When planning and constructing a new healthcare facility, renovating or expanding an existing healthcare facility, changing the functional operation and space use of an existing healthcare facility, or the converting of an existing structure for use as a healthcare facility, a healthcare facility must submit plans and specifications to Healthcare Licensing and Surveys for preliminary inspection and approval prior to commencing construction.
Healthcare Licensing and Survey (HLS) Construction Branch conducts reviews of all submitted healthcare facility construction plans to confirm the facility’s compliance with all adopted codes and standards. HLS will review and approve the preliminary plan submissions and will conduct the final licensure construction surveys. Healthcare facilities may decide to contract with a third-party reviewer for final plan reviews and interim construction inspections.
Chapter 3 Construction Rules and Regulation for Healthcare Facilities
Effective 04-03-2008 this document is for guidance for the approval process for construction of licensed healthcare facilities. It in no way supersedes the State and Federal statutes, rules, and regulations governing the healthcare facilities.
General Construction Forms and Policies
All plans will be reviewed in order of receipt and priority except in the case of an emergency, or a submittal required as a result of a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid deficiency, where termination will result if corrections are not made prior to a specified date. HLS Construction Branch will maintain a queue system is to ensure that submissions are reviewed in the order of receipt and priority, that projects pursuant to federal Life Safety Code requirements are prioritized to protect the healthcare entity’s certification status, and to track the overall status of all HLS projects and inspections.
Form 103-Checklist for Acceptance of Plans
Form 110-Healthcare Facility Final Plan Review Application
Form 114-Infection Control Risk Assessment
Waiving of Plan Review
The preliminary or final plan submittal will be waived when certain criteria are met.
Waiver Criteria for Construction Plan Reviews – HLS Policy and Procedure C-016
Minor Projects
For minor projects, the final plan review by Healthcare Licensing and Surveys will be optional rather than required. When all of the following criteria is met and the plan review results in acceptance to proceed with final plans the facility will have the option to request a review:
- The project will not affect 50% or more of a smoke compartment.
- The project will not affect 50% or more of the building.
- The project will not affect more than 4,500 sq. ft. of the entire facility.
Minor Project Final Plan Review – HLS Policy and Procedure C-028
Design Professional Seals
Upon receipt of preliminary plans from a facility the HLS will perform a brief overview of the plans to determine whether the final plan submittal will have to include the seals of design professionals registered for practice in the State of Wyoming.
Determining Requirement for Design Professional Seals – HLS Policy and Procedure C-025
Requirement for Design Professional Seals for Deferred Plan Submittals – HLS Policy and Procedure C-027
Electrical Plan Review
HLS will inform all the facilities submitting plans of the appropriate entity to submit their final plans to for electrical plan review. This will ensure all construction plans requiring an electrical plan review have been reviewed and approved by the Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety (DFPES), or a local entity that has been delegated jurisdictional authority by DFPES.
Inspection Forms
Form 104-Checklist for Building Inspections and Tests
Form 105-Checklist for Licensure Construction Survey
Form 106-Fire Alarm System Record of Completion
Form 111-Healthcare Facility Request For Final Inspection
Form 115-Inspection Record Card
Inspection Deficiency Forms
Form 108-Guidelines for Acceptable PoC
Form 109-Guidelines to Chapter 3 Rules and Regulations for Healthcare Facilities
Third-Party Plan Review and Inspection
Healthcare facilities have a choice between using HLS engineers or third-party reviewers (at the facility’s expense), for the plan review and interim inspection process for construction projects.
Form 117-Registered Third-Party Plan Reviewers and Inspectors
Form 112-Healthcare Facility Third-Party Application
Form 113-Healthcare Facility Third-Party Contract
3rd Party Plan Review and Inspection – HLS Policy and Procedure C-007
HLS Application to qualify as Third-party plan reviewer and inspector:
Form 102-Application to Qualify as Third-Party Plan Reviewer & Inspector
Form 102-Ins-Instructions for Application to Qualify as Third-Party Plan Reviewer & Inspector
Jurisdiction Over Healthcare Facility Construction
Some Wyoming municipalities have requested jurisdiction over healthcare facility construction. When possible, these requests (which apply only to final plan reviews and inspections related to the International Building Codes) have been granted. The option to use a third-party reviewer and/or interim inspector does not apply in those jurisdictions.
The Department will continue to review and approve all preliminary plan submissions. In addition, the Department will continue to perform all final licensure and Life Safety Code inspections.
List of Jurisdictions delegated plan review and inspection responsibilities:
Form 116-Jurisdiction Delegation
Chapter 21
Procedures for Informal Conference on Appeal of Agency Decision and Procedures for Formal Administrative Hearings on Appeal of Agency Decision: Chapter 21 – effective 09-07-2010