WAC 246-320-251   Obstetrical services.  The purpose of this section is to guide the management and care of patients receiving obstetrical care services. Hospitals are not required to provide obstetrical services in order to be licensed.

     If providing obstetrical services hospitals must:

     (1) Have the capability to perform cesarean sections twenty-four hours per day, or meet the following criteria when the hospital does not have twenty-four hour cesarean capability:

     (a) Limit planned obstetrical admissions to "low risk" patients as defined in WAC 246-329-010(18) childbirth centers;

     (b) Inform each obstetrical patient in writing, prior to the planned admission, of the limited obstetrical services as well as transportation and transfer agreements;

     (c) Maintain current written agreements for staffed ambulance or air transport available twenty-four hours per day; and

     (d) Maintain current written agreements with another hospital to admit transferred obstetrical patients;

     (2) Define qualifications and oversight of staff delivering obstetrical care;

     (3) Use hospital policies and procedures which define standards of care; and

     (4) Ensure one registered nurse trained in neonatal resuscitation is in the hospital when infants are present.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.41 RCW and RCW 43.70.040. 09-07-050, § 246-320-251, filed 3/11/09, effective 4/11/09.]