§ 139.24. Neonatal intensive care units (Levels II and III).
(a) In hospitals with neonatal intensive care units, the director of the neonatal services shall develop written policies and procedures regarding admission of infants to neonatal intensive care units.
(b) Policies for neonatal intensive care units shall include:
(1) Requirements, in accordance with the Guidelines, for staffing of neonatal intensive care units. In addition, these units shall be staffed on every shift by at least one registered professional nurse who has special training, experience and interest in infants requiring special care and who is assigned no other responsibilities.
(2) A requirement that a pediatrician designated by the director of the neonatal services shall be on call 24 hours a day.
(3) A provision that private physicians or specialists may care for their patients in neonatal intensive care units. However, the final authority for policy in neonatal intensive care units shall reside with the director of neonatal services.
(4) A requirement that ancillary personnel employed to meet the needs of infants shall have appropriate, specified skills and training.
(5) Provisions for physicians, nurses and social service staff to assist parents of special care infants to become acquainted with their infant and any problems during the infant’s hospitalization.
(6) A definite written policy, developed by the director of neonatal services, which provides for the unique problems involved in the total care of infants in neonatal intensive care units to be met, by making arrangements with the hospital nursing and social service departments and community health and social agencies, and by specifying what provisions will be made for continuing care, follow-up and home assistance.
Cross References This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 139.21 (relating to policies and procedures).
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
