Current through August 31, 2023
These standards must be applied to all currently licensed
health care facilities. Any minor alterations, repairs, and maintenance must
meet these standards. In the event of a change in ownership of a facility, the
entire facility must meet these standards prior to issuance of a new license.
(3-17-22)
01.
Codes and
Standards. Construction features of all existing facilities must be in
accordance with applicable local, state, national codes, standards, and
regulations in effect at the time of adoption of these rules. (3-17-22)
a. In the event of a conflict of requirement
between the codes, the most restrictive apply. (3-17-22)
b. In addition, existing facilities are to
comply with applicable fire and life safety codes and standards as set forth in
Section 106.
(3-17-22)
02.
Site
Requirements. The location of an existing facility must meet the
following criteria: (3-17-22)
a. It must be
served by an all-weather road, kept open to motor vehicles at all times of the
year. (3-17-22)
b. It must be
accessible to physician and medical services. (3-17-22)
c. It must be remote from railroads,
factories, airports and similar noise, odor, smoke, dust and other nuisances.
(3-17-22)
d. It must be accessible
to public utilities. (3-17-22)
e.
It must be in a lawfully constituted fire district. (3-17-22)
f. It must provide off-street motor vehicle
parking at the rate of one (1) space for every three (3) licensed beds.
(3-17-22)
03.
General Building Requirements. An existing facility must be of
such character to be suitable for use as a facility. The facility is subject to
approval by the Department. Other requirements are as follows: (3-17-22)
a. That the building and all equipment are in
good repair. (3-17-22)
b. That
handrails of sturdy construction are provided on both sides of all corridors
used by residents. (3-17-22)
c.
That no facility is maintained in an apartment house or other multiple
dwelling. (3-17-22)
d. That roomers
or boarders are not accepted for lodging in any facility.
(3-17-22)
04.
Resident/Staff Communication. Requirements governing communication
must be as follows: (3-17-22)
a. That each
building has a telephone for resident use so located as to provide wheelchair
access for personal, private telephone communications. A telephone with
amplifying equipment is available for the hearing impaired. (3-17-22)
b. That a staff calling system is installed
at each resident bed and in each resident toilet, bath, and shower room. The
staff call in the toilet, bath, or shower room must be an emergency call. All
calls are to register at the staff station and actuate a visible signal in the
corridor at the resident's door. The activating mechanism within the resident's
sleeping room is to be located as readily accessible to the resident at all
times. (3-17-22)
05.
Resident Accommodations. Accommodations for the residents of the
facility must include the following: (3-17-22)
a. That each resident room is an outside
room. (3-17-22)
b. That not more
than four (4) residents can be housed in any multi-bed sleeping room.
(3-17-22)
c. That every resident
sleeping room is provided with a window as follows: (3-17-22)
i. Equal to at least one-eighth (1/8) of the
floor area. (3-17-22)
ii. Openable
to obtain fresh air. (3-17-22)
iii.
Provided with curtains, drapes, or shades. (3-17-22)
iv. Located to permit the resident a view
from a sitting position. (3-17-22)
v. Has screens. (3-17-22)
d. No resident room can be located: (3-17-22)
i. In such a way that its outside walls are
below grade. (3-17-22)
ii. In an
attic, trailer house or in any room other than an approved room.
(3-17-22)
iii. So it can be reached
only by passing through another individual's room, a utility room, or any other
room. (3-17-22)
iv. So it opens
into any room in which food is prepared or stored.
(3-17-22)
e. That
resident rooms are a sufficient size to allow no less than eighty (80) square
feet of usable floor space per resident in multiple-bed rooms. Private rooms
will have no less than one hundred (100) square feet of usable floor space.
(3-17-22)
f. That resident beds are
not placed in hallways or in any location commonly used for other than bedroom
purposes. (3-17-22)
g. That rooms
have dimensions that allow no less than three (3) feet between beds and two (2)
feet of space between the bed and side wall. (3-17-22)
h. That ceiling heights in resident rooms are
a minimum of seven (7) feet, six (6) inches. (3-17-22)
i. That closet space in each sleeping room is
twenty (20) inches by twenty-two (22) inches per resident. Common closets
utilized by two (2) or more residents are provided with substantial dividers
for separation of each resident's clothing for prevention of cross
contamination. All closets are equipped with doors. Freestanding closets will
be deducted from the square footage in the sleeping room. (3-17-22)
j. That every health care facility provides a
living room or recreation room for the sole use of the residents. Under no
circumstances may these rooms be used as bedrooms by residents or personnel. A
hall or entry is not acceptable as a living room or recreation room.
(3-17-22)
k. That all resident
rooms are numbered and all other rooms numbered or identified as to purpose.
(3-17-22)
l. That a drinking
fountain is connected to cold running water, is accessible to both wheelchair
and non-wheelchair residents, and located in each nursing or staff unit.
(3-17-22)
m. That residents of the
opposite sex are not housed in the same bedroom or ward, except in cases of
husband and wife. (3-17-22)
n. That
gardens, yards, or portions of yards are secure for outdoor use by all
residents and bounded by a substantial enclosure if intended for unsupervised
use by residents who may wander away from the facility. (3-17-22)
o. That toilet rooms, tub/shower rooms, and
handwashing facilities are constructed as follows: (3-17-22)
i. Toilet rooms and bathrooms for residents
and personnel are not to open directly into any room in which food, drink, or
utensils are handled or stored. (3-17-22)
ii. Toilet and bathroom are separated from
all other rooms by solid walls or partitions. (3-17-22)
iii. On floors where wheelchair residents are
housed, there is at least one (1) toilet and one (1) bathing facility large
enough to accommodate wheelchairs. (3-17-22)
iv. All inside bathrooms and toilet rooms
have forced ventilation to the outside. (3-17-22)
v. Toilet rooms for resident use are arranged
that it is not necessary for an individual to pass through or into another
resident's room to reach the toilet facilities. (3-17-22)
vi. Handrails and/or grab bars are provided
in resident toilet rooms and bathrooms and are located so as to be functionally
adequate. (3-17-22)
vii. Each
resident floor or nursing unit has at least one (1) tub or shower for every
twelve (12) licensed beds; one (1) toilet for every eight (8) licensed beds;
and one (1) lavatory with mirror for every eight (8) licensed beds. Tubs,
showers, and lavatories are connected to hot and cold running water.
(3-17-22)
06.
Dining/Recreation Facilities. Facilities must provide one (1) or
more attractively furnished, multipurpose areas for dining/recreation purposes
that meets the following requirements: (3-17-22)
a. A minimum of twenty-five (25) square feet
per licensed bed is to be provided. Any facility not in compliance on the
effective date of this rule will not be required to comply until the number of
licensed beds is increased or until there is a change of ownership of the
facility. Provided, however, that a facility not in compliance may not reduce
the number of licensed beds and reduce its present dining/recreation space
until at least twenty-five (25) square feet per licensed bed is provided.
(3-17-22)
b. It is for the sole use
of the residents, and a hall or entry is not acceptable.
(3-17-22)
07.
Isolation Units (Temporary). Each health care facility must have
available a room with private toilet, lavatory, and other accessory facilities
for temporary isolation of a resident with a communicable or infectious
disease. (3-17-22)
08.
Utility Areas. A utility room with a separate entrance and
physically partitioned from any toilet and/or bathing facility must be provided
for the preparation, cleansing, sterilization, and storing of nursing supplies
and equipment. A utility room must be provided on each floor in each nursing or
staff unit of the facility. Provisions must be made for the separation of clean
and soiled activities. Food and/or ice must not be stored or handled in a
utility room. Soiled utility rooms must be provided with forced mechanical
ventilation to the outside. (3-17-22)
09.
Storage Space. The facility
must provide general storage areas and medical storage areas as follows:
(3-17-22)
a. General storage at the rate of
ten (10) square feet per licensed bed, in addition to suitable storage provided
in the resident's sleeping room. (3-17-22)
b. The facility provides safe and adequate
storage space for medical supplies and equipment and a space appropriate for
the preparation of medications. (3-17-22)
10.
Electrical and Lighting. All
electrical and lighting installation must be in accordance with the National
Electrical Code and as follows: (3-17-22)
a.
All electrical equipment intended to be grounded is grounded.
(3-17-22)
b. Frayed cords, broken
plugs, and the like are repaired or replaced. (3-17-22)
c. Plug adaptors and multiple outlets are
prohibited. (3-17-22)
d. Extension
cords are U.L. approved, adequate in size (wire gauge), and limited to
temporary usage. (3-17-22)
e. All
resident personal electrical appliances are inspected and approved by the
facility engineer and/ or administrator. (3-17-22)
f. All resident rooms have a minimum of
thirty (30) foot candles of light delivered to reading surfaces and ten (10)
foot candles of light in the rest of the room. (3-17-22)
g. All hallways, storerooms, stairways,
inclines, ramps, exits, and entrances have a minimum of five (5) foot candles
of light measured in the darkest corner. (3-17-22)
11. Ventilation. The facility must be
ventilated and precautions taken to eliminate offensive odors in the facility.
(3-17-22)
12.
Heating.
A heating system must be provided for the facility that is capable of
maintaining a temperature of seventy-five degrees (75F) to eighty degrees (80F)
Fahrenheit in all weather conditions. (3-17-22)
a. Oil space heaters, recessed gas wall
heaters, and floor furnaces cannot be used as heating systems for health care
facilities. (3-17-22)
b. Portable
comfort heating devices are not used. (3-17-22)
13.
Plumbing. Plumbing at the
facility must be as follows: (3-17-22)
a. All
plumbing complies with applicable local and state codes. (3-17-22)
b. Vacuum breakers are installed where
necessary to prevent backsiphonage. (3-17-22)
c. The temperature of hot water at plumbing
fixtures used by residents is between one hundred five degrees (105F) and one
hundred twenty degrees (120F) Fahrenheit. (3-17-22)
