Discharge Policies and Procedures

Section 264.1950  Discharge Policies and Procedures a)         The maximum length of stay in a birth center shall be consistent with existing State laws (See 215 ILCS 5/356s) allowing a 48-hour stay or appropriate post-delivery care if the postpartum person and infant are discharged earlier than 48 hours. b)         The birth center shall develop a discharge plan of care for all postpartum persons and infants. c)         The discharge plan shall be based on the assessment of the postpartum person's and infant's needs by the various disciplines responsible for their care. d)         The postpartum person and infant shall be discharged from the birth center when both are clinically stable and have met the discharge criteria established by the birth center. e)         The postpartum person and infant shall not be discharged prior to four hours after the time of birth. f)         The birth center shall provide the postpartum person with written discharge instructions.  The discharge instructions shall include written guidelines detailing how the mother may obtain emergency assistance for themselves and their infant and completion of newborn screening(s) as required per Section 264.1800. g)         The birth center shall develop and implement written policies to provide follow-up postnatal and postpartum care to the infant and the postpartum person, either directly or by referral.  Follow-up care may be provided in the birth center, at the postpartum person's preferred location, by telehealth, or by a combination of these methods. h) A birth center with obstetrical service beds shall provide information and instructional materials to parents of each newborn, upon discharge from the birth center, regarding the option to voluntarily donate milk to nonprofit milk banks that are accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America or its successor organization. 1) The materials shall be provided free of charge and shall include general information regarding nonprofit milk banking practices and contact information for area nonprofit milk banks that are accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. (Section 46(a) of the Act) 2) The information and instructional materials described in subsection (h)(1) may be provided electronically. (Section 46(b) of the Act) 3) Nothing in this subsection (h) prohibits a birth center from obtaining free and suitable information on voluntary milk donation from the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, its successor organization, or its accredited members. (Section 46(c) of the Act)