solutions shall be readily available. Acceptable arrangements shall be made for the provision of the whole blood whenever indicated.

Subp. 7.

Obstetrical isolation facilities.

Maternity patients with infection, fever, or other conditions or symptoms which may constitute a hazard to other maternity patients shall be isolated immediately in a separate room which is properly equipped for isolation in an area removed from the obstetrical department.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.55; 144.56

Published Electronically:

October 3, 2013