South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL › Subchapter 61-102 - Standards for Licensing Birthing Centers for Deliveries by Midwives › Section 61-102.A - Definitions, Interpretations and Penalties

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
(1) Definitions:
For the purpose of these Standards, the following definitions
				shall apply:
(a) Administrator means
			 the person who is delegated the responsibility for interpreting, implementing,
			 and applying policies and programs established by the governing authority.
			 He/she is delegated responsibility for the establishment of safe and effective
			 administrative management, and the control and operation of the services
			 provided.
(b) Birthing center means
			 a facility or other place where human births are planned to occur. This does
			 not include the usual residence of the mother or any facility which is licensed
			 as a hospital or the private practice of a physician who attends the
			 birth.
(c) Birthing room means a
			 room and environment designed, equipped and arranged to provide for the care of
			 a woman and newborn and to accommodate her support person(s) during the process
			 of vaginal birth.
(d) Board means
			 the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control.
(e) Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) means a
			 person licensed by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing as a Registered
			 Nurse with official recognition as a Certified Nurse Midwife.
(f) Clinical staff means the physicians,
			 certified nurse midwives and lay midwives appointed by the governing authority
			 to practice within the birthing center and governed by rules approved by the
			 governing body.
(g) Department
			 means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
			 (DHEC).
(h) Governing body means an
			 individual or group which is legally responsible for the operation and
			 maintenance of the birthing center.
(i) Lay Midwife means an individual so
			 licensed by the Department.
(j)
			 Licensing agency means DHEC.
(k)
			 Low risk means normal, uncomplicated prenatal course as determined by adequate
			 prenatal care and prospects for a normal, uncomplicated birth as defined by
			 reasonable and generally accepted criteria of maternal and fetal
			 health.
(l) Midwifery means the
			 application of scientific principles in "with woman" care during uncomplicated
			 pregnancy, birth, and puerperium including care of the newborn, support of the
			 family unit, and gynecologic health care.
(m) Person means a natural individual,
			 private or public organization, political subdivision, or other governmental
			 agency.
(n) Personnel means
			 individual(s) in training and/or employed by the birthing center.
(o) Physician means a doctor of medicine or
			 osteopathy with training in obstetrics or midwifery and licensed by the South
			 Carolina State Board of Medical Examiners to practice medicine.
(p) Recovery means that period or duration of
			 time starting at birth and ending with the discharge of a client from the
			 birthing center.
(q) Registered
			 Nurse means a person licensed by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing as a
			 registered nurse.