1. (a) Patient rooms. Each patient room shall meet the following requirements.

   1. (1) Maximum room capacity shall be two (2) patients.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) In new construction, patient rooms shall have a minimum of one hundred square feet (100 sq. ft.) of clear floor area per bed in semiprivate rooms and one hundred twenty square feet (120 sq. ft.) of clear floor area for single-bed rooms, exclusive of:

2. (i) Toilet rooms;

   1. (ii) Closets;

      1. (iii) Lockers;

         1. (iv) Wardrobes;
         2. (v) Alcoves; or
         3. (vi) Vestibules.

      2. (B) The dimensions and arrangement of rooms shall be such that there is a minimum of three feet (3’) between the sides and foot of the bed and:

         1. (i) Any wall;
         2. (ii) Other fixed obstruction; or
         3. (iii) Another bed.
      3. (C) In semiprivate bedrooms, a clearance of four feet (4’) shall be available at the foot of each bed to permit the passage of equipment and beds.

   2. (3)

      1. (A) Minor encroachments, including columns and lavatories, that do not interfere with functions may be ignored when determining space requirements for patient rooms.
      2. (B) Where renovation work is undertaken, every effort shall be made to meet the above minimum standards.

   3. (4)

      1. (A) Each patient room:

         1. (i) Shall have a window with outside exposure; and
         2. (ii) Where the operation of windows or vents requires the use of tools or keys, such devices shall be on the same floor and easily accessible to staff.

      2. (B) The windowsills:

         1. (i) Shall not be higher than three feet (3’) above the floor; and
         2. (ii) Shall be above the grade.
      3. (C) Patient rooms in new construction intended for twenty-four-hour occupancy shall have windows.
      4. (D) If operable windows are installed, such devices shall be restricted to inhibit possible escape or suicide.

   4. (5)

      1. (A) Each patient shall have access to a toilet room without having to enter the general corridor area.

      2. (B) One (1) toilet room shall serve no more than:

         1. (i) Four (4) patient beds; and
         2. (ii) Two (2) patient rooms.
      3. (C) In new construction, an additional hand washing station or sanitizing station shall be placed in the patient room where the toilet room serves more than one (1) bed.
      4. (D) The toilet room shall contain a water closet and a hand washing station and the door shall swing outward or be double-acting;

   5. (6) Each patient shall have within the room a separate wardrobe or closet that is suitable for:

      1. (A) Hanging full-length garments; and
      2. (B) Storing personal items.

   6. (7)

      1. (A) Visual privacy from casual observation by other patients and visitors shall be provided for each patient in semiprivate rooms with:

         1. (i) Cubicle curtains; or
         2. (ii) Equivalent built-in or movable dividers.

      2. (B) The method for providing privacy shall not obstruct passage of other patients to the:

         1. (i) Entrance;
         2. (ii) Toilet; or
         3. (iii) Lavatory.

      3. (C) All curtains shall:

         1. (i) Have a flame spread of zero (0) to twenty-five (25); and
         2. (ii) Comply with the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems requirements for clear space below sprinklers.
   7. (8) Each room shall connect directly with a corridor without passage through another patient's room.

   8. (9) Rooms existing partially below grade level shall not be used for patients unless they are:

      1. (A) Dry;
      2. (B) Well-ventilated; and
      3. (C) Otherwise suitable for occupancy.

   9. (10) Beds shall be arranged to:

      1. (A) Provide adequate room for all patient care procedures; and
      2. (B) Prevent the transmission of infections.

   10. (11)

       1. (A) Suitable beds shall be provided.
       2. (B) Bed rails shall be provided on beds for children.

   11. (12)

       1. (A) A reading light shall be provided for each patient bed.
       2. (B) The location and design shall be such that the light is not annoying to other patients.

   12. (13)

       1. (A) A bedside table with drawer shall be provided for each bed.
       2. (B) The lower portion of the table and/or enclosed shelves shall be provided for individual nursing care equipment.

   13. (14)

       1. (A) A bathing facility containing either a bathtub or a shower accessible to a wheeled shower chair shall be conveniently accessible to patient rooms.
       2. (B) An accessible toilet room shall be accessible to the bathing room.

3. (b) Service areas.

   1. (1) Each service area may be arranged and located to serve more than one (1) nursing unit, but at least one (1) such service area shall be provided on each nursing floor.
   2. (2) Some of the service areas may be combined in a single space.

   3. (3) The following service areas shall be located in or readily available to each nursing unit:

      1. (A)

         1. (i) Nursing station.
         2. (ii) Facilities for charting, clinical records, work counter, communication system, space for supplies, and convenient access to hand washing stations shall be provided.
         3. (iii) It may be combined with or include centers for reception and communication;

      2. (B)

         1. (i) Dictation area shall be provided.
         2. (ii) This area shall be adjacent to but separate from the nurses’ station;

      3. (C)

         1. (i) Toilet room or rooms for staff convenient to nurses’ station.
         2. (ii) May be unisex;

      4. (D) Multipurpose room or rooms for:

         1. (i) Staff;
         2. (ii) Patients;
         3. (iii) Patients' families for patient conferences;
         4. (iv) Reports;
         5. (v) Education;
         6. (vi) Training sessions; and
         7. (vii) Consultation;

      5. (E)

         1. (i) Clean workroom or clean supply room.
         2. (ii) If the room is used for preparing patient care items, it shall contain:
4. (a) (a) A work counter;

5. (b) (b) A hand washing fixture; and

   1. (c) (c) Storage facilities for clean and sterile supplies.

      1. (iii) If the room is used only for storage and holding as part of a system for distribution of clean and sterile materials, the work counter and hand washing fixture may be omitted.

         1. (iv) Soiled and clean workrooms or holding rooms shall:
6. (a) (a) Be separated; and

7. (b) (b) Have no direct connection;

   1. (F)

      1. (i) Soiled workroom or soiled holding room.

         1. (ii) This room shall be separate from the clean workroom.
         2. (iii) The soiled workroom shall contain a clinical sink or equivalent flushing-rim fixture.
         3. (iv) The room shall contain a lavatory or hand washing fixture.
         4. (v) The above fixtures shall both have a hot and cold mixing faucet.
         5. (vi) The room shall have:
8. (a) (a) A work counter; and

9. (b) (b) Space for separate covered containers for soiled linen and waste.

   1. (vii) Rooms used only for temporary holding of soiled material may omit the clinical sink and work counter.

      1. (viii) If the flushing-rim clinical sink is eliminated, facilities for cleaning bedpans shall be provided elsewhere;

      2. (G)

         1. (i) Medication station.
         2. (ii) Provisions shall be made for distribution of medications.
         3. (iii) This may be done:
10. (a) (a) From a medicine preparation room or unit;

11. (b) (b) From a self-contained medicine dispensing unit; or

    1. (c) (c) By another approved system;

       1. (iv) Medicine preparation room.
12. (a) (a) This room shall be designed to allow for visual supervision by the nursing staff.

13. (b) (b) It shall contain:

    1. (1) (1) A work counter;
    2. (2) (2) A sink adequate for hand washing;
    3. (3) (3) A refrigerator; and

    4. (4) (4) Locked storage for controlled drugs.

       1. (c) (c) When a medicine preparation room is to be used to store one (1) or more self-contained medicine dispensing units, the room shall be designed with adequate space to prepare medicines with the self-contained medicine dispensing unit or units present.

          1. (v) Self-contained medicine dispensing unit.

14. (a) (a) A self-contained medicine dispensing unit may be located at the nurses' station, in the clean workroom, or in an alcove, provided the unit has adequate:

    1. (1) (1) Security for controlled drugs; and
    2. (2) (2) Lighting to easily identify drugs.

15. (b) (b) Convenient access to hand washing stations shall be provided.

    1. (c) (c) Standard cup sinks provided in many self-contained units are not adequate for hand washing;

       1. (H)

          1. (i) Nourishment station.
          2. (ii) This shall contain:
16. (a) (a) A sink equipped for handwashing;

17. (b) (b) Equipment for serving nourishment between scheduled and unscheduled meals;

    1. (c) (c) A refrigerator;

       1. (d) (d) Storage cabinets; and

18. (e) (e) Icemaker units to provide ice for patients' service and treatment.

    1. (iii) Ice for human consumption shall be from self-dispensing units.

       1. (iv) Hand washing stations shall be in or immediately accessible to the nourishment station;

       2. (I)

          1. (i) Equipment storage room.
          2. (ii) This shall be for equipment such as:
19. (a) (a) IV stands;

20. (b) (b) Inhalators;

    1. (c) (c) Air mattresses;

       1. (d) (d) Walkers; and

21. (e) (e) Wheelchairs; and

    1. (J) A comfortable and easily accessible sleep area for family members.

       1. (c) A common kitchen area if provided shall contain a:
    2. (1) Refrigerator;
    3. (2) Sink; and

    4. (3) Microwave.

       1. (d) Dining and/or gathering space for patients and families shall be provided as required by the narrative program.
22. (e) Airborne infection isolation room or rooms. Rooms for patients who are suffering from airborne infections shall be provided at the rate of one (1) for every thirty-six (36) beds or fraction thereof.

Codification Notes: “IV” means intravenous.