Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 111 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
Chapter 111-8 - HEALTHCARE FACILITY REGULATION
Subject 111-8-7 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR BIRTH CENTERS
Rule 111-8-7-.06 - Organization and Administration

(1) The birth center shall be organized with an identifiable governing body which is responsible for establishing objectives and policies and which assumes full legal responsibilities for the overall conduct of the center, including compliance with laws and regulations pertaining to the center. The governing body and its membership shall be identified in the application for licensure.

(2) The ownership of the center shall be fully disclosed in the application. This disclosure shall include the names and addresses of all corporate officers and any person(s) having a five percent (5.0%) or more financial interest in the center.

(3) The governing body shall be responsible for professional staff appointments, shall establish effective mechanisms for quality assurance, and shall ensure the accountability of the professional staff.

(4) The organizational objectives of the center shall be clearly stated in the policies and procedures of the center.

(5) The governing body shall appoint an administrator and shall notify the Department of such person's name.

(6) The center shall be at all times under the personal and daily supervision and control of the administrator (or a designated representative) whose authority, duties and responsibilities shall be defined in writing. This information shall be available to the Department on request.

(7) The center shall be available for occupancy twenty-four (24) hours per day, with professional staff on call at all times.

(8) Criteria for admission to the center shall be clearly identified in the center's policies. The admission policy shall be submitted with the application for licensure. At a minimum, admission criteria shall include a provision that only low-risk patients will be admitted and that there will be no discrimination according to race.

(9) Each patient shall be provided with a copy of the fee schedule and policy regarding payment.

(10) Admissions to the center shall be restricted to low-risk patients who have received antepartum care in accordance with the facility's policies. The center's policies and procedures regarding management of complications shall be explained by a staff physician or certified nurse midwife.

(11) The center shall have written policies and procedures for antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn care including physician consultation, referral, transfer and transport to the hospital and registration of vital records. A written procedure shall be established to maintain these policies.

(12) The center shall have a written policy regarding visitation or attendance during the birth process.

(13) The mother and newborn shall be discharged within twenty-four (24) hours after delivery, in a condition which will not endanger the well-being of either the mother or newborn, or shall be transferred to a licensed hospital. The mother and newborn will be discharged in the care of another responsible adult who will assist in their transport from the birth center.

(14) The center shall have an organized professional staff which is responsible for the development of patient care policies and procedures and for maintaining the level of professional performance through a continuing program of staff education, and review and evaluation of care. Records of staff attendance at educational programs shall be maintained.

(15) The center shall have a medical director who is a physician, designated by the governing body, who shall be responsible for the direction and coordination of all professional aspects of the center's program.

(16) Practitioners applying for center privileges shall sign an agreement to abide by the center's policies and procedures.

(17) The center shall have specific policies and procedures for infection control, which include a mechanism for reporting to the Department those infections which develop within six (6) weeks after discharge of the patient from the center, using forms provided by the Department.

(18) The center shall submit annually to the Department a statistical summary of morbidity and mortality data on forms supplied by the Department.

(19) Nothing in these rules and regulations shall prevent a licensed hospital from organizing and providing a birth center as an integral part of its facility, so long as the provided services are included in the application under which the hospital license is granted.