Psychologist office

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hhsting

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I have tenant fit in which I am going to have psychologist office. The owner says she is not medical doctor and she is psychologist.

I looked at the definition of NEC 2017 Section 517.2 Healthcare Facility says building or portion of building there of where human psychiatric care is provided.

The Architect of this project says the tenant space is classified according to IBC as business B and the owner is not a real doctor.

I am confused would psychologist office fall under scope of NEC 2017 Section 517 and be considered healthcare facility or not?
 
It would seem a facility that provides psychiatric care would fall within the general requirements of 517 given the definition provided by the NEC. Code does not make a difference between a psychiatrist (M.D.) or a psychologist (non M.D.) within the code.
 
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I'm not sure if this is for or against. It's in 517.2 something. It's kind of broke up in that area. This is referring to an in-patient facility. ( Aplace where some of our "banned" members may reside ) ;) .....................................So you're all right .
 
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Does it fall under 517, I say yes. How much of 517 applies, maybe not very much of it.

start with 517.2 and patient bed location definition.

Such facility may not really have a patient bed location and that alone will make a difference in which 517 requirements might apply to the "exam room" in the facility. The other rooms likely do not even qualify for 517 consideration as they are likely not treatment rooms of any kind. Worst case you might be running HCF cables or other qualifying 517 wiring methods in just the one room and that is about all that applies IMO.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Psychologists cannot provide medical care and the office is not covered by the Article 517.
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Guess one would need to dig deeper into meanings of psychology and psychiatry NEC definitions do not go that deep, just mentions psychiatric care. But I do agree in general a psychologist can not offer any kind of care/procedures that is somewhat driving art 517 and it's requirements. This is one kind of care that kind of can be administered to some degree over the phone, internet, etc. and not necessarily in direct contact with the patient.
 
Fred B said:
It would seem a facility that provides psychiatric care would fall within the general requirements of 517 given the definition provided by the NEC. Code does not make a difference between a psychiatrist (M.D.) or a psychologist (non M.D.) within the code.
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Code does not differentiate? Now that I see everyone else response would not psychiatric care Only be provided by a Psychiatrist Not psychologist or can Psychologist provide psychiatric care?
 
hhsting said:
Code does not differentiate? Now that I see everyone else response would not psychiatric care Only be provided by a Psychiatrist Not psychologist or can Psychologist provide psychiatric care?
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Psychiatric care can involve procedures that are physically invasive and similar to other invasive health care procedures.

Psychological care is pretty much just counseling type process and no invasive procedures are involved. Some possibly can prescribe drugs, probably some limitation to what they can prescribe though, where a Psychiatrist has similar credentials and treatment capabilities as any other MD, they are just more specialized in the psychiatry area of care.

Just my understanding, could be a little off with it.

That said I've been in psychiatry offices and they appear no different than a simple business office and have no specialty medical equipment in sight. Now maybe they do have other rooms for when there is more invasive treatments needed? Art 517 probably would apply to those rooms, as they probably actually have a patient bed location.
 
There are psychologists and psychiatrists. The first are not doctors, the second are.

But per 517.10(B)(3)(b) in the 2020 code, 517 would probably NOT apply to an outpatient office for either.
 
Many psychologist work out of there homes and or commercial offices. 517 would not apply. The accessibility to the office would be more of an issue, in the eyes of the code.
 
hbiss said:
Psychiatrists are often called "head shrinkers" and that could be physically invasive... and hurt. :LOL:

But seriously, I'm not aware of anything a psychiatrist normally does that is physically invasive.

-Hal
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Wish the same could be said for my proctologist :)
 
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