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 111-8-56 - NURSING HOMES › Rule 111-8-56-.18 - Physical Plant Standards

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) Requirements under this rule "Physical
				Plant Standards" will be enforced with the effective date of these regulations
				EXCEPT that homes holding a valid permit prior to the effective date of these
				regulations, shall comply with the regulations in effect at the time the home
				was issued a permit or the plans were approved. Provided however, that any such
				homes which hold a valid permit prior to the effective date of these
				regulations must comply with these regulations when improvements or
				modifications are made within any twelve (12) month period and the cost of such
				improvements or modifications exceeds a total of twenty percent (20%) of the
				fair market value of the home. If no such improvements are made, the homes
				holding a valid permit prior to the effective date of these regulations must
				then comply with these regulations within fifteen (15) years of the effective
				date of these regulations. In exceptional cases and upon application to the
				Department by the governing body of the home, variances may be granted at the
				discretion of the Department (if it determines that these requirements will
				place an undue burden or extreme hardship on the home or its occupants),
				provided that the health and safety of the patients is not
				jeopardized.
(2) At least two rooms
				per fifty (50) beds shall be designed for single occupancy (one bed). At least
				one room designed for single occupancy shall have an adjoining private
				bathroom, containing a lavatory, water closet and a bathtub or shower equipped
				with grab bars.
(3) All patient
				rooms shall open into corridors leading to the exterior of the building. No
				patient room will be so located as to make it necessary for a patient to pass
				through another room to gain entrance to a corridor leading to the
				exterior.
(4) Each patient room
				shall be an outside room with window space equal to at least one-eighth of the
				floor area with opening in area large enough to remove patient by
				mattress.
(5) Patient bedrooms
				shall contain not less than one hundred (100) square feet of usable floor space
				in private or single rooms and no less than eighty (80) square feet per bed of
				usable floor space in multibed rooms. Usable floor space is in addition to area
				provided for closets, toilet rooms and entry ways.
(6) Not less than three (3) feet of space
				shall be provided between beds and between the foot of the bed and wall or
				other obstruction. There shall be sufficient space so beds may be made
				accessible from both sides for nursing care when needed.
(7) An individual clothes closet or wardrobe
				with door shall be provided per bed in every patient room. Clothes closets or
				wardrobes shall be at least twenty-two (22) inches deep and twenty (20) inches
				wide with at least one shelf above a hanging space equipped with a device for
				clothes hangers.
(8) Each patient
				room having more than one bed shall have permanently installed curtain tracks
				to permit closing each bed with curtains to allow for the privacy of each
				patient without obstructing the passage of other patients either to the
				corridor or to the toilet or lavatory adjacent to the patient room. Curtains
				used for enclosing patient beds shall be rendered and maintained flame
				resistant.
(9) Employees, staff and
				visitors shall not use water closets provided for patients. Toilets, including
				a water closet, lavatory, soap, paper towels and dispensers shall be provided
				near or adjacent to the following locations:
(a) Nurses' station or medication
				area;
(b) Kitchen;
(c) Lobby area or waiting room.