7 AAC 12.405. Administration

(a) A birth center must have a governing body which is responsible for the overall operation and maintenance of the birth center.

(b) The governing body must have responsibility for personnel, facilities, equipment, and supplies, and

(1) shall adopt policies for the care of clients of the birth center;

(2) shall establish and maintain an organizational plan in writing which describes the responsibilities of all staff positions and the interrelationship of positions within the birth center;

(3) must have the authority and responsibility for appointments of clinical staff; and

(4) shall ensure that

(A) only a member of the clinical staff admits a client to the birth center; and

(B) each physician and midwife on the clinical staff has a current license to practice in this state.

(c) The governing body shall appoint an administrator who has responsibility for operation of the center, and shall ensure that in the administrator's absence an authorized alternate is available.

(d) The governing body shall adopt bylaws which include requirements for membership on the clinical staff and delineation of clinical privileges.

(e) The governing body shall establish a procedure for at least annual review of the care and services provided in the center.

(f) The governing body shall develop and implement personnel and administrative policies which must be reviewed, revised if necessary, and approved annually by the governing body.

(g) The governing body shall maintain for each employee a file which includes the following:

(1) a current job description;

(2) a copy of the employee's current license or certification, if required by law for the employee's profession;

(3) a statement of the employee's education, training, and experience;

(4) a record of the employee's preemployment health history; and

(5) evidence of compliance with 7 AAC 12.650.

(h) A birth center must have a transfer agreement with a hospital for medical care of a woman or infant if complications arise during the antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn period. The agreement must include the following terms:

(1) criteria for determination of medical necessity for the transfer;

(2) that the hospital shall provide services which include full-time physician coverage, and availability of full obstetrical-surgical capability including anesthesia, a clinical laboratory, blood bank, and diagnostic radiology services;

(3) that a transfer newborn incubator is available; and

(4) that at the time of transfer a complete client clinical record be provided to the family member for use by the hospital.

History: Eff. 5/14/82, Register 82; am 11/19/83, Register 88

Authority: AS 18.05.040

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