La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-4549

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-4549 - Surgical Services

A. Surgical services shall be well organized and provided in accordance with current acceptable standards of practice adopted from national associations or organizations.

B. Private areas should include pre- and post-operative care areas and should allow for parental presence for pediatric patients.

C. The ASC shall ensure that the scheduled surgeries do not exceed the capabilities of the surgical center, including the post-anesthesia care area, and any length of patient does not exceed 23 hours from patient admission to discharge from the ASC.

D. At least one RN trained in the use of emergency equipment and certified in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and/or pediatric advanced life support (PALS), if a pediatric patient is present, shall be immediately available whenever there is a patient in the ASC.

E. A roster of physicians and other medical practitioners, specifying the surgical privileges of each, shall be kept in the surgical center and available to all professional staff.

F. Medical staff and approved policies shall define which surgical procedures require a qualified first assistant physician, registered nurse or surgical technician.

1. A registered nurse or a surgical technician may be a surgical assistant if the individual:

a. has been approved by the medical director and director of nurses;

b. has documented competency and training to assist in such procedures; and

c. is acting within the scope of practice of his/her respective licensing board(s) and/or certification(s).

G. An operating and procedure room register shall be accurately maintained and kept up-to-date and complete. This register shall be maintained for a five year period. The register shall include, at a minimum, the:

1. patients complete name;

2. patients ASC identification number;

3. physicians name;

4. date of the surgery/procedure; and

5. type of surgery/procedure performed.

H. An RN shall be assigned to, and directly responsible for, the post-anesthesia care area. There shall be a sufficient number of nurses assigned to the post-anesthesia care area to meet the nursing needs of patients in recovery. At a minimum, one licensed RN and one direct care staff shall be onsite and available for the length of any patient stay in the ASC.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-4549

Promulgated by the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 431742 (9/1/2017).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:2131-2141.