Washington Administrative Code

The acquiring person or nonprofit hospital may appeal a decision made by the department of health under the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 34.05 RCW).[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.45 RCW and RCW 70.44.007. WSR 98-14-056, § 246-312-090, filed 6/26/98, effective 7/27/98.]

(1) At the time of the final decision, the department will notify the parties to the acquisition whether the nonprofit hospital, the acquiring party, or both, must submit periodic reports detailing how commitments made are being adhered to. The frequency of the reports will also …

(1) Prior to approving the acquisition of a public health care service district hospital, the district board of commissioners must obtain a written opinion from a qualified independent expert or the department of health as to whether or not the acquisition meets the review criter…

(1) The department will assess on the acquiring party a nonrefundable application processing fee, a review fee and other charges as authorized in chapter 332, Laws of 1997. The fees shall consist of the following:Processing FeesNonrefundableProcessing FeeEach New Application will…

The purpose of this chapter is to establish fees to support the department's predesign, subsequent review, approval activities, and to enable the department to provide technical assistance for health and residential care facility construction projects.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(1) "Certified" means facilities that must be certified to participate in medicare or medicaid programs and meet physical environment minimum standards as required in the …

The project sponsor shall submit to the program:(1) An estimated permit value at the time of application. Permit valuations include the total value of work, including materials and labor, such as electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing equipment and permanent systems. If the progra…

(1) Upon prior approval by the program the project sponsor may exclude from the "project cost" the cost for fixed or installed technologically advanced clinical equipment such as but not limited to: Lithotripters, CT scans, linear accelerators, and MRIs.(2) Project fee table. Exc…

The purpose of these rules is to further clarify and define chapter 70.352 RCW, Dental laboratories.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.250, 43.70.280 and 2019 c 68. WSR 21-01-019, § 246-315-001, filed 12/3/20, effective 1/3/21.]

The definitions in this section apply throughout the chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Department" means the Washington state department of health.(2) "Responsible person" means an owner or employee who meets the requirements listed in RCW 70.352.050 (1) …

As of January 31, 2021, each dental laboratory operating, doing business, or intending to operate or do business in this state must possess a current registration issued by the department, unless exempt under RCW 70.352.020(3) or 70.352.900.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.250, 43…

An applicant for a dental laboratory registration shall submit to the department the following:(1) An application on forms provided by the department;(2) A verification that the dental laboratory meets the requirements listed in RCW 70.352.050;(3) An acknowledgment by the respons…

(1) Under RCW 70.352.070 and chapter 34.05 RCW the department may deny a registration to any applicant who does not comply with the requirements or standards listed in chapter 70.352 RCW or the rules adopted in this chapter.(2) Pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, the department may im…

Dental laboratory registration fees, renewal requirements and renewal cycle.(1) Registration must be renewed annually prior to July 31st of each year as provided in RCW 70.352.060.(2) The department will renew the dental laboratory registration when the responsible person or supe…

Purpose: This chapter implements RCW 43.70.125 allowing the department to assess a fee for the department to conduct an initial medicare survey. An applicant for medicare certification must pay the fee whenever the department has not received sufficient funding from the Centers f…

This chapter is adopted by the Washington state department of health to implement chapter 70.41 RCW and establish minimum health and safety requirements for the licensing, inspection, operation, maintenance, and construction of hospitals.(1) Compliance with the regulations in thi…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter and chapter 70.41 RCW, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:(1) "Abuse" means injury or sexual abuse of a patient indicating the health, welfare, and safety of the patient is harmed:(a) "Physical abuse" means …

This section identifies the actions and responsibilities of the department for licensing hospitals.(1) Before issuing an initial license, the department will verify compliance with chapter 70.41 RCW and this chapter which includes, but is not limited to:(a) Approval of constructi…

(1) The department may deny, suspend, modify, or revoke a license when it finds an applicant or hospital has failed or refused to comply with chapter 70.41 RCW or this chapter. The department's notice of a license denial, suspension, modification, or revocation will be consistent…

This section outlines the department's on-site survey and complaint investigation activities and roles.(1) Surveys. The department will:(a) Conduct on-site surveys of each hospital on average at least every eighteen months or more often using the health and safety standards in th…

This section outlines the department's responsibility to post information to the agency website and time frames to respond to interpretations, exemptions and alternative methods.The department will:(1) Post to the agency website a list of the most frequent problems identified dur…

This section outlines the department's responsibilities and actions in response to requests for interpretations, exemptions and alternative methods.(1) The department may exempt a hospital from complying with portions of this chapter when:(a) The exemption will not change the pur…

This section outlines the department's responsibilities to review and use criminal history, disclosure and background information.(1) The department will:(a) Review hospital records required under WAC 246-320-126;(b) Investigate allegations of noncompliance by hospitals with RCW …

This section outlines the department's actions regarding a request for refund of an initial licensing fee.The department will, upon request of an applicant:(1) Refund two-thirds of the initial fee, less a fifty dollar processing charge provided the department did not conduct an o…

This section identifies the applicant or hospital actions and responsibilities for obtaining a license.(1) Initial license. An applicant must submit an application packet and fee to the department at least sixty days before the intended opening date of the new hospital.(2) Annual…

This section identifies the applicant or specialty hospital actions and responsibilities for obtaining a license.(1) Initial license. An applicant must submit an application packet and fee to the department at least sixty days before the intended opening date of the specialty hos…

This section identifies a hospital obligation, actions and responsibilities to comply with the hospital law and rules.(1) Hospitals must:(a) Comply with chapter 70.41 RCW and this chapter;(b) Only set up inpatient beds within the licensed bed capacity approved by the department o…

This section identifies a specialty hospital obligation, actions and responsibilities to comply with the hospital law and rules.Specialty hospitals must:(1) Comply with chapter 70.41 RCW and this chapter;(2) Only set up inpatient beds within the licensed bed capacity approved by …

This section outlines a process to request an exemption, interpretation, or approval to use an alternative method. This section is not intended to prevent use of systems, materials, alternate design, or methods of construction as alternatives to those prescribed by this chapter.(…

This section outlines the requirements for hospitals to conduct criminal history background inquiries for all medical staff, employees or prospective employees who have or may have unsupervised access to children, vulnerable adults, and developmentally disabled adults.Hospitals m…

This section provides organizational guidance and oversight responsibilities of hospital resources and staff to support safe patient care.For the purposes of this section "practitioner" means pharmacists as defined in chapter 18.64 RCW; advanced registered nurse practitioners as …

This section describes leadership's role in assuring care is provided consistently throughout the hospital and according to patient and community needs.The hospital leaders must:(1) Appoint or assign a nurse at the executive level to:(a) Direct the nursing services; and(b) Approv…

The purpose of this section is to improve patient care and outcomes by respecting every patient and maintaining ethical relationships with the public.Hospitals must:(1) Adopt and implement policies and procedures that define each patient's right to:(a) Be treated and cared for wi…

The National Quality Forum identifies and defines twenty-nine serious reportable events (adverse health events) as updated and adopted in 2011.(1) Hospitals must report adverse health events to the department.(2) Hospitals must comply with the reporting requirements under chapter…

The purpose of this section is to outline each hospital's responsibility for reporting serious events that affect the operation and maintenance of the facility.(1) Hospitals must notify the department within forty-eight hours whenever any of the following events have occurred:(a)…

This section ensures that hospitals provide competent staff consistent with scope of services.Hospitals must:(1) Establish, review, and update written job descriptions for each job classification;(2) Conduct periodic staff performance reviews;(3) Assure qualified staff available …

The purpose of this section is to establish the development of a medical staff structure, consistent with clinical competence, to ensure a safe patient care environment.The medical staff must:(1) Adopt bylaws, rules, regulations, and organizational structure that address:(a) Qual…

The purpose of this section is to improve patient outcomes and hospital performance through obtaining, managing, and using information.Hospitals must:(1) Provide medical staff, employees and other authorized persons with access to patient information systems, resources, and servi…

The purpose of this section is to ensure that performance improvement activities of staff, medical staff, and outside contractors result in continuous improvement of patient health outcomes. In this section "near miss" means an event which had the potential to cause serious injur…

The purpose of this section is to identify and reduce the risk of acquiring and transmitting infections and communicable diseases between patients, employees, medical staff, volunteers, and visitors.Hospitals must:(1) Develop, implement and maintain a written infection control an…

This section establishes the initial licensure and annual fees for hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW.(1) Applicants and licensees shall submit to the department:(a) An initial license fee for each bed space within the authorized bed capacity for the hospital;(b) An annua…

The purpose of this section is to assure patient nutritional needs are met in a planned and organized manner.Hospitals must:(1) Designate an individual qualified by experience, education, or training to be responsible for managing the food and nutrition services;(2) Designate a r…

The purpose of this section is to prevent the use of dirty or contaminated laundry or linens.Hospitals must develop and implement a laundry and linen system that:(1) Meets the needs of the hospital and patients;(2) Assures linens and laundry are clean and free from contaminants a…

This section assures patient pharmaceutical needs are met in a planned and organized manner.Hospitals must:(1) Meet the requirements in chapter 246-945 WAC; and(2) Establish and use a process for selecting medications based on evaluating their relative therapeutic merits, safety,…

The purpose of this section is to assure patients' diagnostic, treatment or therapy services are met in a planned and organized manner.Hospitals must adopt and implement policies and procedures that:(1) Require pathology and clinical laboratory services on a timely basis;(2) Assu…

RCW 70.41.390 mandates hospitals establish and implement a safe patient handling program. The purpose of this section is to guide hospital management in developing and implementing that program.The hospital must:(1) Develop and implement a safe patient handling policy that includ…

This section guides the development of a plan for patient care. This is accomplished by supervising staff, establishing, monitoring, and enforcing policies and procedures that define and outline the use of materials, resources, and promote the delivery of care.Hospitals must:(1) …

The purpose of this section is to guide the management of a patient area.Hospitals must assure:(1) Each patient room contains:(a) A bed;(b) A means for patient privacy; and(c) A means to call for help or assistance;(2) Each patient care unit has:(a) A means for staff to clean the…

The purpose of this section is to guide the development and management of surgical services. Hospitals are not required to provide surgery and interventional care in order to be licensed.If providing surgical services, hospitals must:(1) Adopt and implement policies and procedure…

The purpose of this section is to guide the management and care of patients receiving anesthesia. Hospitals are not required to provide anesthesia services in order to be licensed.If providing anesthesia services, hospitals must:(1) Adopt and implement policies and procedures tha…