2037.1 Each hospital shall provide a safe, clean and comfortable environment for patients.

2037.2 Housekeeping and Maintenance: The hospital shall provide the necessary housekeeping and maintenance to protect the health and safety of patients.

In addition:

1. (a) The hospital's buildings and grounds shall be kept clean, safe and in good repair.
2. (b) All garbage and rubbish shall be disposed of in such a manner as to prevent the attraction of rodents, flies and all other insects and vermin. Garbage shall be disposed of in such a manner as to minimize the transmission of infectious diseases and minimize odor.
3. (c) The hospital shall provide and maintain adequate lighting, environmental temperatures and sound levels in all areas that are conducive to the care and treatment provided.
4. (d) The hospital shall maintain and equip the premises to prevent the entrance, harborage or breeding of rodents, flies and all other insects and vermin.

2037.3 Equipment, Fixtures and Furnishings: The hospital shall provide and maintain all equipment, fixtures and furnishings clean, safe and in good repair. In addition:

1. (a) Common areas and patient areas shall be furnished with beds, chairs, sofas, tables and storage that is comfortable and reflective of patient needs.
2. (b) The hospital shall provide equipment adequate to meet the care and treatment needs of patients.
3. (c) The hospital shall establish and implement a process designed for routine and preventative maintenance of equipment and furnishings to ensure that the equipment and furnishings are safe and function to meet the intended use.

2037.4 Linens: The hospital shall provide each patient with an adequate supply of clean bed, bath and other linens necessary for care and treatment. Linens shall be in good repair. In addition:

1. (a) The hospital shall establish and implement procedures for the storage and handling of soiled and clean linens.
2. (b) When the hospital provides laundry services, water temperatures to laundry

equipment shall exceed one hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit (160°F) or the laundry may be appropriately sanitized or disinfected by another acceptable method in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

2037.5 The hospital shall develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that any facility-owned pet does not negatively affect patients. The policies and procedures shall include:

1. (a) An annual examination by a licensed veterinarian;
2. (b) Vaccinations as recommended by the licensed veterinarian that include, at a minimum, current vaccination for rabies for dogs, cats and ferrets;
3. (c) Provision of pet care necessary to prevent the acquisition and spread of fleas, ticks and other parasites; and
4. (d) Responsibility for care and supervision of the pet by facility staff.

2037.6 Environmental Safety: The hospital shall be responsible for maintaining the environment in a manner that minimizes accidents. In addition:

1. (a) The hospital shall maintain the environment to protect the health and safety of patients by keeping surfaces smooth and free of sharp edges, mold or dirt; keeping floors free of objects and slippery or uneven surfaces and keeping the environment free of other which may pose a potential risk.
2. (b) The hospital shall maintain all doors, stairways, passageways, aisles, or other means of exit in a manner that provides safe and adequate access for care and treatment.
3. (c) The hospital shall provide water for bathing and hand-washing at safe and comfortable temperatures to protect patients from potential for burns or scalds.

2037.7 The hospital shall establish and implement policies and procedures to monitor and maintain water temperatures that accommodate patient preferences, but not to exceed the following temperatures:

1. (a) Water temperature at patient hand-washing fixtures shall not exceed one hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit (120°F).
2. (b) Water temperatures at patient bathing and therapy fixtures shall not exceed one hundred and ten degrees Fahrenheit (110°F).

2037.8 The hospital shall establish and implement policies and procedures to ensure hazardous/poisonous materials are properly handled and stored to prevent accidental

ingestion, inhalation, or consumption of the hazardous/poisonous materials by patients.

2037.9 The hospital shall restrict access to mechanical equipment which may pose a danger to patients.

2037.10 Disaster Preparedness and Management: The hospital shall establish and implement procedures to ensure that patient care and treatment, safety and well-being are maintained during and following instances of natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or other similar situations, including:

(a) The hospital shall establish plans to move patients to points of safety or provide other means of protection in case of fire, tornado, or other natural disasters or the threat of ingestion, absorption, or inhalation of hazardous materials;

(b) The hospital shall ensure that food, water, medicine, and medical supplies, and other necessary items for care and treatment are available and obtainable from alternate sources;

(c) The hospital shall ensure that plans are in place to move and house patients in points of safety when the building or a portion of the building is damaged to the point it is uninhabitable. The damage may be due to fire, tornadoes or other disasters; and

(d) The hospital shall ensure that plans are in place to provide for the comfort, safety and well-being of patients in the event of electrical or gas outage, heating, cooling or sewage systems failure, or loss or contamination of water supply.

SOURCE: Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 8813 (August 15, 2008).