8:43G-19.1 Scope of obstetrical standards-definitions; structuralorganization
(a) The standards in this subchapter shall apply only to hospitals that have a separate, designated unit or service for obstetrics.
(b) The following terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings:
"Advanced practice nurse" means a licensed registered professional nurse with certification in a specialty requiring expertise in maternal and child health who has been certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing as specified in N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.
"Birth center" means an ambulatory care facility or a distinct part of a facility which is separately licensed as an ambulatory care facility and provides routine prenatal and intrapartal care. These facilities provide care to low-risk maternity patients who are expected to deliver neonates of a weight greater than 2,499 grams and at least 37 weeks gestational age and who require a stay of less than 24 hours after birth.
"Community Perinatal Center" (CPC) means a licensed hospital designated within a Maternal and Child Health Service Region as one of the following:
"Basic" provides care to uncomplicated maternity patients and neonates in accordance with the scope of functions delineated in its formal letter of agreement with the Regional Perinatal Center. Such a facility shall provide care to patients expected to deliver neonates greater than 2,499 grams and at least 36 weeks gestation.
"Intermediate" provides care to complicated maternity patients and neonates in accordance with the scope of functions delineated in its letter of agreement with the Regional Perinatal Center. Such a facility shall provide care to patients expected to deliver neonates greater than 1,499 grams and at least 32 weeks gestation.
"Intensive" provides care to complicated maternity patients and neonates in accordance with the scope of functions delineated in its letter of agreement with the Regional Perinatal Center. Such a facility shall provide care to patients expected to deliver neonates greater than 999 grams and at least 28 weeks gestation.
"Contact hour" means a unit of measurement that describes 50 minutes of an approved, organized learning experience, either didactic or clinical practice.
"Letter of agreement" means the document which defines the relationship between a Regional Perinatal Center and a Community Perinatal Center and specifies all tasks to be provided. This document must be developed in cooperation with the Maternal and Child Health Consortia in the region and signed by both facilities.
"Member in good standing" means that an acute care hospital has made timely payment of Maternal and Child Health Consortium (MCHC) financial assessments in accordance with the MCHC by-laws, which are based on a budget approved by the Department of Health and Senior Services.
"Obstetric patient" means a female patient at any stage of pregnancy, including antepartum, and up to six weeks post partum, whose primary diagnosis is related to the management of labor, pregnancy complications or complications of the puperium.
"Risk reduction specialist" means a registered professional nurse, a licensed or certified social worker or other professional in a maternal and child health addiction related field, who has specialized training and experience in perinatal addiction.
(c) All hospitals with obstetric services shall satisfy the following conditions:
1. The hospital shall be designated as a Community Perinatal Center or a Regional Perinatal Center; and
2. The hospital shall be a member in good standing of a Maternal and Child Health Consortium.
(d) All hospitals shall provide services in accordance with a letter of agreement facilitated by the Maternal Child Health Consortium for its region. Such services shall include:
1. Prenatal and pediatric services in accordance with the HealthStart Standards, N.J.A.C. 10:49-3; and
2. Routine prenatal care which incorporates use of a comprehensive standardized perinatal record.
(e) All Community Perinatal Centers shall have a written protocol which addresses the management of patients assessed to be at risk during the prenatal period. This protocol shall assure referral of the patient to a provider with advanced capabilities in maternal-fetal medicine for initial consultation and, if appropriate, treatment.
(f) All Regional Perinatal Centers shall have a distinct prenatal clinic service devoted to women identified as high risk. This clinic shall be staffed by an advanced practice nurse on-site and a risk reduction specialist available during hours of operation. One individual may fill both positions.
(g) All Regional Perinatal Centers shall provide high risk infant follow-up service accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:33C.
Amended by R. 1992 d. 347, effective September 8, 1992. See: 24 N.J.R. 2045(a), 24 N.J.R. 3165(a). Definitions added at (b). Amended by R. 1993 d. 286, effective June 7, 1993. See: 25 N.J.R. 1117(a), 25 N.J.R. 2554(a). Authority: N.J.S.A. 26:2H-1 et seq., specifically26:2H-5, Effective December 20, 1999.