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 111-8-4 - AMBULATORY SURGICAL TREATMENT CENTERS › Rule 111-8-4-.10 - Physical Plant and Operational Standards

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
The following minimum physical plant and operational
				  standards shall be met by an applicant or licensee as a prerequisite for the
				  issuance and continuance of a permit to operate an ambulatory surgical
				  treatment center. The failure of any licensee to comply with the minimum
				  standards may result at any time in the denial, revocation, or suspension of
				  licensure to operate an ambulatory surgical treatment center, pursuant to
				  provisions of O.C.G.A. §
									31-2-8, and these rules and
				  regulations.
(a) Rooms and/or areas
				shall be planned and provided with sufficient space and equipment to provide
				for patient and visitor waiting area; presurgical examination and treatment;
				procedure rooms; patient recovery; and staff and administrative
				areas.
(b) The physical plant of
				the center shall meet all Federal, State and local laws, codes, ordinances, and
				regulations which apply to its location, construction, maintenance and
				operation.
(c) Equipment,
				electrical appliances, wiring, elevators, heating and cooling systems, surgery
				rooms and special service areas shall be constructed so as to assure the safety
				of all occupants. It shall be the responsibility of the governing body to
				assure that the center is in a safe condition at all times and that a fire
				inspection record is maintained on equipment, systems, and areas that may
				present a hazard to occupants.
(d)
				Except where additional requirements are specified herein, or are required by
				State or local ordinances or regulations, the construction of an ambulatory
				surgical treatment center shall meet the requirements for Health Care or
				Business Occupancies as specified in Chapter 10 and/or Chapter 13, as
				applicable, of the 1976 Life Safety Code, as currently adopted and amended by
				regulations of the Georgia Safety Fire Commissioner, Chapter 120-3-3, March 1,
				1979, and subsequent revisions thereto.
(e) Entrances for patients shall be connected
				to the public right-of-way by a hardsurfaced, unobstructed walkway in good
				repair. Handicapped patients confined to a wheel chair or otherwise impaired
				shall be able to access the center building without climbing any stairs or
				steps. A ramp with handrails over existing stairs or steps may be utilized in
				meeting this requirement. A hard-surfaced, unobstructed road or driveway for
				use by ambulances or other emergency fire or police vehicles shall run from at
				least one entrance of the building to the public right-of-way. The doorway of
				such entrance shall be immediately adjacent to the road or driveway.
(f) Ambulatory surgical services provided in
				multistory buildings shall be accessible by an elevator of adequate size to
				accommodate date a standard wheeled litter patient and two attendants. A
				stairway or ramp of adequate dimensions shall be available for transfer of a
				patient in case of power failure.
(g) All procedure rooms shall be constructed,
				equipped, and maintained to assure the safety of patients and personnel. The
				following requirements shall apply within the patient treatment/procedure rooms
				and adjoining areas:
1. Procedure rooms shall
				be designed and located to prevent traffic through them to any other part of
				the center;
2. The walls and floors
				in procedure rooms shall be of material that will permit frequent washing and
				cleaning;
3. Sterilizing equipment
				shall be provided within the center and shall be convenient to the procedure
				rooms;
4. Staff dressing rooms and
				scrubup facilities shall be convenient to the procedure rooms, and shall
				include a knee or elbow operated scrub sink, soap dispenser, and
				brushes;
5. An equipment cleanup
				area with adequate plumbing, including a sink with counter, shall be provided
				outside the procedure room;
6.
				Enclosed storage facilities for sterile supplies and equipment shall be
				provided within the procedure areas;
7. Scrub clothing worn by personnel outside
				the procedure area shall be changed before returning to the procedure
				area;
8. Locations using flammable
				anesthetic agents shall comply with the following:
(i) Floors, furniture and equipment in
				operating rooms shall be of electrically conductive material. Conductive
				flooring shall extend into contiguous rooms and at least ten (10) feet into the
				entrance traffic area.
(ii) Clean
				conductive footwear testing device shall be maintained in the procedure
				rooms.
(iii) An anesthesia supply
				and equipment storage room shall be provided within the procedure
				area.
(iv) Separate storage
				enclosures shall be provided for flammable gases and combustion supporting
				gases. Such enclosures shall be constructed of building material with a fire
				resistive rating of at least one hour and shall not communicate directly with
				anesthetizing locations or each other. Air shall be adequately exhausted by
				gravity or spark proof forced ventilation from the flammable storage enclosure
				to the exterior of the building at a rate of not less than two (2) changes per
				hour. Storage enclosures for combustion supporting gases of less than 1500
				cubic feet cylinder capacity need not be vented to the outside. Flammable
				materials such as fabrics, rubber and wood shall not be stored in these
				enclosures.
(v) Clothing generating
				large amounts of static electricity shall be prohibited in the procedure
				rooms.
9. Locations
				using flammable anesthetic agents shall be identified by prominently posted
				signs at all entrances to the procedure room and within the location signifying
				the type of anesthetics used.