Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › FACILITY STANDARDS AND LICENSING › Chapter 246-329 - Childbirth centers › Section 246-329-085 - Client bill of rights

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
The purpose of this section is to help improve patient
				  outcomes by respecting each client and conducting all relationships with
				  clients and the public in an ethical manner.
The birth center at the time of registration, including
				  clients of contractors, must provide each client with a written bill of rights,
				  verified by client or representative signature, affirming each individual's
				  rights to:
(1) A listing of the
				services provided by the birth center and a description of other levels of
				maternal/fetal services available in the community;
(2) Be informed of the policy and procedures
				for admission and discharge;
(3) Be
				informed of the definition of a low risk maternal client, the benefits and
				risks of out-of-hospital labor and birth and complete a written informed
				consent, prior to the onset of labor that shall include, but not be limited to,
				evidence of an explanation by personnel of the birth services offered and
				potential risks and emergency transfer and transport procedures;
(4) Be informed of what constitutes being
				ineligible for birth center services and the transfer policy and procedures of
				clients who, during the course of pregnancy or labor or recovery, are
				determined to be ineligible, including the birth center's plan for provisions
				of emergency and nonemergency care in the event of complications to mother and
				newborn;
(5) Be informed that
				unexpected neonatal emergencies requiring complex resuscitation are rare, but
				can occur. Be informed that the birth center staff is prepared to provide
				initial steps of newborn resuscitation (upper airway clearance with a bulb or
				mechanical suction) and provide bag-and-mask ventilation until emergency
				medical service providers arrive to provide complete resuscitation procedures
				if required;
(6) Participate in
				decisions relating to the plan for management of care and all changes in that
				plan once established including consultation, referral and transfer to other
				practitioners or other levels of care;
(7) Be informed of the policy and procedures
				for consultation, referral, transfer of care and transport of a newborn and
				maternal client to a hospital where appropriate care is available;
(8) Be informed of prenatal screening under
				chapter 70.54 RCW and chapter 246-680 WAC;
(9) Be informed of newborn screening
				requirements under chapter 70.83 RCW and chapter 246-650 WAC, including a
				provision of a copy of the parent information pamphlet "
Newborn
				Screening Tests and Your Baby
" which is available from the
				department's newborn screening program;
(10) Be informed that rapid HIV testing is
				available for all maternal clients without a documented history of HIV testing
				during prenatal care;
(11) Be
				informed of prophylactic treatment of the eyes of the newborn in accordance
				with WAC 246-100-206(6)(b);
(12) Be informed that vitamin K
				administration for the newborn is available;
(13) Be informed that newborn hearing
				screening tests are offered in most hospitals;
(14) A description of the process for
				submitting and addressing complaints;
(15) Submit complaints without retaliation
				and to have the complaint addressed by the licensee;
(16) Be informed of the state complaint
				hotline number;
(17) Be treated
				with courtesy, dignity, respect, privacy, and freedom from abuse and
				discrimination;
(18) Refuse
				treatment or services;
(19) Privacy
				of personal information and confidentiality of health care records;
(20) Be cared for by properly trained
				personnel, contractors, students and volunteers and be informed of the
				qualifications of clinical staff, consultants and related services and
				institutions;
(21) Be informed of
				all diagnostic procedures and reports, recommendations and
				treatments;
(22) A fully itemized
				billing statement upon request, including the date of each service and the
				charge;
(23) Be informed about
				advanced directives and the licensee's responsibility to implement
				them;
(24) Be informed of the
				client's right with regards to participation in research or student education
				programs;
(25) Be informed of the
				liability insurance coverage of practitioners on request; and
(26) Be informed of child passenger restraint
				systems to be used when transporting children in motor vehicles, including
				information describing the risks of death or serious injury associated with the
				failure to use a child passenger restraint system.
Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.46 RCW and RCW 43.70.040.
					 07-07-075, § 246-329-085, filed 3/16/07, effective
					 4/16/07.