Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 310 - Oklahoma State Department of Health › Chapter 616 - Birthing Centers Regulations › Subchapter 1 - General Provisions › Section 310:616-1-2 - Definitions

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
The words and terms, when used in this Chapter, shall have
				  the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
"Administrator"
means a person acting in
				  authority and who is responsible for all events and day-to-day operations of
				  the birthing center.
"Applicant"
means a person, firm, corporation,
				  organization or association applying for a license to operate a birthing
				  center.
"Birthing center"
means a freestanding facility,
				  place or institution, which is maintained or established primarily for the
				  purpose of providing services of a certified midwife or licensed physician to
				  assist or attend a woman in delivery and birth, and where a woman is scheduled
				  in advance to give birth following a normal, uncomplicated, low-risk
				  pregnancy.
"Birth room"
means a home-like room where births
				  are planned to occur with the availability of emergency equipment.
"Board"
means the State Board of Health.
"Department"
means the Oklahoma State Department
				  of Health.
"License"
means a document issued by the
				  Department and renewable annually, provided the institution complies with all
				  requirements of these regulations and the assessed fee.
"Licensed birth attendant"
means a doctor of
				  medicine or osteopathy or a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) licensed in the state
				  of Oklahoma.
"Low risk"
means a normal, uncomplicated
				  prenatal course as determined by adequate prenatal care and prospects for a
				  normal, uncomplicated birth as defined by generally accepted criteria of
				  maternal and fetal health.
"Medical director"
means a doctor of medicine or
				  osteopathy who is licensed pursuant to the laws of this state with no
				  restrictive sanctions and is commissioned by the birthing center to consult and
				  advise on the medical component of the patient care program of the birthing
				  center.
"Midwife"
means a person educated in the
				  discipline of nursing and midwifery, certified by the American College of
				  Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and licensed by the state to engage in the practice of
				  midwifery and as a registered nurse.
"Midwifery"
means the application of scientific
				  principles in the art of "with women" care during uncomplicated pregnancy,
				  birth and puerperium including care of the newborn, support of the family unit
				  and gynecologic health care.
"Referral hospital"
means a hospital identified
				  by the birthing center to receive mothers and/or infants who are not low
				  risk.
"Transfer agreement"
means a formally adopted
				  mutual agreement between the birthing center, a suitable emergency transport
				  system, and a hospital which provides obstetrical services and is located
				  within a thirty minute travel distance.
"The Hospital Licensure Act"
also known as
"the Act"
means Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, sections
				  1-701
				  through
				  1-709
				  inclusive, as amended.
Added at 9 Ok Reg 1715,
				  eff 4-23-92 (emergency); Added at 9 Ok Reg 1979, eff
				  6-11-92