Section 246-817-776. Discharge criteria for all levels of sedation/general anesthesia.

The anesthesia provider must assess patient responsiveness using preoperative values as normal guidelines and discharge the patient only when the following criteria are met:

(1) Vital signs including blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate are stable;

(2) The patient is alert and oriented to person, place and time as appropriate to age and preoperative psychological status;

(3) The patient can talk and respond coherently to verbal questioning as appropriate to age and preoperative psychological status;

(4) The patient can sit up unassisted;

(5) The patient can walk with minimal assistance;

(6) The patient does not have uncontrollable nausea or vomiting and has minimal dizziness;

(7) A discharge entry must be made in the patient's record by the anesthesia provider indicating the patient's condition upon discharge, and the name of the responsible party to whom the patient is released (if a patient is required to be released to a responsible party);

(8) If the patient does not meet established discharge criteria, the anesthesia provider must evaluate the patient and determine if the patient has safely recovered to be discharged. The evaluation determining that the patient can be safely discharged must be noted in the patient's record.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.32.640 and 18.32.0365. WSR 09-04-042, § 246-817-776, filed 1/30/09, effective 3/2/09.]

RCW 18.32.640 and 18.32.0365. WSR 09-04-042, § 246-817-776, filed 1/30/09, effective 3/2/09.