Minnesota Administrative Rules

4640.3900 FLOOR AREA IN PATIENTS' ROOMS.

The following minimum areas shall be provided:

A.

psychiatric units and wards of general hospitals, and those units and wards of public and private mental hospitals where diagnosis and intensive treatment are provided, such as receiving, medical and surgical, tuberculosis, intensive treatment and rehabilitation, and units and wards for the acutely disturbed patient: parts 4640.1700 to 4640.2200 shall apply; and

B.

continued treatment areas for long-term patients: in hospitals constructed after the effective date of these rules, the minimum floor area shall be at least 80 square feet in single rooms and 60 square feet in multibed rooms; in dormitory areas, this may include the space devoted to aisles. All main traffic aisles shall be five feet in width except in large dormitories where the aisle serves ten or more patients, it shall be six feet in width.

All hospitals in operation as of the effective date of these rules shall comply with the requirements of this part to the extent possible.

Beds shall be placed at least three feet from adjacent beds except where partitions or other barriers separate beds or where two beds are placed foot-to-foot. Beds shall be so located as to avoid drafts and other discomforts to patients.

Whenever the patient's condition permits, each individual patient's area shall be equipped with a chair and a bedside cabinet. Adequate provision shall be made for the storage of patients' clothes and other personal possessions.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.55; 144.56

Published Electronically:

October 3, 2013