Environment of Care (EC) (Critical Access Hospitals / Critical Access Hospitals)
Emergency Call Button - Public Accessible Restroom
Modify | April 11, 2016
What are the requirements for an emergency call button in a public accessible restroom?
See the FGI Guidelines for Design & Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities (2010 edition) for specific application of nurse call and call buttons. The requirements are not the same for different services that may be provided - the level of risk to the patient determines location. If the restroom application is not in the Guidelines, conduct a risk assessment to determine the need of a call button. Also, in a business occupancy, the risk assessment may include the physical condition/ability/needs of the public that may use a public restroom. Another consideration may be the organization's policy of response in a public setting (i.e., does the organization provide assistance or contact EMS as first responder to a public occurrence?). In addition to the FGI, NFPA 99 lists requirements for nurse call systems with a more technical focus on installation requirements. In addition, the only guidance provided for call cord length is for psychiatric hospitals, geriatric, Alzheimer's, or other dementia units where the length is limited to six inches. All other locations should be assessed by the organization to determine an appropriate height for patient use and patient safety. [EC.02.06.01]
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