Title 7 . Health and Social Services

Chapter 12 . Assistance for Community Health Facilities

Section 435. Physical environment

7 AAC 12.435. Physical environment

(a) A birth center must have at least one birth room which is adequate to provide for the equipment, staff, supplies, and emergency procedures required for the physical and emotional care of a maternal client, her support person, and the newborn during birth, labor, and the recovery period. A birth room must

(1) be located so as to provide unimpeded, rapid access to an exit of the building which will accommodate an emergency transportation vehicle;

(2) have a minimum room area, exclusive of a toilet room, closet, locker, wardrobe, alcove, or vestibule, of 100 square feet in a single-bed room, and 80 square feet for each bed in a multi-bed room;

(3) have adequate fixed or portable work surface areas; and

(4) have a toilet and lavatory in its vicinity.

(b) A birth center must have available for its clients

(1) one shower for every six clients;

(2) one toilet and lavatory for every six clients;

(3) secure storage for a client's personal belongings and valuables; and

(4) visual privacy for each maternal client and her support person.

(c) All floor and wall surfaces, water closets, lavatories, tubs, and showers must be kept clean and in good condition.

(d) A birth center must provide safe emergency lighting if it does not have automatic emergency lighting.

(e) All sewage, garbage, refuse, and liquid waste must be collected and disposed of in a manner to prevent the creation of an unsafe or unsanitary condition.

(f) A birth center must have an electric or gas refrigerator capable of maintaining a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. If the center allows the preparation and storage of food which is brought into the facility by the client or family of a client for consumption by the client or family, it must have dishwashing facilities which provide hot water at a temperature of not less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

(g) Vehicle parking must be provided at the ratio of two spaces for each birth room plus sufficient parking spaces to accommodate the maximum number of staff on duty at one time. On-street parking, if available, may be considered as meeting part of this requirement. Exceptions may be made with approval of the department for a center located in an area with a high population density if adequate public parking is available or if the center is accessible to a public transportation system.

History: Eff. 5/14/82, Register 82; am 11/19/83, Register 88

Authority: AS 18.05.040