44:69:05:04.  Clinical policies and procedures. Each birth center shall establish and maintain policies and procedures, and practices to govern care, and related medical or other services necessary to meet the client's needs. The nursing service of the birth center shall provide safe and effective care through ongoing assessment and monitoring for each client and newborn, including medical, physical, mental, and emotional needs. The birth center shall establish and implement procedures for assessment and management of symptoms including pain. The policies shall include the following:

 

          (1)  Client eligibility criteria, including detailed definitions of screening criteria for, and procedures for identifying:

 

               (a)  Low-risk maternal clients who shall be eligible for birth services offered by the birth center;

               (b)  Persons who shall be ineligible for birth services at the birth center;

 

          (2)  Written plans and procedures for consultation, backup services, transfer and transport of a newborn or maternal client to a hospital where appropriate care is available;

 

          (3)  Policies and procedures developed for routine and for emergency care of both the maternal and the fetus or newborn client until completion of care by the birth center either through completion of the care program or through transfer to other levels of care;

 

          (4)  Written evidence of the availability of emergency transport services for clients;

 

          (5)  Staffing competency criteria;

 

          (6)  Provision for the education, orientation and training of clients, family and support persons in pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care;

 

          (7)  Procedures for the registration of births and the examination for and the reporting of congenital physical and mental impairments in infants;

 

          (8)  Prophylactic treatment of the eyes of the newborn as required by SDCL chapter 34-24;

 

          (9)  Testing for metabolic diseases as required by SDCL chapter 34-24;

 

          (10)  Informed consent and disclosure requirements;

 

          (11)  Client care for the mother and newborn, including criteria for monitoring and assessment during all stages of labor and delivery;

 

          (12)  Transport protocols and physician referral protocols;

 

          (13)  Discharge criteria for mother and newborn, to include information on and access to client follow-up care;

 

          (14)  Assigning the nursing care of clients and newborns;

 

          (15)  Client rights policies;

 

          (16)  Administration and control of medications;

 

          (17)  Charting by nursing personnel;

 

          (18)  Quality assurance;

 

          (19)  Infection control, including cleaning, laundry, scrub area criteria, decontamination, disinfection, sterilization, storage of sterile supplies, storage of soiled products, and disposal of medical waste;

 

          (20)  Emergency and disaster plans;

 

          (21)  Birth center safety, including fire safety and construction;

 

          (22)  Emergency equipment and procedures to provide emergency care;

 

          (23)  Birth center operational functions;

 

          (24)  Medical record contents, noting of diagnostic and therapeutic orders; and

 

          (25)  Client and newborn safety, to include client and newborn identity and security measures.

 

          Source: 38 SDR 115, effective January 9, 2012.

          General Authority: SDCL 34-12-62(1), (2), (3), (4), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), and (12).

          Law Implemented: SDCL 34-12-62(1), (2), (3), (4), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), and (12).