Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 3 - Licensing and Certification
Chapter 67 - Free-Standing Birth Centers
Subchapter D - Service Delivery
Section I-6761 - Discharges.

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code I-6761

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. Each FSBC shall have written discharge policies and procedures. The written description of discharge policies shall be provided to the department upon request and made available to the client or his/her legal representative. The FSBC shall ensure that all elements of the discharge requirements are completed.

B. The mother and newborn shall not be discharged less than two hours from time of delivery of the placenta.

C. The postpartum needs of each client shall be addressed and documented in the discharge notes.

D. Upon discharge, the FSBC shall:

1. provide each client with written discharge instructions, including written guidelines detailing how the client may get emergency assistance for herself and her newborn;

2. provide each client with all supplies deemed clinically necessary per the discharge orders, excluding medications;

3. coordinate care with a licensed healthcare practitioner and/or provide care and support during the immediate and no later than 36 hours of birth including, but not limited to:
a. maternal and newborn assessments and follow-up plans;

b. current recommended newborn screenings;

c. breastfeeding support and referral;

d. screening for postpartum mental health issues;

e. psychosocial assessment;

f. family planning services; and

g. referral for ongoing health issues

4. ensure that all clients are informed, either in advance of their delivery or prior to leaving the FSBC, of the following:
a. necessary prescriptions;

b. postpartum instructions that includes but is not limited to the following post-birth warning signs:
i. P-pain in your chest;

ii. O-obstructed breathing or shortness of breath;

iii. S-seizures;

iv. T-thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby;

v. B-bleeding that is soaking through one pad/hour, or blood clots the size of an egg or bigger;

vi. I-incision that is not healing;

vii. R-red or swollen leg that is painful or warm to touch;

viii. T-temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; and

ix. H-headache that does not improve, even after taking medicine for relief, or a bad headache with vision changes; and

c. licensed healthcare practitioner(s) contact information for follow-up care of the mother and her newborn.

E. The FSBC shall ensure that each client has a discharge order signed by the licensed healthcare practitioner who performed the delivery;

F. The FSBC shall ensure and document that all clients are discharged in the company of a responsible adult, except those clients exempted by the attending licensed healthcare practitioner. Such exemptions shall be specific and documented for individual clients. Blanket exemptions are prohibited.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and R.S. 40:2180.21-2180.28.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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