West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 64 - Health › Title 64 - LEGISLATIVE RULE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES › Series 64-12 - Hospital Licensure › Section 64-12-5 - Physical Facilities, Equipment, and Related Items

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
5.1. General Requirements.
5.1.1. The provisions of this section shall
				apply to all hospitals. If the Director determines that changes necessary for
				compliance with this rule would create undue hardship for hospitals in
				existence at the time this rule becomes effective, the hospital may be governed
				by rules that were in effect at the time of the hospital or an addition or
				renovation was completed.
5.1.2.
				The following documents are adopted as construction, equipment, physical
				facility, and related procedural standards for all existing hospitals, all new
				construction and any additions, alterations, renovations, or conversions of
				existing buildings:
5.1.2.a. The relevant
				sections of the 2022 edition of The Guidelines for Design and Construction of
				Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities as recognized by the American Institute of
				Architects Academy of Architecture for Health with assistance from the United
				States Department of Health and Human Services shall be used as planning
				standards;
5.1.2.b. The National
				Fire Protection Association codes and standards relevant to Health Care
				Facilities including the National Electric Code and the 2012 edition of
				N.F.P.A. 99 Standard for Health Care Facilities adopted by the Centers for
				Medicare and Medicaid Services; and
5.1.2.c. Applicable rules of the State Fire
				Commission including the State Building Code. When standards of this rule
				exceed requirements of the State Fire Commission including the State Building
				Code, this rule takes precedence.
5.1.3. The hospital shall comply with the
				guidelines set forth in the Americans With Disabilities Act,
				42 U.S.C.
				§12101
et
				seq.
5.1.4. Door widths of
				all patient rooms, delivery rooms, and any rooms where entrance of an assembled
				bed may be required shall be at least three feet, eight inches.
5.1.5. No door shall open into the corridor
				except those on rooms used for janitorial purposes or toilet room doors.
				Bathroom doors shall open outward into patient rooms.
5.1.6. Corridors, stairways, and elevators
				shall be of a width and design that shall easily accommodate the removal of
				patients in a bed, including beds with traction equipment, and shall be
				constructed and maintained in compliance with all safety regulations and
				requirements. Use of these areas for purposes other than for which they were
				originally designed shall not be permitted at any time.
5.1.7. Handrails shall be installed in all
				corridors and adjacent to ramps, inclines, and passageways used by patients in
				an extended care unit operated in conjunction with a hospital or in any
				hospital or hospital unit specializing in chronic or convalescent
				care.
5.1.8. Screens shall be
				provided for all exterior openings that are left open for extended periods.
				Where provided, screen doors shall open outward and shall be
				self-closing.
5.1.9. Operable
				windows shall have screens and safety design features.
5.1.10. The hospital shall have a system in
				place to ensure routine biomedical equipment checks and maintenance for all
				applicable medical equipment.