Ambulatory Health Care Facility

[Codegeek]

RGLA is correct, an ambulatory health care facility is where someone comes in for minor surgery and is kept less than 24-hours and dismissed. Most ambulatory facilities do things like sinus surgery, tonsillectomies, gall bladder removal (maybe), etc. If the point is to have minor "day" surgery and have the patient go home the same day, it's an ambulatory health care facility.

The history behind the IBC code language, which is new in the 2009, comes from facilities showing up for "day" surgery and not really meeting the definition of an I use group. Since the code was somewhat silent on these up and coming facilities, there was a committee created after the 2006 code hearings in Orlando, to develop some code language specific for these "day" surgery facilities.

 

[Mech]

Is this a fancy Doc in the box???

Is this a new character on the Island of Misfit Toys?

 

[Mr. Inspector]

So if they can't walk in and out but must be wheeled in and out it's not an ambulatory health care facility. What is it then?

 

[RLGA]

So if they can't walk in and out but must be wheeled in and out it's not an ambulatory health care facility. What is it then?

That is not always the case. For the most part, people walk in and out. Some may have to be wheeled out, either by policy after certain procedures or because they just can't. Hospitals, which also includes ambulatory and nonambulatory patitents) and ambulatory health care facilities are very similar--the primary difference is that the ambulatory health care facility does not permit stays over 24 hours in length; otherwise, it's a hospital.

 

[cda]

Depends on why the question is asked

If to require sprinklers than all the factors have to be taken into account

If it is a one hole doctor office should not make a difference

 

[Mech]

Back to the original post. The definition for Ambulatory Health Care Facility does not mention how a patient arrives or leaves.

Determine if the building meets the definition of Ambulatory Health Care Facility. If it does, then look at 903.2.2 to determine if sprinklers are required.

 

[High Desert]

Section 202 - 2012 IBC

Ambulatory Health Care Facility. Buildings or portions thereof used to provide medical, surgical, psychiatric, nursing or similar care on a less than 24-hour basis to individuals who are rendered incapable of self-preservation.

[F] 903.2.2 Ambulatory care facilities. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire floor containing an ambulatory care facility where either of the following conditions exist at any time:

1. Four or more care recipients are incapable of selfpreservation, whether rendered incapable by staff or staff has accepted responsibility for care recipients already incapable.

2. One or more care recipients that are incapable of self-preservation are located at other than the level of exit discharge serving such a facility.

In buildings where ambulatory care is provided on levels other than the level of exit discharge, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire floor where such care is provided as well as all floors below, and all floors between the level of ambulatory care and the nearest level of exit discharge, including the level of exit discharge.

These are typically eye surgery, oral surgeons and other such day clinics that use general anesthesia making patients incapable of self-preservation. They can also be patients that arrive incapable. They come in, go under, and then leave after the procedure all in the same day.