Lasik Surgery

[fw.]

Would a business doing Lasik eye surgery be considered an ambulatory care facility?

 

[classicT]

I do not believe that sedation is used and the patient would be capable of self preservation.

 

[JPohling]

B occupancy doctors office

 

[classicT]

B occupancy doctors office

Ambulatory care facilities are a Group B as well.

 

[mtlogcabin]

No, it is not an Ambulatory Care Facility. Had an employee that had it done last month to both eyes. In and out quickly and he was awake the entire time.

During the procedure​

LASIK surgery is usually completed in 30 minutes or less. During the procedure, you lie on your back in a reclining chair. You may be given medicine to help you relax. After numbing drops are placed in your eye, your doctor uses an instrument to hold your eyelids open.

 

[steveray]

Fricken laser beams....

 

[e hilton]

I do not believe that sedation is used and the patient would be capable of self preservation.

But there are drops in the eyes … do you have good enough vision to walk out without assistance?

 

[classicT]

But there are drops in the eyes … do you have good enough vision to walk out without assistance?

Happens every time I visit the optometrist as well - do you think every eye-clinic should be classified as an ambulatory care facility?

To be an ambulatory care facility, persons must be incapable of self-preservation. See the defined term as follows:

[BG] INCAPABLE OF SELF-PRESERVATION. Persons who, because of age, physical limitations, mental limitations, chemical dependency or medical treatment, cannot respond as an individual to an emergency situation.

 

[JPohling]

Ambulatory care facilities are a Group B as well.

Well in my experience of doing many medical projects including Lasik centers it is considered a docors office and nothing more. A plastic surgeon whom has a surgical suite within his private office is ambulatory care as they are sedated

 

[classicT]

Well in my experience of doing many medical projects including Lasik centers it is considered a docors office and nothing more. A plastic surgeon whom has a surgical suite within his private office is ambulatory care as they are sedated

My point was that both an ambulatory care facility and a doctors office are classified as Group B. Your post, in my reading, did not provide any input on the question asked in the OP. I agree that Lasik centers are not an ambulatory care facility and most closely resemble a physicians office in the context of Section 304.1.

2021 IBC 304.1 Business Group B​

Business Group B occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for office, professional or service-type transactions, including storage of records and accounts. Business occupancies shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Airport traffic control towers
• Ambulatory care facilities
• Animal hospitals, kennels and pounds
• Banks
• Barber and beauty shops
• Car wash
• Civic administration
• Clinic, outpatient
• Dry cleaning and laundries: pick-up and delivery stations and self-service
• Educational occupancies for students above the 12th grade including higher education laboratories
• Electronic data processing
• Food processing establishments and commercial kitchens not associated with restaurants, cafeterias and similar dining facilities not more than 2,500 square feet (232 m2) in area
• Laboratories: testing and research
• Motor vehicle showrooms
• Post offices
• Print shops
• Professional services (architects, attorneys, dentists, physicians, engineers, etc.)
• Radio and television stations
• Telephone exchanges
• Training and skill development not in a school or academic program (this shall include, but not be limited to, tutoring centers, martial arts studios, gymnastics and similar uses regardless of the ages served, and where not classified as a Group A occupancy)

 

[Yikes]

But there are drops in the eyes … do you have good enough vision to walk out without assistance?

Can a blind person walk out without assistance out of a building?

 

[JPohling]

My point was that both an ambulatory care facility and a doctors office are classified as Group B. Your post, in my reading, did not provide any input on the question asked in the OP. I agree that Lasik centers are not an ambulatory care facility and most closely resemble a physicians office in the context of Section 304.1.

​

I specifically told the OP it would be a B doctors office.

 

[classicT]

I specifically told the OP it would be a B doctors office.

I understand. My point is that response does not answer the question the OP asked.

A doctor's office can be an ambulatory care facility; just depends on the procedures and if patients are incapable of self preservation. You gave a prime example...

A plastic surgeon whom has a surgical suite within his private office is ambulatory care

It is not a one-or-the-other type situation, it could be both a doctors office and ambulatory care. Both Group B.

 

[mtlogcabin]

The bigger question is not the occupancy classification, but what are the different code requirements for the 3 different types of medical treatment permitted in a "B" occupancy?

Ambulatory care facilities

Clinic, outpatient

Professional services (architects, attorneys, dentists, physicians, engineers, etc.)

 

[steveray]

The bigger question is not the occupancy classification, but what are the different code requirements for the 3 different types of medical treatment permitted in a "B" occupancy?

Ambulatory care facilities

Clinic, outpatient

Professional services (architects, attorneys, dentists, physicians, engineers, etc.)

Not so much a difference, but ambulatory stacking "on top" when people are knocked out....? Is that what you mean?

 

[mtlogcabin]

A "B" use rarely requires a fire suppression system be installed. "B" occupancy office medical buildings with multiple medical offices need to be looked at carefully for what is actually happening within the building.

[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 self-preservation.

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 as well as all floors below where such care is provided, and all floors between the level of ambulatory care and the nearest level of exit discharge, the level of exit discharge, and all floors below the level of exit discharge.