Arkansas Administrative Code

20 CAR § 43-117. Infection prevention and control. (a) General. (1) The facility shall develop and use a coordinated process that effectively reduces the risk of endemic and epidemic healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in: (A) Patients; (B) Healthcare workers; and (C) Visitors…

20 CAR § 43-118. Laboratory. (a) General. (1)(A) Each critical access hospital shall provide onsite laboratory services essential to the immediate diagnosis and treatment of patients served by the facility. (B) Provision shall be made for the following laboratory services: (i) Ch…

20 CAR § 43-119. Radiological services. (a) Radiology. (1) Each hospital shall have shock-proof diagnostic X-ray facilities. (2)(A) Radiological services shall be under the direction of a physician who is a member of the medical staff. (B) The physician director shall be certifie…

20 CAR § 43-120. Physical therapy. (a) “Licensed physical therapist” means any person licensed to practice physical therapy by the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy. (b)(1) The practice of licensed physical therapy assistants shall be performed under the supervision of the…

20 CAR § 43-121. Occupational therapy. In facilities with an organized occupational therapy department, the following shall apply: (1) Occupational therapy services shall be under the direction of a physician member of the medical staff; (2) Occupational therapy services shall be…

20 CAR § 43-122. Speech pathology/audiology services. In facilities with an organized speech language pathology/audiology services department, the following shall apply: (1) Speech pathology/audiology services shall be under the direction of a physician member of the medical staf…

20 CAR § 43-123. Recreational therapy. In facilities with organized recreational therapy services, the following shall apply: (1) Recreational therapy services shall be under the direction of a physician member of the medical staff; (2) Recreational therapy services shall be supe…

20 CAR § 43-124. Pet therapy program. (a) Definitions. As used in this section: (1) “Handler” means an individual who has been specifically credentialed and authorized by the hospital to participate in, and to accompany and control pets participating in, the program; (2) “Pet” me…

20 CAR § 43-125. Specialized services — Surgical services. (a) Organization and supervision. (1) An organizational plan shall be developed. (2) Surgical services shall be under the medical direction of a qualified physician or a physician committee. (3) A surgical services regist…

20 CAR § 43-126. Specialized services — Postanesthesia care unit. (a) Postanesthesia care unit (PACU) services shall be provided in a well-organized manner under the: (1) Direction of a qualified physician; and (2) Supervision of a registered nurse. (b)(1) Policies and procedures…

20 CAR § 43-127. Specialized services — Ambulatory surgery services. (a)(1) There shall be policies and procedures specific to ambulatory surgery services. (2) Policies and procedures for the department shall have evidence of ongoing review and/or revision. (3) The first page of …

20 CAR § 43-128. Specialized services — Anesthesia services. (a) Organization and staffing. (1) Anesthesia services shall be provided in a well-organized manner under the direction of a qualified physician. (2) The service is responsible for all anesthesia administered. (b)(1) Th…

20 CAR § 43-129. Specialized services — Labor, delivery, labor delivery recovery (LDR), labor delivery recovery postpartum (LDRP), postpartum, and maternal-child education. (a) Labor room and/or LDR, LDRP room. (1)(A) Provisions shall be made for patients in labor in either a: (i…

20 CAR § 43-130. Nursery services. (a) The newborn nursery shall be under the direct supervision of a registered nurse with clinical skills in newborn nursing. (b) The newborn nursery shall be located within or adjacent to the postpartum unit. (c) The following requirements shall…

20 CAR § 43-131. Specialized services — Critical care. (a) A critical care unit is a section of the hospital where intensive care nursing, necessary monitoring and treatment equipment, and supplies are provided to those patients who, in the opinion of the attending physician, req…

20 CAR § 43-132. Specialized services — Dental services. (a)(1) Dental services shall comply with the requirements of this section. (2) See: (A) 20 CAR § 43-110, patient care service; (B) 20 CAR § 43-113, Health Information Services; (C) 20 CAR § 43-115, pharmacy; and (D) All app…

20 CAR § 43-133. Specialized services — Central sterilization and supply. (a)(1) Each hospital shall provide central medical and surgical supply services with facilities that are responsible for processing, sterilizing, storing, and distributing supplies and equipment to all unit…

20 CAR § 43-134. Specialized services — Respiratory care. (a) Respiratory care services shall be under the direction of a physician member of the medical staff. (b) Respiratory care services, including equipment, shall be supervised by a qualified and trained respiratory therapis…

20 CAR § 43-135. Specialized service — Emergency services. (a) Note. Federal Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1395dd requirements apply. (b)(1) Every licensed hospital shall have a dedicated emergency department. (2) The following hospitals are excepted: (A) P…

20 CAR § 43-136. Specialized service — Psychiatric services. (a) Psychiatric care units in general hospitals shall meet the construction requirements of 20 CAR § 43-147, physical facilities — psychiatric nursing unit, and shall in all respects comply with the requirements of 20 C…

20 CAR § 43-137. Specialized service — Care of patients with pulmonary disease in critical access hospitals. In addition to the patient care services requirements set forth in 20 CAR § 43-110, the policies and procedures shall include specialized procedures specific to respirator…

20 CAR § 43-138. Outpatient psychiatric centers. (a)(1) Any facility in which psychiatric services are offered for a period of eight (8) to sixteen (16) hours a day and where, in the opinion of the attending psychiatrist, hospitalization as defined in the present licensure law is…

20 CAR § 43-139. Rehabilitation hospitals and units. (a) General requirements. (1)(A) “Rehabilitation hospital” means a hospital or a distinct part of a hospital as designated in 20 CAR § 43-102, definitions, that: (i) Is used for the primary purpose of providing rehabilitative s…

20 CAR § 43-140. Recuperation centers. (a) Any facility that includes inpatient beds with an organized medical staff, and with medical services including physician services and continuous nursing services to provide treatment for patients who are not in an acute phase of illness …

20 CAR § 43-141. Physical environment. (a) Building and grounds. (1) The building and equipment shall be maintained in a state of good repair at all times. (2) Facilities and their premises shall be kept clean, neat, and free of litter and rubbish. (3) Rooms for gas-fired equipme…

20 CAR § 43-142. Physical facilities. (a) General considerations. (1) The requirements set forth herein: (A) Have been established by the Department of Health; and (B) Constitute minimum requirements for the design, construction, renovation, and repair of facilities requiring lic…

20 CAR § 43-143. Physical facilities — Patient accommodations — Adult medical, surgical — Communicable or pulmonary disease. (a) Note. See other sections of this document for special care area units such as: (1) Postanesthesia care units; (2) Critical care units; (3) Rehabilitati…

20 CAR § 43-144. Physical facilities — Critical care unit. (a)(1) The critical care units require special space and equipment considerations for effective staff functions. (2) In addition, space arrangement shall include provisions for immediate access of emergency equipment from…

20 CAR § 43-145. Physical facilities — Nursery units. (a)(1) Normal newborn infants shall be housed in nurseries that comply with the standards below. (2) All nurseries other than pediatric nurseries shall be convenient to the: (A) Postpartum nursing unit; and (B) Obstetrical fac…

20 CAR § 43-146. Physical facilities — Pediatric and adolescent unit. The unit shall meet the following standards: (1) Patient rooms. Each patient room shall meet the following standards: (A) Maximum room capacity shall be four (4) patients; (B)(i) The space requirements for pedi…

20 CAR § 43-147. Physical facilities — Psychiatric nursing unit. (a)(1) When part of a general hospital, these units shall be designed for the care of inpatients. (2) Nonambulatory inpatients may be treated in a medical unit until their medical condition allows for transfer to th…

20 CAR § 43-148. Physical facilities — Surgical facilities. (a) General operating room or rooms. (1) At least one (1) general operating room shall be provided for every fifty (50) beds or major fraction thereof up to two hundred (200) beds. (2) Over two hundred (200) beds, additi…

20 CAR § 43-149. Physical facilities — Obstetrical facilities. (a) General. (1) The obstetrical unit shall be located and designated to prohibit nonrelated traffic through the unit. (2) When delivery and operating rooms are in the same suite, access and service arrangements shall…

20 CAR § 43-150. Physical facilities — Emergency suite. General. The following shall be provided: (1)(A) Grade-level well-marked, illuminated, and covered entrance with direct access from public roads for ambulance and vehicle traffic. (B) Entrance and driveway shall be clearly m…

20 CAR § 43-151. Physical facilities — Imaging suite. (a) General. (1) Equipment and space shall be as required by the functional program. (2)(A) A certified physicist or other qualified expert shall specify the type, location, and amount of radiation protection to be installed i…

20 CAR § 43-152. Physical facilities — Nuclear medicine. (a) Equipment and space shall be provided to accommodate the functional program. (b)(1) A certified physicist or other qualified expert representing the owner shall specify the type, location, and amount of radiation protec…

20 CAR § 43-153. Physical facilities — Mobile, transportable, and relocatable units. (a) General. This section applies to mobile, transportable, and relocatable structures. (b) Definitions. As used in this section: (1) “Mobile unit” means any premanufactured structure, trailer, o…

20 CAR § 43-154. Physical facilities — Laboratory services. (a)(1) Facilities necessary for providing laboratory services described in the narrative program shall be provided. (2)(A) The laboratory shall be constructed, arranged, and maintained to ensure adequate space, ventilati…

20 CAR § 43-155. Physical facilities — Rehabilitation therapy department. (a) Common elements. Each rehabilitative therapy department shall include the following that may be shared or provided as separate units for each service: (1) Office and clerical space with provisions for f…

20 CAR § 43-156. Physical facilities — Morgue and necropsy. (a) These facilities shall be: (1) Directly accessible to an outside entrance; and (2) Located to avoid movement of bodies through public areas. (b) The following elements shall be provided when autopsies are performed w…

20 CAR § 43-157. Physical facilities — Pharmacy. (a)(1) The size and type of services to be provided in the pharmacy can largely depend upon the: (A) Type of medication distribution system used; (B) Number of patients to be served; and (C) Extent of shared or purchased services. …

20 CAR § 43-158. Physical facilities — Dietary facilities. (a) Construction, equipment, and installation shall comply with the standards specified in Food and Drug Administration Food Code. (b) Food service facilities shall be designed and equipped to meet the requirements of the…

20 CAR § 43-159. Physical facilities — Administration and public areas. The following areas shall be provided: (1) Facility entrance at grade level: (A) Sheltered from the weather; and (B) Able to accommodate wheelchairs; (2) Lobby, that shall include: (A) Reception and informati…

20 CAR § 43-160. Physical facilities — Health information unit. (a) The following rooms and areas shall be provided: (1) Health information director’s office or space; (2) Review and dictating room or rooms or spaces; (3) Work area for sorting, recording, or microfilming records;…

20 CAR § 43-161. Physical facilities — Central medical and surgical supply department. The following areas shall be provided. (1)(A) Separate soiled and clean work areas. (B)(i) Soiled workroom. (ii) This room shall be physically separated from all other areas of the department. …

20 CAR § 43-162. Physical facilities — Central supply and receiving. (a) In addition to supply facilities in individual departments, a central storage area shall also be provided. (b) General stores may be located in a separate building onsite with provisions for protection again…

20 CAR § 43-163. Physical facilities — Linen services. (a)(1) Each facility shall have provisions for storing and processing of clean and soiled linen for appropriate patient care. (2) Processing may be done: (A) Within the facility; (B) In a separate building onsite or offsite; …