§ 71611 - Title 22

§ 71611. Patient Rooms.

TITLE 22. CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS

(a) Patients shall be accommodated only in rooms with the
following minimum floor area:

(1) Single rooms: 10.2 square meters (110 square feet) of floor area
except for private rooms in pediatric units which shall have at least 9.3
square meters (100 square feet).

(2) Multipatient rooms: 7.4 square meters (80 square feet) of floor
area per bed with one meter (three feet) between beds, except in
specialized units.

(b) Each patient room shall be labeled with a number, letter or
combination of the two for identification.

(c) Patient rooms which are approved for ambulatory patients only
shall not accommodate nonambulatory patients. Before patients are
accommodated in ambulatory sections, they shall demonstrate that
they are ambulatory, and this shall be noted in the patient’s medical
record. The hospital shall transfer patients from the ambulatory
section when their condition becomes nonambulatory. The
ambulatory status of patients shall be demonstrated upon request of
the Department.

(d) Patient rooms approved for use by ambulatory patients only
shall be identified as follows: the words reserved for ambulatory
patients, in letters at least one and one–half centimeters (one–half
inch) high, shall be posted on the outside of the door or on the wall
alongside the door where they are visible to persons entering the room.

(e) Except for rooms approved by the Department for detention of
psychiatric patients, patients’ rooms shall not be kept locked when
occupied.

(f) The decision of maintaining locked wards shall be made by the
staff, depending upon the needs of the patient(s).

(g) Where patients are kept in locked wards or rooms, adequate
staff must be available to assure safe and quick egress of the patients.

(h) Where the safety of the patient and others are of appropriate
concern because of the condition of the patient, windows shall either
be inaccessible to the patient or glazed with unbreakable materials.