If You Have Complaints about Wisconsin Health Care

Information about Division of Quality Assurance (DQA)

DQA Web Pages

DQA Facility Directories

DQA Provider Training

DQA Numbered Memos

DHS Forms

WI Nurse Aide Training and Registry Info

Caregiver Program/ Background Checks

WI Adult Programs Caregiver Misconduct Registry

WI Medicaid Provider Information

Construction/Remodeling Plan Review
for Health Care Facilities

Pilot:  Post Construction Inspection Questionnaire - For Hospitals

Also review Community Based Residential Facilities (CBRF) Plan Review Requirements if you are handling that facility type.

• Health Facility Construction Plan Reviews and Onsite Inspections (DQA memo 06-007)

Construction projects for health care facilities are under the review and inspection authority of the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS). This authority specifically relates to building, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and fire system construction projects.

Non-health care occupancies attached to health care facilities also fall within the authority of DHFS.

Preliminary reviews are usually mandated for health care facility projects to ensure compliance with the appropriate codes, familiarize the design team to local conditions, and establish communication links.

DHFS also has the authority to grant a permission to start for demolition prior to alteration work as well as for new footings and foundation work.

Construction plans are to be submitted to:

Division of Quality Assurance
P. O. Box 2969
1 W Wilson Street
Madison WI 53701-2969
Phone: (608) 264-7748

Unique systems not reviewed by DHFS for a health care facility are plumbing systems, private onsite waste treatment, elevators, boilers, mechanical refrigeration systems, etc.

These must be submitted to the Department of Commerce, Safety and Buildings Division.  Information regarding plan submittal to DOC is available at www.commerce.state.wi.us.

FLOW CHARTS

(note that blue text on these pages mark links to footnotes)

• Plan Review Code Application (PDF, 19 KB)

• Free Standing CBRF (PDF, 15 KB) Plan Review

• Hospital and Nursing Home (PDF, 21 KB) Plan Review

The Plan Review Code Application chart lists the applicable codes for various facility construction projects and firewall requirements between components of multi-type facilities.

FORMS (all PDF Fillable)

The following forms are needed for new construction or remodeling a facility.  If you have questions, please call the Division of Quality Assurance at (608) 264-7748  Select the first field to begin typing; tab from field to field.  You can print the changed documents but you cannot save them.

• OQA-2457: Permission to Start Construction Request (PDF, 23 KB)

• OQA-2496: Free-Standing CBRF Plan Approval Application (PDF, 50 KB) - Construction plan approval for a community based residential facility, if not attached to another health care facility (as per Chapter 58).  

  • If the CBRF is attached or integrated into another operation, submit the following forms instead.

• OQA-2333: Plan Approval Application (PDF, 128 KB) - Construction plans submitted for review by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Bureau of Health Services.  Fee calculator (Excel spreadsheet) to assist you in determining the application fees.

• OQA-2494: Health Care Facility Construction Documentation Checklist (PDF, 46 KB) - A tool for assistance in the preparation of the Project Occupancy Inspection.

• OQA-2495: Compliance Statement (PDF, 18 KB) - Required prior to initial occupancy of a new building or addition and prior to final occupancy of an alteration of an existing building.

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Last Updated: June 30, 2008