N.M. Admin. Code § 8.370.17.37

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 8.370.17.37 - MINIMUM FACILITY SPACE REQUIREMENTS

Each facility shall include and provide sufficient space for the following areas:

A. Public areas: The facility shall provide in the public areas:

(1) sufficient parking space(s) for the public, each birthing room and each employee present on any single shift;

(2) a reception and information counter or desk;

(3) a waiting area for visitors;

(4) convenient and accessible wheelchair storage;

(5) convenient and accessible drinking fountain or bottled water.

B. Administrative and work areas: The facility shall provide administration and work areas including:

(1) general or individual office(s) for business transactions, records, administrative and professional staff;

(2) storage for staff personal effects which can be locked in drawers or cabinets.

C. Toilets, lavatories and bathing facilities: All fixtures and plumbing in the facility shall be installed in compliance with applicable state and local building codes and shall include:

(1) a toilet and sink in each birth room, and a tub or shower available for use by the laboring mother within the facility;

(2) a separate toilet and sink for staff use;

(3) at least one public and visitor restroom conveniently located and accessible to the handicapped which includes a toilet and sink;

(4) a hand washing sink in all toilet rooms which shall be kept supplied with single use or individual use towels for hand drying or provided with mechanical blower;

(5) automatic hand sanitizer units may be used instead of a sink.

D. Nourishment station: A facility nourishment center shall be provided and include the following:

(1) work counter;

(2) sink;

(3) refrigerator;

(4) storage cabinets; and

(5) equipment for hot and cold nourishment; the nourishment area may be available for staff use, and may within space limited facilities also function as the staff lounge.

E. Examination rooms: If prenatal or other health care is provided at the facility, exam rooms shall be separated from the dedicated birth room(s) and shall have:

(1) sufficient size to accommodate the necessary equipment and personnel consistent with the purpose of the room;

(2) all walls in an exam room shall be a minimum of eight feet long; and

(3) a hand washing sink shall be located in each exam room or immediately adjacent to the exam room.

F. Birth rooms: The facility shall have one birth room available for each client in active labor which is and includes:

(1) sufficient size to accommodate necessary equipment and personnel consistent with the purpose of the room;

(2) all walls constructed to a minimum length of 10 feet long;

(3) birth rooms and bathrooms located to provide for complete privacy during use;

(4) clear floor space to permit unimpeded egress and access for emergency transportation equipment;

(5) located to provide unimpeded rapid access to a facility exit which accommodates emergency transportation vehicles and equipment; and

(6) furniture arrangement in the birth room that permits a minimum clear dimension of 36 inches on at least one side for the full length of the bed where birthing can occur.

G. Equipment and supplies:

(1) Equipment: The facility shall be equipped with all necessary items and equipment needed to provide low-risk maternity delivery and care, as well as all equipment available and ready to provide emergency medical services, including emergency carts or emergency trays, in life threatening events to mother and baby including, but not limited to,:

(a) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) equipment, oxygen, positive pressure mask, suction, intravenous (IV) equipment, equipment for maintaining infant temperature and ventilation, blood expanders, and medications identified in professional staff protocols to meet emergency needs of mother and baby at the facility and during transport to an acute care setting;

(b) equipment for performing standard screening, laboratory tests, and for sterilizing instruments and other materials, including programs for regular inspection and training in the use of resuscitation and other equipment as outlined in the policies and procedures manual which shall be available on site at all times; and

(c) maintenance of all equipment in accordance with manufacturer's specifications.

(2) Supplies: The facility's supply inventory shall be sufficient to care for the number of childbearing women and families registered for care at any one time.

H. Housekeeping and support areas: The facility shall provide housekeeping and support areas, including:

(1) general storage facilities for supplies and equipment;

(2) drug storage and administration areas which comply with New Mexico board of pharmacy regulations;

(3) clean storage consisting of a separate room, space or closet for storing clean and sterile supplies;

(4) soiled holding with separate collection, storage and disposal for all soiled materials used and stored at the facility.

I. Laundry services: The facility shall provide laundry services for both facility use and client care, on the premises or through laundry and linen services:

(1) on-site laundry facilities shall be provided with necessary washing and drying equipment;

(2) soiled laundry shall be kept in a separate storage area from the clean laundry storage area;

(3) soiled laundry shall not be stored in the nourishment, kitchen or dining areas;

(4) in facilities with four or more birthing rooms, washers shall be located in separate rooms from the dryers and shall have negative air pressure from the other rooms in the facility.

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.370.17.37

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024