- (1) A member of the medical staff shall be present or available to the patient at all times throughout her stay in the birthing center.
- (2) The medical staff shall monitor the progress oflabor and condition of the mother and fetus at sufficiently frequent intervals to identify abnormalities or complications as soon as possible.
- (3) The patient shall be transferred to a hospital if complications requiring medical or surgical intervention occur, as set forth in the criteria established in these rules.
- (4) The birthing center shall be able to respond to medical emergencies that may arise during the provision of services to patients, including adult basic life support, neonatal resuscitation, and initial management of postpartum complications.
- (5) The patient's family or persons offering her support shall be instructed as needed to assist the patient during labor and delivery.
- (6) Labor shall not be inhibited, stimulated, or augmented with drugs administered in the birthing center except when the patient is to be transported immediately to the hospital and the drug is prescribed by the medical consultant or physician who will receive the patient and manage her continued care. All such drugs shall be administered solely by appropriate, qualified staff within each staff member's permissible scope of practice.
Author: Dana Billingsley, Diane Milledge
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §22-2-2(6), et seq.;
§22-21-20, et seq.
History: Filed November 19, 1987. Repealed: Filed April 16, 2010; effective May 21, 2010. New Rule: Published August 31, 2023; effective October 15, 2023.