Rules and Regulations Governing Maternity Hospitals and Homes ... September, 1922

Chapter 69, Statutes 1913.

An act to provide for the licensing, inspecting and regulating of maternity hospitals or lying-in asylums, and institutions, boarding houses and homes for the reception and care of children, by the state board of charities and corrections, and providing a penalty for the violation of the provisions of this act.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

Section 1. No Person, Association, or Corporation Shall Hereafter

maintain or conduct in this state any maternity hospital or lying-in asylum where females may be received, cared for or treated during pregnancy, or during or after delivery; or any institution, boarding house, home or other place conducted as a place for the reception and care of children, without first obtaining a license or permit therefor, in writing, from the state board of charities and corrections, such permit or license once issued to continue until revoked for cause after a hearing.

SEC. 2. The state board of charities and corrections is hereby authorized to issue licenses or permits to persons or associations to conduct maternity hospitals, lying-in asylums, or homes for children, as provided in section one of this act, and to prescribe the conditions upon which such licenses or permits shall be granted, and such rules and regulations as it may deem best for the government and regulation of maternity hospitals, lying-in asylums and institutions, boarding houses, or homes for the reception and care of children, and said board is further authorized, by one or more of its members, secretary, or duly authorized representative, to inspect and report upon the conditions prevailing in all such institutions.

SEC. 3. Any person who maintains or conducts, or assists in maintaining or conducting as manager or officer any maternity hospital, lying in asylum, or any institution, boarding house, home or other place conducted as a place for the reception and care of children, or who keeps at any such place any child under the age of twelve years, not his relative, apprentice or ward, without first having obtained a license or permit therefor in writing, as provided in section one of this act, shall be punished upon conviction by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, or both a fine and imprisonment may be imposed at the discretion of the court.

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF MATERNITY HOSPITALS AND HOMES.

In accordance with Chapter 69, Statutes 1913.

Definitions.

Any place into which women are received to be cared for before, during or after parturition shall be considered as a maternity hospital or home.

Institutions caring for maternity patients are classified as follows, according to equipment:

Class A. Separate class A building with complete equipment caring for maternity patients only.

Class B. Hospital with maternity department with fully equipped delivery room and nursery.

Class C. General hospital with either delivery room or nursery and general hospital using the operating room for delivery.

For rules and regulations for Class A, B and C maternity hospitals, see page 6.

Class D. Private homes.

For rules and regulations for Class D private maternity homes, see page 13.

RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING MATERNITY HOSPITALS.

(Classes A, B and C.)

Granting and revoking license.

1. All maternity hospitals and homes are required, in accordance with

Section 3, Chapter 69, Statutes 1913, to Secure the License of the

State Board of Charities and Corrections, and to conform to the standards set by that board.

2. Application for license must be made on blanks furnished by the State Board of Charities and Corrections.

3. Every applicant must have the approval of the local board of health or health officer.

4. Every licensee shall post his license in a conspicuous place.

5. Any change of ownership, management, location or name shall be promptly reported to the State Board of Charities and Corrections. When any such change is contemplated an application for a new license shall be made. In such instance the new license may be granted on surrender of the license held.

6. No greater number of women and infants shall be cared for at one time on such premises than is authorized by the license and no women or infants shall be kept in a building or place not designated in the license.

Physical equipment.

1. All rooms and wards occupied by patients shall be outside rooms and the window space shall not be less than one-fifth of the floor space.

2. The rooms and wards shall be of sufficient size to allow not less than 800 cu. ft. of air space and 100 sq. ft. of floor space for each adult patient and 250 cu. ft. of air space for each infant therein. Ventilation shall conform with state housing laws.

3. All plumbing, drainage and other arrangements for the disposal of excreta and household waste shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Board of Health and local health ordinances.

4. Toilets and hoppers shall be properly and adequately ventilated to the external air.

5. In order that the heating of all rooms shall be safe and adequate no gas stove shall be used which is not directly connected with an outside flue and all gas connections should be of metal piping.

6. Fire protection shall be according to the rules and regulations of the local fire commission or city ordinance and the rules and regulations of the State Board of Charities and Corrections. These standards will be furnished with the application.

7. Provision for isolation of contagious diseases shall be made.

8. There shall be sanitary equipment for thorough bathing of patients and infants.

9. An adequate supply of clean bedding, body linen and towels shall be kept on hand at all times.

Bed pan sterilizers are recommended for hospitals. A separate bed pan marked for use of individual patients is strongly advocated.

Delivery room.

1. A delivery room shall be provided; it must be ready at all times and used for no other purpose.

2. The floors, walls and ceiling shall be of such material as will permit of being easily washed. Provision must be made for sterilization of water, basins, instruments and dressings. There shall be running water with a properly trapped and vented basin.

3. The delivery room shall be furnished with a delivery table or bed, instrument table, irrigating apparatus, basins and pitchers. There shall be an ample supply of sterile linen and dressings. Drugs ordinarily needed for use shall be kept in the room at all times.

4. Two infants' tubs shall be provided for resuscitation in delivery room.

5. Every infant shall be marked for identification before it is taken from delivery room.

Nursery.

1. A separate room for a nursery shall be provided.

2. Infants' cribs or baskets shall have firm, clean mattresses, covered with rubber sheeting and washable pads. Clean woolen blankets shall be used. There shall be a separate bed for each infant.

3. It is recommended that the nursery be provided with stationary bathing facilities, a properly protected dressing table and correct scales.

4. The nursery shall be heated and ventilated. A wall thermometer must be provided in order to be sure that an even temperature is maintained.

5. A covered container for soiled linen shall be provided.

6. A dressing tray shall be set up at all times. The following articles are recommended in dressing and caring for infants: Sterile gauze, absorbent cotton, medium and small safety pins, bottle of alcohol, a bar of pure mild soap, a proper lubricant (albolene or olive oil), boric acid solution, pure powder, abdominal binder for infant.

7. Bottles and nipples shall be properly sterilized after each use.

8. A minimum of one dozen diapers per child shall be provided for each 24 hours. Freshly laundered diapers only shall be used.

9. If hot water bags are ordered by physician, they must be covered with a flannel bag before being placed in the crib, and must not come in direct contact with the baby's body.

Care of patients.

1. Immediately upon the beginning of labor, a legally qualified physician shall be notified and shall be present and in attendance at the time of birth.

2. The eyes of all new born infants shall be treated immediately after birth with a one per cent solution of nitrate of silver, two drops in each eye, or with other approved solution and during the first few days cleansed daily with saturated boric acid solution. Ampoules of nitrate of silver solution may be obtained free of charge by charitable institutions upon application to State Board of Health, 713 Wells Fargo Building, San Francisco, or 821 Pacific Finance Building, Los Angeles.

3. Attention is called to Chapter 724, Statutes 1915, which requires the reporting of reddened or inflamed eyes of an infant, within two weeks after birth, to the local health officer of the county or municipality within which the mother of such infant resides.

4. If the child is kept in the hospital and is not breast fed by the mother, the feeding and selection of food, shall be under the direction of a registered physician. If a wet-nurse is provided, she shall meet the approval of the physician. Whenever advisable the mother shall be urged to nurse her child.

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