Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 481 - Inspections and Appeals Department
Inspections Division
Chapter 51 - Hospitals
Rule 481-51.4 - Long-term Acute Care Hospital Located Within a General Hospital

(1) A long-term acute care hospital shall meet the requirements for a general hospital, including emergency services, except that obstetrical facilities are not required, and, if the long-term acute care hospital is located within a separately licensed hospital and does not provide its own emergency services, the long-term acute care hospital shall contract for emergency services with the host general hospital.

(2) If a long-term acute care hospital occupies the same premises of a general hospital, all treatment facilities and administrative offices for each hospital shall be clearly marked and separated from each other and located within the licensed premises of each licensee. Treatment facilities shall be sufficient to meet the medical needs of the patients. Administrative offices include, but are not limited to, record rooms and personnel offices. Nothing prohibits a long-term acute care hospital that is occupying the same premises as a general hospital from utilizing the entrance, hallway, stairs, elevators or escalators of the general hospital to provide access to the long-term acute care hospital's separate entrance, but there should be clearly identifiable and distinguishable signs for each hospital.

(3) A long-term acute care hospital located within a general hospital shall have sufficient staff to meet the patients' needs. No nursing services staff can be simultaneously assigned patient duties in both licensed hospitals.

(4) Each long-term acute care hospital located within a general hospital and the general hospital shall have a separate and distinct governing board in control of the respective hospital. No more than one board member shall serve in a common capacity on the governing board of each licensed hospital. For the purposes of this rule, control exists if an individual or an organization has the power, directly or indirectly, to significantly influence or direct the actions or policies of an organization or institution.

(5) A long-term acute care hospital located within a general hospital may contract with the host general hospital for the provision of services. All contracts shall clearly delineate the responsibilities of and services provided by the long-term acute care hospital and the general hospital and be executed by the respective governing boards.