It is always important to consider the legal, ethical and regulatory concerns in the process of planning a birthing center. This provides a sense of security and guarantees that the person working on the project is aware of the underlying factors that need to be considered. Some of these factors include accessibility for people with disabilities and accountability in case of any existing legal or regulatory problems.
As mentioned earlier, accessibility for disabled individuals is a valuable aspect when it comes to creating a facility. This includes parking spaces, service animals and commodities for individuals who use wheelchairs or other manually controlled devices. It is important to mention that parking spaces for disabled people differ from ordinary ones, as they include features that facilitate access to the services provided by the facility.
Parking spaces require access aisles for people who use mobility devices to enter and exit their vehicle. The latter needs to be marked and share the length of the space and level with it. Parking spaces must have a sign with the international accessibility symbol and have a slip-resistant and stable surface (ADA 1). This setting is the same for both legal and ethical considerations for a facility. This will ensure greater inclusiveness and will meet the necessary requirements. Regarding commodities for disabled individuals, businesses need to consider such aspects as pedestrian traffic in the building, parameters of the device and the design of the building (ADA 2). According to the ADA, service animals may even go to facilities which do not allow pets, such as hospitals. It is appropriate to ask if the dog is a service animal. However, it is not allowed to request any license of the fact (ADA 3). By following these requirements, the facility will be made more accessible for individuals with disabilities.
Safety is yet another valuable aspect that needs to be considered in the project. Some of the requirements apply to all industries and are used in order to help employers discover and amend some of the existing hazards mentioned. These hazards are to be fixed prior to the arrival of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This applies to both legal and ethical considerations for the birthing center. By doing so, these measures can prevent any possible lawsuits or other legal issues caused by the aforementioned hazards. Some of these considerations include fall protection, ladders and hazard communication (Occupational Safety and Health Administration 4). The first one requires employers to ensure that the walking and working surfaces are capable of supporting employees (Occupational Safety and Health Administration 3). The second consideration reviews self-supporting, fixed and portable ladders, requiring the former to carry four times the “maximum intended load”, with heavy-duty type 1A metal or plastic ones carrying 3.3 times the intended load.
The second type is expected to carry at least two loads of 250 pounds each, focused between two attachments. Finally, the latter have similar intended load requirements to those of self-supporting portable ladders (Occupational Safety and Health Administration 2). The third consideration requires classifying the dangers of all the chemicals imported or made. The information regarding said hazards must be reported to employers and employees (Occupational Safety and Health Administration 1). This will help educate the latter on the required protective measures and prevent legislative or regulatory actions of a state regarding the subject.
In the process of constructing such a facility, it is crucial to consider the required assets and equipment. These items include birthing and ICU beds, mattresses and other furniture, such as cabinets and overbed tables. The rooms must be warm and clean for the well-being of the mothers and their newborn children. Moreover, the work surfaces need to be clean as well so that medical professionals can use them in the process of check-ups. There need to be specific items of birthing equipment, such as a fetal stethoscope, a body thermometer, a suction apparatus and a blood pressure machine (Piedmont Medical Incorporated). Regarding delivery, some of the sterile objects required include scissors, needle holders, dissecting forceps and vaginal speculums for medical professionals to use.
Color and noise elements are another serious consideration in the process of making such facilities. Generally, the best approach to that is to make them as neutral as possible to avoid prioritizing any of the groups over the other one (BWBR). This makes minimalism the most suitable and effective approach of all. Domesticity is a feature that must be considered during the design process (Nilsson et al, 2020). Birth centers perceive pregnancy and birth as a common family event unless demonstrated otherwise by motivating family involvement and guaranteeing a safe environment (American Association of Birth Centers 2). Technology access is highly recommended and should be featured in both the environment and furniture.
Some of the regulatory considerations, besides OSHA and the Americans with Disabilities Act include the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers, state requirements and national ones as well. CABC is qualified to visit these centers to review them, as they have the necessary knowledge regarding the philosophy, purpose and the way these facilities function (American Association of Birth Centers 1). Accreditation from this agency ensures that the birthing facility adheres to quality criteria above and above those required for basic license.
The functions of birthing centers are significantly different from those of hospitals. Birthing centers help mothers who are in good health and experience low-risk pregnancies (NCC News and Content Team). If a high-risk pregnancy is involved, the patient will be sent to a hospital. Moreover, in case there are complications during a low-risk pregnancy, the mother will be sent to a hospital as well. Birthing centers usually have midwives, registered nurses, doulas and birth assistants among their staff (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine et al.). The latter three can sometimes be included for additional care measures. In such facilities, midwives assist their patients with delivering babies and their pregnancy. Generally, they implement the so-called “wait-and-see” approach and are not licensed to perform surgeries on the mothers (The Robenault Law Firm Inc.). In case a cesarean section is required, the midwife will need to refer to an outside emergency service provider.
Figure 1 depicts a birthing center plan with all the characteristics mentioned. The plan provides easy access for clients and staff to all necessary parts of the building, from the parking lot to all key nodes. It also allows comfortable work and movement within the facility. It is designed to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for mothers and families, with a focus on providing personalized care and support throughout the childbirth experience. At the same time, it meets legal and ethical considerations. The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries (Tikkanen et al., 2020). This problem requires a complex solution, but inclusive, generous and comfortable birthing centers can contribute to solving the issue.
The goal of birthing centers is to make the experience similar to a home environment. The staff may usually offer non-medical interventions that may not always be present in hospitals. Oftentimes, the care in these facilities is woman and family-focused, with the latter being invited to take part in the experience if the mother consents to this. This helps create a rather comfortable environment for both the mother and the child.
Works Cited
ADA 1. “Accessible Parking Spaces.” ADA, Web.
ADA 2. “Mobility Devices.” ADA, Web.
ADA 3 “Service Animals.” ADA, Web.
American Association of Birth Centers 1. “BC Accreditation.” American Association of Birth Centers, Web.
American Association of Birth Centers 2 “BC Experience.” American Association of Birth Centers, Web.
BWBR. “Birth Centers: Delivering the Future of Healthcare Design.” BWBR, Web.
National Academies of Sciences; Engineering; and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Children; Youth; and Families, Committee on Assessing Health Outcomes by Birth Settings. Birth Settings in America: Outcomes, Quality, Access, and Choice. National Academies P, 2020. Web.
NCC News and Content Team. “Birthing Center Vs Hospital: What Are the Differences.” Nursing CE Central, Web.
Nilsson, C., Wijk, H., Höglund, L., Sjöblom, H., Hessman, E., & Berg, M. (2020). Effects of birthing room design on maternal and neonate outcomes: A systematic review. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 13(3), 198-214. Web.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration 1. “1910.1200 – Hazard Communication. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.” Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Web.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration 2.”1926.1053 – Ladders. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.” Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Web.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration 3. “1926.501 – Duty to Have Fall Protection. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.” Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Web.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration 4. “Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards.” Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2021, Web.
Piedmont Medical. “Here Are Some of the Must Have Items Needed in Every Birthing Center.” Piedmont Medical Incorporated, 2021, Web.
The Robenalt Law Firm, Inc. “Risks of Medical Errors at Birthing Centers.” The Robenalt Law Firm, Inc, Web.
Tikkanen, R., Gunja, M. Z., FitzGerald, M., & Zephyrin, L. (2020). Maternal mortality and maternity care in the United States compared to 10 other developed countries. The Commonwealth Fund, 10. Web.