Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 196 - Human Services Department
Chapter 9503 - CHILD CARE CENTER LICENSING
Part 9503.0085 - SICK CARE PROGRAM

Subpart 1. Licensure of sick care programs.

If a license holder chooses to care for a sick child, then the license holder must operate a sick care program that complies with the standards specified by this part and with all other applicable provisions of parts 9503.0005 to 9503.0170, and any standards of the commissioner of health governing the group care of children.

Subp. 2. Review of admission and health policies and practices.

At the time of initial license application, after the first six months of initial operation, and annually after that time, a sick care program's admission policies must be reviewed and approved by a licensed physician with a specialization in pediatric care. The physician's review must include consultation with the licensed registered nurse or physician responsible for admissions. A report of the physician's findings must be sent to the commissioner with the initial application for licensure, and subsequent reports must be placed in the center's administrative record.

The license holder operating a sick care program must ensure that the program's health policies and practices are reviewed quarterly by a health consultant.

Subp. 3. Evaluation of a sick child.

A license holder who operates a sick care program must provide for the evaluation of the condition of a sick child before admitting the child to the center. The evaluation must be based on the physical symptoms of the child each day of admission, the probable contagion and risk to the health of others present, and the ability of the program to provide the care the child requires. A physician or registered nurse affiliated with the center must perform the evaluations specified in items A to C.

Subp. 3a. Illness separation.

Children recovering from a noncontagious condition must be cared for in a room separate from children with contagious conditions.

Subp. 4. Chicken pox.

Children with chicken pox must be excluded from any child care program, including a sick care program, unless care is provided in a room that is separate from other parts of the facility and has its own air circulation system and street entrance.

Subp. 5. Gastrointestinal illness.

Children with gastrointestinal illness must be at least two years old to be in a sick care program and must be cared for in a separate room used exclusively for the care of gastrointestinal illness.

Subp. 6. Information to parents.

A summary of the sick care program's health care policies and practices and the center's procedures for notification of parents in the event of an emergency must be given to the parent at the time a child is admitted.

Subp. 7. Parent conference exception.

Centers licensed to provide child care exclusively to sick children need not provide parent conferences as specified in part 9503.0090, subpart 2, item B.

Subp. 8. Child care program emphasis.

A sick care program must meet the child care program plan standards in part 9503.0045. However, the child care program plan for the care of sick children must emphasize quiet activities.

Subp. 9. Group size and age category grouping exceptions.

The maximum group sizes specified in part 9503.0040, subpart 1, and the age category grouping restrictions in part 9503.0040, subpart 3, are not required except that there must be no more than 16 children in care in a room at the same time and the provisions in subparts 5 and 14 apply.

Subp. 10. Additional staff-to-child ratios and staff distribution requirements.

A one to four staff to child ratio must be maintained at all times in a room used to care for sick children. At least two staff persons must be present in a center operating a sick care program whenever sick children are in care. The first staff person must be a nurse registered by the Board of Nursing to practice professional nursing. The second staff person must meet the qualifications for a teacher in part 9503.0032. The remaining staff persons must at least meet the qualifications and follow the staff distribution pattern specified in part 9503.0040.

Subp. 11. Limitation on staff assignment.

Staff must not care for well children or prepare food for well children on the same day they care for sick children. Staff caring for sick children must not enter the kitchen used to prepare food for well children.

Subp. 12. Food preparation.

Food provided by the license holder and prepared at the center must be prepared in a room separate from rooms where sick care is provided and must be delivered to each sick care room in individual servings and in covered containers. Procedures for preparing, handling, and serving food and washing food, utensils, and equipment must comply with the requirements in chapter 4626.

Subp. 13. Menus.

Menus for sick children must be modified to meet the individual needs of the child.

Subp. 14. Additional facility requirements.

A license holder operating a sick care program must provide:

Subp. 15. Outdoor activity area, activities and equipment exception.

A license holder operating a sick care program that provides care exclusively to sick children need not provide the outdoor activity area required in part 9503.0155, subpart 7; outdoor activities as specified in part 9503.0045, subpart 1, item I; and the outdoor equipment required in part 9503.0060, subpart 4, item B, subitem (9); subpart 5, item B, subitem (9); and subpart 6, item B, subitems (7) and (11).

Subp. 16. Disinfection.

Walls and floors in rooms where sick care is provided and all linens, furnishings, objects, and equipment used by sick children must be cleaned and disinfected at least daily and as needed.

Subp. 17. Linens and changes of clothing.

All linens used by a sick child must be washed after each use, and each child must be in clean clothing at all times.

Subp. 18. Additional equipment.

Each sick child must be provided with a crib, bed, or cot, two sheets, a pillow, a pillowcase, and a blanket or quilt.