R432-550-2. Purpose

  This rule provides health and safety standards for the organization, physical plant, maintenance and operation of birthing centers.

  (1) Birthing centers shall consist of one to five birth rooms. Licensure is not required for birthing centers with only one birth room.

  (2) Birthing centers provide quality care and services in a pleasing and safe environment to a select low risk population of healthy maternal patients who choose a safe and cost-effective alternative to the traditional hospital childbirth experience.

  (3) Birthing center clinical staff assess the maternal patient's risk for obstetric complications through careful review of the patient's records for prenatal screening of potential problems.

  (4) Birthing centers recognize the individual needs of, and provide service to, low risk maternal patients expected to have an uncomplicated labor and delivery.