Section R9-10-221. Intensive Care Services

Except for a special hospital that provides only psychiatric services, an administrator of a hospital that provides intensive care services shall ensure that:

1.        Intensive care services are provided as an organized ser- vice in a designated area under the direction of a medical staff member;

2.        An inpatient admitted for intensive care services is per- sonally visited by a physician at least once every 24 hours;

3.        Admission and discharge criteria for intensive care ser- vices are established;

4.        A personnel member’s responsibilities for initiation of medical services in an emergency to a patient in an inten- sive care unit pending the arrival of a medical staff mem- ber are established and documented in policies and procedures;

5.        In addition to the requirements in R9-10-214(C), an intensive care unit is staffed:

a.         With at least one registered nurse assigned for every two patients, and

b.        According to an acuity plan as required in R9-10- 214;

6.        Each intensive care unit has a policy and procedure that provides for meeting the needs of the patients;

7.        If the medical services of an intensive care patient are reduced to a lesser level of care in the hospital, but the patient is not physically relocated, the nurse to patient ratio is based on the needs of the patient;

8.        Private duty staff do not provide hospital services in an intensive care unit;

9.        At least one registered nurse assigned to a patient in an intensive care unit is certified in advanced cardiac life support specific to the age of the patient;

10.     Resuscitation, emergency, and other equipment are avail- able to meet the needs of a patient including:

a.         Ventilatory assistance equipment,

b.        Respiratory and cardiac monitoring equipment,

c.         Suction equipment,

d.        Portable radiologic equipment, and

e.         A patient weighing device for patients restricted to a bed; and

11.     An intensive care unit has at least one emergency cart that is maintained according to R9-10-218.

Historical Note

Former Section R9-10-221 renumbered as R9-10-317 as an emergency effective February 22, 1979, new Section R9-10-221 adopted effective February 23, 1979 (Supp. 79-1). Section repealed; new Section made by final rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 2785, effective October 1, 2002 (Supp. 02-2). Section R9-10-221 renumbered to R9-10- 222; new Section R9-10-221 renumbered from R9-10- 220 and amended by exempt rulemaking at 19 A.A.R.

2015, effective October 1, 2013 (Supp. 13-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 20 A.A.R. 1409, pursuant to Laws 2013, Ch. 10, § 13; effective July 1, 2014 (Supp.

14-2).